Reprinted from According to Rhonda – with an album of Ray’s photos
The family history of Ray and Elma Parr has long, deep roots that link present-day St. Johns to its beginning in 1855.
Elma’s great-grandfather, George W. Estes, was one of the earliest settlers of Bingham Township and was instrumental in the establishment of what would become the Village of St. Johns.
Frank Estes (left) at Mt. Rest. He was on the cemetery board.
G.W. Estes was also an early resident of the village, owning a house on the northeast corner of Clinton Avenue and State Street.
Ray’s grandfather, Lyman D. Parr, was born in Essex Township. He worked on farms in the area and in the grocery business in Ithaca before working at Calkins Grocery Store in downtown St. Johns near the turn of the century.
R.D. Parr (with mustache) and Calkins in front of grocery store. Ray said his dad worked there for a while. The other man (right) is identified as being Dell Whitlock. Date on back of the photo is 1895.
In 1910, L.D. Parr’s son, Dart H. Parr, went to work at the drug store on the corner of Walker Street and Clinton Avenue in downtown St. Johns that was owned by a Mr. Travis and Clare Wilkinson.
Prescription records at the store date back to May 30, 1862, when Dr. Bagg was the owner of the building.
D.H. Parr, who graduated from pharmacy college at the University of Michigan, bought the business from Travis in 1916, entering into partnership with his father, L.D. Parr.
Ray also graduated from U-M, coming to work with his father in 1947 and later forming a partnership.
Ray bought the business in 1956, after his father suffered a second heart attack, and ran the store as a sole proprietorship until 1973 when a corporation was formed involving Elma and their son, Jim Parr, who graduated from pharmacy college at Ferris State University in 1974.
Parr’s Pharmacy expanded to include a store in Maple Rapids in 1975, and acquired Finkbeiner’s Pharmacy in Fowler that same year. Those stores were later sold.
Parr’s remained in business until January 1999, when it was sold to Atlas Drugs. The pharmacy was later relocated to the inside of the L&L grocery store in the Southpoint Mall – closing a chapter in the history of drug stores in the St. Johns downtown business district.
Stepping back: Parr retires – sort of – from the prescription counter
Service is a constant in venerable career
When Ray Parr entered the retail pharmacy business with his father, Dart H.. Parr, back in 1947, there were four drug stores in downtown St. Johns.
Today five retail pharmacies exist within the city limits – but not one is sited downtown.
New trends in the shopping habits of consumers are among the many changes that the businessman, community leader, and respected family man has seen during his 77 years here – a lifetime of service.
“There have been some disappointments, but I’m encouraged – I can see good things happening,” Parr says of his recent official retirement from the business of filling prescriptions.
“Lots of exciting things are happening in the pharmacy profession as scientific knowledge continues to increase, but there’s no doubt that the retail pharmacy business has suffered.”
The fact that the family business that spanned four generations is counted among those casualties of change makes memories of the landmark Parr’s Pharmacy store somewhat bittersweet.
Selling the business in January 1999 to Atlas Drugs and relocating to the current space inside the L&L grocery store at the Southpoint Mall was not an easy decision for Parr and his son, Jim, who became a partner with his father in 1973.
Still, positive experiences far outweigh the negative for the gentleman who can’t seem to escape from his professional environment despite the fact he’s no longer behind the prescription counter.
“A lady called me at home just this past Sunday,” Parr says with a smile, recalling her concern at learning her daughter had head lice. “She wanted to know what she should do – I told her the procedures and medications she needed to use.
“That’s what I always enjoyed most about working at the store – meeting and helping people.”
A lengthy list of service provides evidence of that fact, as does his continued involvement with the First Baptist Church, St. Johns Cemetery Association, and Clinton Area Care Center.
“I suppose I’ve served in almost every volunteer capacity at the church,” Parr says, noting time spent as Sunday School superintendent, deacon, trustee, and on the building committee.
He served a term on the St. Johns City Commission in the late ’70s, and was on the Clinton National Bank Board of Directors for 13 years before it became City Bank and then Citizen’s Bank.
The most rewarding experiences came during his years on the St. Johns Board of Education (1957-77), and in 12 years on the CACC Board of Directors. That time period included the passage of the school bond issue that led to the construction of new rural elementary schools and the high school, and original building and expansion of Hazel I. Findlay Country Manor.
