Old School Museum provides a glimpse into the past
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By Carmen Ensinger
Carmen Ensinger/Scott County Times
This is the marble soda fountain display, complete with stools, equipment and mirror from Frost’s Drug Store. It is one of the largest displays in the museum and there is an interesting story behind the counter itself. The Old School Museum in Winchester is perhaps Scott County’s greatest hidden gem – full of history of not only Winchester, but all of Scott County. They are open Friday, Saturday and Sunday and offer a glimpse into the past for the old and young alike. Over the next few weeks, we will highlight some of history on display. Admission is always free.
While many of the displays change from time to time, the one stalwart display that will probably always be on display is the marble soda fountain from Frost’s Drug Store in Winchester, donated by Janet Frost Smith and R. Edward Frost, who also provided the history.
In the early 1940’s their parents began looking around for the needs of the community. They saw that high school kids were needing a ‘hang-out’
With owning a general store that included a pharmacy, it seemed like a logical time to separate the hardware, grocery section and the drug section. Thus, Frost’s Drug Store was born.
Putting a drug store together, there needed to be a cosmetics counter, a prescription section, camera/film counter, a candy rack, a fresh waring Johnson’s nut case, and, of course, a soda fountain.
Their father, loving chocolate milk shakes, had a lot to do with wanting to have a soda fountain. Knowing this was a service to the community, there were many flavors of delicious “Gold Medal” ice cream for sodas, sundaes, shakes and malts.
Also, many carbonated drink choices were offered. Many of the local kids were employed after school and into the evening. Booths were also featured there, too.
There is a wonderful story that goes along with the magnificent solid marble counter.
As to the story of this purchase – the facts are no longer available but, their father had been denied going into the service because of his age and being the only male descendant in the family he had to run the family businesses.
Mr. Frost had to go to St. Louis to acquire the marble for the counter top and there are two conflicting stories as to how it was paid for.
One story has Frost wanting to write a check for the marble. Frost, being a very well respected man in Winchester, the supplier called the bank to inquire into his finances. The bank said “If he wants to write you a check for your whole business, TAKE IT.”
Another story that circulated said that he paid for the soda fountain with cash. The truth will never be known. But the counter, stools, even the equipment behind the counter and the huge mirror and booths can all be seen inside the Old School Museum.
The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
