Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Shop

Infobox nrhp
name = Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Shop
nrhp_type =


caption =
lat_degrees = 38
lat_minutes = 48
lat_seconds = 17
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 77
long_minutes = 2
long_seconds = 33
long_direction = W
location = Alexandria, Virginia
nearest_city =
area =
built = 1792
architect =
architecture =
designated =
added = 1982
established =
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
refnum = 82001796
mpsub =
governing_body = City of Alexandria

The Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Shop/Museum is a historic apothecary's shop in Alexandria, Virginia that has been preserved as a museum. During its working life, the drug company was owned by generations of a Quaker family.citeweb|title=Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum Timeline|url=http://www.apothecarymuseum.org/ap-timeline.html|accessdate=2008-03-09]

History

The shop has a long history with several phases.

Edward Stabler

Edward Stabler, apothecary, founded the shop in 1792 at 106 S. Fairfax Street. In 1796, he expanded into the adjoining property at 107 S. Fairfax. Edward's son, William Stabler, became active at the shop in 1819.

William Stabler

William Stabler inherited the business upon the death of Edward in 1831. In 1845, he purchased a warehouse.

John Leadbeater

John Leadbeater, William Stabler's brother-in-law, took over the business in 1852 upon the death of Stabler. Robert E. Lee was in the store when he received the orders to put down John Brown's raid in 1859. [citeweb|title=Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum Alexandria|url=http://www.yelp.com/biz/stabler-leadbeater-apothecary-museum-alexandria|accessdate=2008-03-08|author=Maggie B.|date=2006-11-28|publisher=Yelp, Inc.]

E.S. Leadbeater

[
1892-1903.] John's son Edward took over the shop when John died in 1860. The Union-supporting family nearly lost the enterprise to the Confederates. Shortly after the First Battle of Bull Run, victorious but exhausted Union soldiers sought comfort from the store's merchandise. [citeweb|title=Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary: A Portal to History|url=http://64.85.10.138/Issues/November06/3681StablerLeadbeater.htm|last=Lancto|first=Craig|publisher=TravelLady|accessdate=2008-03-08]

In the early 20th Century, the drug store's business was good. Deliveries were made to several states, and there was a lucrative wholesale business. [citeweb|title=Alexandria Archaeology Museum - Excavations at the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Shop (Step 1)|url=http://oha.alexandriava.gov/archaeology/ar-programs-casestudy-1.html|accessdate=2008-03-08]

Preservation

The tough times of the Great Depression put the Leadbeater Drug Co., now the oldest pharmacy in the United States out of business, but the Landmarks Society of Alexandria recognized the history of the establishment and purchased it. It reopened as a museum in 1932. In 2004, the museum was closed for renovations, and when it was reopened in 2006, it was donated to the City of Alexandria. [citeweb|title=Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum in Alexandria, Virginia|url=http://dc.about.com/od/museumsinnorthernva/a/Stabler.htm|accessdate=2008-03-08|last=Cooper|first=Rachel]

Current museum

The museum displays thousands of artifacts, precisely on the shelves were they were when the store closed. The store also still features antebellum gothic revival furnishing.citeweb|title=Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum - Collections and Exhibit|url=http://www.apothecarymuseum.org/ap-collections.html|accessdate=2008-03-08]

Famous customers

*George Washington's doctor, during Washington's terminal illnessciteweb|title=Apothecary|url=http://pages.alexandriacity.com/Apothecary.htm|accessdate=2008-03-08]
*Martha Washington (1802)
*James Monroe
*Eleanor Parke Custis Lewis
*Robert E. Lee (bought paint for the Arlington House)

References