“The school bond passed by just 19 votes,” Parr says, “but I’m sure there aren’t many people today who don’t think that was a good thing to do. In regard to the care center, with the addition of Clinton Commons, we have an excellent senior development here which will eventually pay for itself.”
Those accomplishments pale in comparison to the family that Parr counts as his major blessing: his wife, Elma, who was a high school sweetheart; three children, Barbara, Marcia, and Jim; seven grandchildren – and the first great-grandchild that is expected in two weeks.
“We’re real proud of our family – and can’t wait to see that new great-grandchild,” Ray says of his and Elma’s offspring – none of whom so far are following in the Parr’s ‘pharmacy footsteps’.
“A good share of time is spent today in calling insurance companies about billing questions – regulations are changing all the time,” Parr says of the profession, noting a disappointment in the failure so far by anyone to correct the problem.
“Insurance companies have not really looked into what it costs to actually fill a prescription.”
Still, the veteran businessman is pleased to have been a part of the local scene for so many years. The expansion of the original Parr’s Pharmacy on the corner of Walker and Clinton Avenue to include the former State Bank building more than doubled the size of the store.
“Our grand opening of the expanded store was memorable – but not for the reason we had originally intended,” Parr recalls of the date – Nov. 22, 1963.
The assassination of President John F. Kennedy cast a pallor on the festive events.
“We ended up setting a radio outside the store and using the speaker system we had brought in for the grand opening to broadcast the live newscasts,” Parr says.
Other memories of time spent filling prescriptions on Clinton Avenue are more upbeat.
“When I first graduated from the pharmacy college at the University of Michigan in 1947, there were two major developments in drugs: penicillin and the first high blood pressure medication,” Parr says, noting that the form of penicillin used at the time required mixing by the pharmacist.
“Boy, did that stuff stink – I’ll never forget that.”
Although he’s finally leaving the white pharmacy jacket in the closet, there’s no lack of activity in the Parr’s daily routine.
“It seems like we’re busier than ever,” he says. “I do a lot of reading and am still involved with several boards – and, of course, we’re anxious to see the new great-grandchild.”
Maybe there’s one more pharmacist still to come in the Parr family.
Time will tell.
Parr’s Pharmacy moves from one family to another
L&L Food Centers purchases well-known business
By Rhonda Westfall
A multi-generational business will pass from one family to another at the start of the New Year.
Raymond and Elma Parr announced the sale last week of Parr’s Pharmacy to L&L Food Centers. The Lansing-based, family-owned, food store company currently owns four Atlas Drug stores that are located within its L&L sites.
Parr’s has been a long-standing part of the St Johns community, having served customers from the same location since 1910.
“There has actually been a drug store at this corner site since 1862,” Ray Parr says, noting that the prescription sign and other collectibles associated with the pharmacy remain at the store.
Like the Parr family, the Levandowski family has served customers since 1931 in the Lansing area. The Levandowski’s own 11 L&L Food Centers, four of which have Atlas Pharmacy businesses located on site. Parr’s Pharmacy will become the fifth Atlas Pharmacy for L&L and the Levandowski Family.
The transfer of ownership takes place in January 1999.
“The pharmacy will remain at its current location for two or three months,” says Wayne Hinman, director of pharmacies for L&L/Atlas Drugs. “During that time we will make preparations and remodel the L&L Food Center located off Business US-27, and the pharmacy will be relocated there upon completion.”
Ray and Elma’s son, Jim Parr, will remain as a pharmacist with Atlas Drugs, along with Barbara Harte and other Parr’s staff members. Ray Parr will also continue to serve customers on a part-time basis as he presently does.
“It is our company’s goal to provide our customers with as many shopping conveniences as possible,” says L&L Food Centers President Stan Levandowski II. “Adding pharmacies to our food center locations is another step in achieving this goal. We are pleased to serve the St. Johns area.”
The Parr building in downtown St. Johns will remain with the Parr family; it is available for sale.
“St. Johns has been an important part of our family history for many, many years, and it will continue to be,” Ray Parr says. “We appreciate the support of our friends and customers from across the area.”
