- med
- Corporate body
Pingle's Drug and Book Company was operated by Charles Steuart Pingle (1880-1978), a former Regina drugstore clerk who became qualified as a Pharmacist in 1899. In about 1900, Mr. Pingle came to Medicine Hat and bought out the D.A. Black Pharmacy which was located at 627 2nd Street S.E. At that time, the store was renamed the Pingle Drug and Book Company. In addition to prescription drugs and patent medicines, the store carried books, magazines, stationery, photographic supplies, office furniture, novelty items, as well as souvenirs and picture postcards of Medicine Hat. Charles Pingle managed the store and Percy Yeo was the druggist. Virgil H. Thompson was also employed by the Pingle Co. as a pharmacist. Mr. Pingle is also believed to have had a store in Redcliff (ca. 1913), and a branch store known as Pingle-Mackenzie Drug Ltd. (ca. 1922). Eventually, Pingles was bought out by the Liggett Drug Store chain, the Rexall chain and finally by the Tamblyn Chain which eventually closed in 1972. Charles Pingle also served on the Board of Trade and was an Alderman on Medicine Hat city council in 1911. In 1911, he was also elected for a two year term to the newly formed council of the Alberta Pharmaceutical Association. Charles Steuart Pingle was married to Jean (nee McLeay?) (date unknown), and the couple had two sons; Robert Warren, born September 1, 1905, and Charles Glendining, born and died the week of February 14-17, 1911. Son Robert married Frances Jean (nee Johnston), and the couple had two daughters and a son.