Image: Star Drug Store, Galveston

Description: In 1886, the Scanlon family of Galveston purchased land and built the Levy Building and the Star Drug Store. They hired Galveston architect Nicholas Clayton, to design the buildings. He created attaching facades with asymmetrical window groupings consisting of arches and elaborate decor. The original structure of the Star Drug Store was wood; this changed when Charles J. Michaelis, a local druggist, bought the building in 1906. Michaelis hired contractor J.W. Zempter, who converted the building to brick. This $15,000 renovation was completed in 1909. In 1917, a horseshoe shaped, tile soda fountain counter was added to the pharmacy. In the 1920's George Clampitt and Grady Dickinson purchased the store; they operated it until 1982. During that time the Star became the first desegregated lunch counter in Galveston. Ownership changed hands several times before a severe fire on Friday, March 13, 1998, closed the store indefinitely. In November 2001, the Tilts family purchased and began restorations to the building. This five year project included rebuilding and restoring the facade, adding two loft apartments and a Coca-Cola neon porcelain sign. The original horseshoe counter, complete with the embedded red tile star, remains.
Title: Star Drug Store, Galveston
Credit: Own work
Author: i_am_jim
Usage Terms: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
License: CC BY-SA 3.0
License Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0
Attribution Required?: Yes