Today’s photo fits the Hollywood film noir style of the post-war era; filmed in natural lighting, outside, capturing everything as it happens. The tall man at the corner with his back to the camera looks like he might be an undercover cop (ala Popeye Doyle in The French Connection) discussing a drug deal while people approach and walk by while going about their business. This is a great photo of a once bawdy, shadowy area of old buildings and businesses that really gave Portland some character.
Ross Mills Plummer, a Portland pharmacist, died Thursday, three weeks after his 80th birthday. He had lived in Portland all his life. For many years, until his retirement in 1950, he was the proprietor of the Plummer Drug Store, SW 3d Ave., and Madison St., which was founded by his father*.
Mr. Plummer attended Portland Academy and was graduated from the University of Oregon in 1903. He was one of the first initiates in the University of Oregon chapter of the Sigma Nu fraternity.
He married Lulu Holmes in 1905. She preceded him in death two years ago. The family home was at 01685 SW Radcliffe Rd.
Mr. Plummer had served as president of the Oregon Pharmaceutical Assn., and for many years was a member of the State Board of Pharmacy. He had also been a director of the Riverdale School District.
Survivors are two daughters Mrs. Murray Carson, Oswego, and Mrs. Arthur Kiesz, Milwaukie; and three sisters, Mrs. Harold Povey, Portland; Mrs. Will Burns, Troy, N.Y.; and Mrs. Stephen Chadwick, Seattle.
Funeral services will be at Riverview Abbey at 11 a.m. Saturday.
[The Oregonian, 27 Nov 1959, p2]
*Son of Orlando Pleasant Plummer, M.D. & Martha Elizabeth Parrish Kelly
Plummer Drug 1202 SW 3rd. Now the location of the Edith Green – Wendell Wyatt Federal Building.
In the “olden days,” there used to be only one pharmacy downtown that was open late at night for emergencies. Can’t remember the name, it was on SW Broadway, maybe where Higgins is now? It was always like film noir filling an Rx at 11:30 pm. It wasn’t Plummer’s, maybe they were open too, but that part of town was off limits.
Susan: You are thinking of Frank Nau Drugstore on SW 6th between Washington & Alder. I remember going there to pick up a late-night prescription for my mother back in the early 50s.
Dr. O.P.S. Plummer was probably Ross’s father. I have three nineteenth century pharmacy bottles from the “Plummer” affiliated drug stores. Plummer-Byerly was one. OPS is another.
100 years earlier (Oregonian, July 16, 1864)
Frank Nau of “Nau’s pharmacy” invented a so called “cure” that I believe became national in distribution. It was called “Nau’s Dispepsia cure”. It’s a fairly common bottle in the collector world.
I had thought I had read somewhere that the only 24 hour pharmacy downtown at the time was at the New Heathman Hotel on SW Broadway.
Susan: you were thinking of the first 24 pharmacy downtown was a drug store at the New Heathman Hotel on SW Broadway, just down the street from Higgins.
love it Romanesque and Victorian style building built about 1890s
I bought my comic books here for 12 cents. Archie, Richie Rich, Millie the Model…Moved away in 1965.
Vintage Portland 
Today’s photo fits the Hollywood film noir style of the post-war era; filmed in natural lighting, outside, capturing everything as it happens. The tall man at the corner with his back to the camera looks like he might be an undercover cop (ala Popeye Doyle in The French Connection) discussing a drug deal while people approach and walk by while going about their business. This is a great photo of a once bawdy, shadowy area of old buildings and businesses that really gave Portland some character.
Ross Mills Plummer, a Portland pharmacist, died Thursday, three weeks after his 80th birthday. He had lived in Portland all his life. For many years, until his retirement in 1950, he was the proprietor of the Plummer Drug Store, SW 3d Ave., and Madison St., which was founded by his father*.
Mr. Plummer attended Portland Academy and was graduated from the University of Oregon in 1903. He was one of the first initiates in the University of Oregon chapter of the Sigma Nu fraternity.
He married Lulu Holmes in 1905. She preceded him in death two years ago. The family home was at 01685 SW Radcliffe Rd.
Mr. Plummer had served as president of the Oregon Pharmaceutical Assn., and for many years was a member of the State Board of Pharmacy. He had also been a director of the Riverdale School District.
Survivors are two daughters Mrs. Murray Carson, Oswego, and Mrs. Arthur Kiesz, Milwaukie; and three sisters, Mrs. Harold Povey, Portland; Mrs. Will Burns, Troy, N.Y.; and Mrs. Stephen Chadwick, Seattle.
Funeral services will be at Riverview Abbey at 11 a.m. Saturday.
[The Oregonian, 27 Nov 1959, p2]
*Son of Orlando Pleasant Plummer, M.D. & Martha Elizabeth Parrish Kelly
Here’s an old newspaper ad from The Eugene Register (Sunday, 1/20/1946) explaining “EXPERT TRUSS FITTING”.
https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19460120&id=nbhWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OekDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1285,428118
“Tiffany-Davis Drug Co.
Examination Free
——————————-
A Complete Line of Trusses;
Abdominal & Back Belts
Elastic Stockings, Crutches,
Women’s Girdles and Supports”
Plummer Drug 1202 SW 3rd. Now the location of the Edith Green – Wendell Wyatt Federal Building.
In the “olden days,” there used to be only one pharmacy downtown that was open late at night for emergencies. Can’t remember the name, it was on SW Broadway, maybe where Higgins is now? It was always like film noir filling an Rx at 11:30 pm. It wasn’t Plummer’s, maybe they were open too, but that part of town was off limits.
Susan: You are thinking of Frank Nau Drugstore on SW 6th between Washington & Alder. I remember going there to pick up a late-night prescription for my mother back in the early 50s.
Dr. O.P.S. Plummer was probably Ross’s father. I have three nineteenth century pharmacy bottles from the “Plummer” affiliated drug stores. Plummer-Byerly was one. OPS is another.
100 years earlier (Oregonian, July 16, 1864)
Frank Nau of “Nau’s pharmacy” invented a so called “cure” that I believe became national in distribution. It was called “Nau’s Dispepsia cure”. It’s a fairly common bottle in the collector world.
I had thought I had read somewhere that the only 24 hour pharmacy downtown at the time was at the New Heathman Hotel on SW Broadway.
Susan: you were thinking of the first 24 pharmacy downtown was a drug store at the New Heathman Hotel on SW Broadway, just down the street from Higgins.
love it Romanesque and Victorian style building built about 1890s
I bought my comic books here for 12 cents. Archie, Richie Rich, Millie the Model…Moved away in 1965.