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      THE ANTIQUE SODA FOUNTAIN at Claude Pharmacy has quite a history to tell.  The back bar is a mahogany Frigidaire unit with a large curved mirror and marble counter top.  It is believed to have been made in Fort Worth, Texas, around 1907.  The bar was purchased around 1914 for The Olympia, a confectionery with a balcony located on Main Street in Grapevine, Texas.  The Olympia was owned by Clarence Emory (Pie) Stewart.  The confectionery, along with the fountain and all its accouterments, was sold in 1924 to Clifford Jenkins Wall.  Mr. Wall continued to operate it as such for several years and later added a full line drug store.  Cigars, candy, cigarettes, ice cream and soda fountain drinks were served.

 

     Clifford Wall made a living from this fountain during the depression years of 1929-1936 by serving nickel milk shakes.  Ice cream for the store was purchased at an ice cream factory in north Fort Worth, Texas.  For 50 cents, one could ride the jitney to Fort Worth, pick up the 3 gallon containers of ice cream, and ride the jitney back to Grapevine for another 50 cents.  Every morning, Mr. Wall would stop by and purchase a gallon of milk from a neighbor for a quarter.  Ice and flavoring were added to the milk and ice cream to make the shakes that were served.

 

     Around 1947, the drug store was purchased by Roy Chambers and was named City Drug Store.  It sold again on February 1, 1966, to Joe and Scottie Wright, and the fountain continued to be a fun meeting place where you could buy a five cent cup of coffee and a five cent ice cream cone.  During their ownership, the store was remodeled and the fountain dismantled.

 

     In 1991, the back bar was restored and placed in Claude Pharmacy, which is owned by Joe and Scottie Wright's son, Randy Wright.  A stainless steel freezer unit with syrup and carbonation dispensers from a drug store in Clarendon was added and a mahogany serving counter with a brass foot-rail was built.  In April of 1992, the fountain reopened to again serve ice cream, shakes and drinks to folks looking for a fun place to go.

 

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