StettlerLocal.com October 13, 2021 @ 11:10 am
Stettler’s earliest known prescription came from Dunlap and Hart Drug Store. William Dunlap had started the pioneer business with his early partner Walter Hart. By 1910, Hart had left to begin his drug store in town.
William Dunlap’s son, Jack, had acquired his pharmacy license by the late 1930s and gradually took over the family business. His brother Stuart followed into the family business. After serving in the Second World War, Jack relocated to Edmonton, and Stuart took over.
W.C (Bill) Masters Jr. had graduated from the UofA’s pharmacist program in 1943 and received his pharmacist license that same year. He worked with his father Bill Masters Sr. at their pharmacy in Brooks, Alberta. In the early 1960s, Masters looked to branch out on his own, coming to Stettler in 1962 and purchasing Dunlap Drug from Stuart Dunlap.
Masters demolished the historic Dunlap building, one of the earliest businesses on the street, and had managed (as far as I know) to survive the 1908 fire that had decimated much of the downtown core.
Masters was a well-liked member of the business community and was known as a hard worker. He ran the store for many years before selling it to Lamont Sommer.
After retiring, Masters would often fill in for pharmacists who wanted to go on vacation. He filled in for Stettler pharmacists and pharmacists in other communities across the province, which he had gotten to know over the years as a well-liked member of the business community.
The Masters Pharmacy building became Guardian Drugs for some years before Sommer, and his associates would demolish the Thirsk’s store and build a new drug store there.
The Masters building now is home to Family Chiropractic and is the north face of the community park.
Carson Ellis, Local Historian
Our Town Stettler
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