Silver’s Drug Shop
Part II
By Dan Shine
Voice Columnist
According to the late West Haven Historian Harriet North, when twenty-one year old Bill Silver established himself as the new owner of the newly-named Silver’s Drug Shop, this quite naturally aroused the interest of West Haven’s young ladies. Many dropped by to shop and visit the soda fountain, and to get a look at this handsome, well-dressed, charming newcomer. Perhaps some had dreams and aspirations that centered on him.
They could have saved themselves the trouble; for Bill had found “that certain someone” at a dance in New Haven one evening. He happened to notice his friend dancing with an interesting girl, and asked that friend, “Are you serious about that girl you’re dancing with?” “No,” replied the friend. “Well then, would you mind if I asked her out?” Little did he know that she lived in Waterbury, and the courtship would take place by way of a trolley ride that must have taken a couple of hours, one-way.
The girl’s family must have had some doubts about this young man who presented himself as a business owner and pharmacist, so one day in 1922, a Packard pulled up in front of the drug shop, and the girl’s father and mother got out and went in to size up Bill Silver and check out his story.
Apparently, they considered the young man to be worthy of the girl and her family, for they were married in 1923. Rose Albert became Rose Silver; the couple bought their first home on Center Street, just around the corner from Silver’s Drug Shop, and their first son, Edward was born in 1925. Meanwhile, Rose took her place at Silver’s Drug Shop, where she would run the card department until her retirement; she died in 1985.
It is well known that she loved her work, and she was well-loved within the community.
To be continued-