Bagg’s Corners was site for many drug stores
“Bagg’s Corners,” the northwest corner intersection of Clinton Avenue and Walker Street in downtown St. Johns, has been home to pharmacies since Dr. M.L. Bagg began filling prescriptions there in 1862.
Subsequent owners in the early years of St. Johns included Travis & McDonald, Travis & Baker, Baker & Shiley, and Fred Travis by himself. Dart Parr, Raymond Parr’s father, graduated from the University of Michigan in 1910, and started working for Travis Drug Company that same year. A year later, he became part owner with Fred Travis and Clare Wilkinson.
In April 1951, Dart and his father, L.D. Parr who was himself a prominent businessman in the St. Johns community, purchased the business and it became Parr’s Pharmacy. Dart purchased his father’s interest several years later.
Ray Parr graduated from the University of Michigan in 1947, worked in the store as a pharmacist, and worked in partnership with his father until 1956 when he purchased his father’s share.
The third generation of Parr family pharmacists, Jim Parr, graduated from Ferris State University in 1973, and has worked as a pharmacist at the familiar downtown site since that time.
Parr Building in downtown St. Johns gets new lease on life
Ben and Bette Munger are owners of old ‘Bagg’s Corners’ site
By Rhonda Westfall
Even before there was an official St. Johns, people from the sparsely inhabited mid-Michigan area traveled to the corner of Clinton Avenue and Walker Street to have prescriptions filled at “Bagg’s Corners.”
Now the former Parr’s Pharmacy building is getting a tonic for itself in the form of upcoming renovations – that will hopefully lead to new tenants for the familiar downtown structure.
Ben and Bette Munger are the building’s new owners, concluding purchase arrangements last week with long-time owners, Ray and Elma Parr. The Parr family served pharmacy customers from the downtown site since 1910 until two months ago when the business became part of Atlas Drugs and relocated to the L&L grocery store in the Southpoint Mall.
“We’re confident that with the new courthouse and other developments happening in downtown St. Johns, this will be a contribution to the community,” Munger says of the couple’s recent purchase.
The Munger’s renovation plans include removing all exterior signage from the corner site, restoring original windows and woodwork, and removing drop ceiling tiles to reveal the original tin ceilings that remain intact on the ground-level, south side of the building.
“There are 14-foot high ceilings on that side – the tin ceilings are in excellent condition,” Munger says.
Likewise, the wood flooring and woodwork in the offices of Community Resource Volunteers, situated on the second floor on the south side, are also in good condition.
Following the removal of exterior signs and all interior furnishings, the Mungers will begin work on installing new electrical and mechanical systems throughout the building. Mechanical work could begin by late September or early October, Munger says.
Finish work on the interior depends to a certain extent on what type of business or professional office leases space in the building.
“Future tenants could be for retail operations, professional office space, or a combination of both,” Munger says, noting that in all likelihood the building as it stands today will be returned to its original dimensions and house two, separate units.
“The ground-level, north half of the building was the home of the State Bank of St. Johns,” he says of the financial institution that merged in 1961 with Clinton National Bank, the forerunner of today’s Citizens Bank. Second-floor occupants above the bank from years ago included Dr. Clifford Lumbert and the Credit Bureau.
Munger himself plans to take up occupancy in a portion of the south half of the building that has a separate entrance off Walker Street. He announced his retirement earlier this summer from his position as Executive Director of the American Board of Emergency Medicine. He also opted not to run for another term of office on the St. Johns City Commission; his term expires January 1, 2000.
“I should finish up with the ABEM in November or December, and have made some commitments for other projects following that,” Munger says of future plans for his use of office space.
Both he and Bette have been actively involved in a wide range of civic and community activities throughout their years in St. Johns. Both are members of the St. Johns Rotary Club, where Bette served as president in 1992-93. The retired assistant superintendent of St. Johns Public Schools has also been active in Big Brothers/Big Sisters, St. Johns Schools Foundation for Excellence, and numerous community service events.
Along with his 11 years on the city commission, Ben is a charter member of the CAPIT Board of Directors, served on the Old Kent Bank Board of Directors, and the Clinton Health Foundation Board of Directors.
“Elma and I are very pleased to have sold this piece of St. Johns history to a couple who has such strong ties with the community,” Ray Parr says. “We are optimistic that they will make good use of the building site, and be a welcome addition to the downtown scene.”