Rainier #4: Pharmacy Building

102 A Street East

Pharmacy Building on September 5, 2005.

This building is one of the oldest buildings in Rainier, built around the turn of the century. It is probably best remembered as the Rainier Pharmacy with a lunch counter and soda fountain. The Rainier Pharmacy was the oldest pharmacy in Columbia County, and was originally run by Dr. Alexander P. McLaren. McLaren’s drugstore was originally located in the Dietz Building across A Street, which was destroyed by fire on July 5, 1900. This building was constructed around the same time, and I assume that after the fire Dr. McLaren reopened his drugstore in this building, which may have been built specifically for that purpose. The building originally had two storefronts (reflected in the twin peaks of its roof when viewed from the back), with the pharmacy on the east side.

A Street in the 1920s, showing the Pharmacy Building as well as the Ellis Block and the Bryant Building.
(Michael Clark collection, used with permission)

In 1916, Joseph McKay took over the pharmacy from Dr. McLaren. In 1920, McKay moved the pharmacy to the west side, occupying the more prominent corner position, to make room for the Post Office to move into the east side in December 1920. In May 1928 the Post Office moved to the Ellis Building. The east storefront eventually became a Northwest Greyhound bus station.

Pharmacy Building on July 13, 2008.

Glenn T. Coldwell purchased the Rainier Pharmacy from McKay on March 1, 1959. After Northwest Greyhound closed the bus station on February 1, 1961, Coldwell remodeled the building with a single storefront, removing the soda fountain and expanding the Pharmacy to fill the entire first floor by March 1964. Coldwell died in 1979. The pharmacy gave way to a liquor store, and by the mid-1990s the building had become a restaurant, as it remains today. The Cornerstone Restaurant has had several different owners over the years.

Pharmacy Building on July 13, 2008.

The building has been threatened by fire multiple times. The most recent fire occurred in the apartments upstairs in the late 1990s. The fire spread quickly in the old wood building, but fortunately the Rainier Fire Department was practicing just down the street and were able to respond almost immediately. Still, only one original upstairs window survived the fire: the main window of the bay-window. Some smoke damage from the fire can also still be seen at the top of the front fascia.

Pharmacy Building on February 24, 2011.

Pharmacy Building on February 24, 2011.

Notice the railroad tracks running down the middle of the street. The Astoria & Columbia River Railroad opened service through Rainier on May 16, 1898, with an excursion to Portland. Rainier's railroad depot, built in 1899 and expanded several times, used to be next door to this building (the depot was built first). A house behind the depot served as a residence for the station agent. The Astoria & Columbia River Railroad was acquired by the James J. Hill for the Great Northern and Northern Pacific railways on December 19, 1907, and operation continued under the Astoria & Columbia River name until it became the Astoria Division of the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway on February 24, 1911. During that time period, there were three passenger trains operated in each direction between Portland and Astoria in the summer months, and two additional trains in each direction between Portland and Rainier. Passenger service operated to Fort Stevens until March 1926. There was also a Saturday afternoon special to Seaside for businessmen and others to join their families at the beach for the weekend and another special to bring them back. On more than one weekend more than 10,000 passengers were handled on the trains. Weekend excursions and the Saturday afternoon beach special continued until 1940. In October 1940, passenger service was cut back from two to one daily train in each direction between Portland and Astoria.

Rainier railroad depot, circa 1920.
(Michael Clark collection, used with permission)

On June 5, 1949, Rainier’s last station agent J. E. Maddox received an order to close the depot effective June 14. The Rainier Commercial Club sent a telegram to Public Utilities Commissioner George Flagg, and the Rainier depot received a 30-day extension. The depot permanently closed on July 14, 1949, ending the sale of tickets, handling of telegrams, and Railway Express Agency service. Mr. and Mrs. Maddox subsequently moved to Portland. Less-than-carload freight could still be consigned to the Rainier depot, with payment made at the Clatskanie depot and a key to the depot kept at the Weiby’s store across the street.

Station Agent’s Residence, February 24, 2011.

The last regular passenger train between Portland and Astoria operated on January 15, 1952. On Sunday, January 13, 1952, a 16-car farewell excursion had carried 1,192 passengers.

Station Agent’s Residence, July 14, 2012.

Demolition of the Rainier depot began in late November 1957 and was completed in February 1958. When the depot was demolished, the railroad installed a freight locker for less-than-carload freight to be delivered to Rainier, with the key still kept at the Weiby’s store. The former agent’s house behind the depot was reconditioned for use as the section foreman’s residence, replacing a building at Goble which would be demolished to make room for a highway relocation.

Station Agent’s Residence, July 14, 2012.

Construction of the U.S. Bank began in September 1977 and it opened on December 15, 1977. In spring of 1978, the former agent’s residence at 112 East Second Street was renovated by Pauline and Daryle Alwine for use as a Mexican restaurant called La Poloma.

Station Agent’s Residence, July 14, 2012.

The former U.S. Bank building is now occupied by a branch of the St. Helens Community Federal Credit Union. The former station agent’s residence still stands, but was vacant for many years. A renovation of the house started in 2012 but has progressed slowly and is still in progress in 2014.

Station Agent’s Residence, February 8, 2014.

Passenger service briefly returned for the summers of 2003-2005 in honor of the Lewis & Clark Expedition. Here are some pictures of the Lewis & Clark Explorer running down A Street near the end of the final season in 2005.

Lewis & Clark Explorer in Rainier, September 24, 2005.

Lewis & Clark Explorer in Rainier, September 24, 2005.

Lewis & Clark Explorer in Rainier, September 24, 2005.

Lewis & Clark Explorer in Rainier, September 24, 2005.

Continue to 5: Ellis Block…