By Carson Ellis
Some of the earliest prescriptions in Stettler are said to have been filled by either William Dunlap or Walter Hart.
The two men had started a pharmaceutical partnership in 1904 at a time when Alberta wasn’t a province yet and was still the North West Territories. They were in business together for only a few short years before Walter Hart ventured out to start his own business, strangely enough only a lot or two down from his previous operation. This may have been a bit of a strain for Dunlap since he wasn’t an actual pharmacist and hired other people to perform the tasks of the trade.
He did, however, pull people’s teeth as well as fit glasses. This caused Dunlap and Hart to simply become Dunlap Drug, and over time be called it the Palace Pharmacy.
William Dunlap was a leader in the community. He was on town council early on and served as mayor. Dunlap was Stettler proud and enjoyed serving the community. This was evident during the 1920s and ‘30s when Dunlap was known to extend the people of the area credit at his store. These days, that’s a common practice, however, back then it was a rare situation and he took a big risk. His lines of credit were noted as often being repaid in produce and I would imagine things of that kind.
Hart’s son Jack graduated from the pharmacy program in 1936 and took over his father’s operation. However, after serving in the Second World War, he relocated to Edmonton, and his brother Stuart than stepped into the family business. Stuart ran the business until selling to W.C. Masters Jr. in 1962.
Editor’s note: Carson Ellis is a member of the Stettler History Book Committee. He has lived in Stettler his entire life and has a keen interest in Stettler’s history.