Two Buildings, One Legacy
Strafford’s Drug Store, also referred to as Strafford Pharmacy or simply Strafford’s, remains a vivid memory for many Plainfield residents. Though the drug store itself never occupied 124 West Main Street, the buildings at 124 and 126 West Main were eventually united under the Strafford family’s ownership and operated as a single business entity. As with other buildings in this book that began as separate structures, each will be explored individually before discussing their integration.
124 West Main Street: The Worth-Barnes Building
Early Ownership (1868–1907)
- Built c.1868 by Elias Johnson, sold to John Barnhill (1870), then to Thomas Worth (1872)
- Upon Thomas Worth’s death in 1892, the property passed to his son Benjamin F. Worth and wife Sarah
- Operated as a hardware, stove, and tin ware store until 1873, when Benjamin opened a grocery and meat market
A Modern Meat Market
- In 1904, Otto Weil joined Worth and introduced a refrigeration system of his own design, manufactured by the Plainfield Cabinet Company using the Castle Cold Air System
- R.F. Child of Michigan purchased the business in 1905, but Worths retained ownership
Changing Tenants (1907–1915)
- Business passed to J. Giles Hadley, who rearranged the store’s layout
- Brief succession of grocers followed: Clayton & Hill, Kauble & Son, Rudolph’s Grocery
- From 1911–1915, housed Harvey & Son’s wallpaper and paint store
T.H. Barnes and Son (1915–1928)
- Tilghman and Ida Barnes purchased the property in 1915
- Barnes operated a harness, hardware, and stove store
- After Tilghman’s retirement (1928), the space was leased to Kroger Grocery
Kroger Grocery and Later Retail (1928–1978)
- Kroger operated until 1955 under several managers
- Followed by:
- Hayes Floor Covering Company
- Jack and Jill Shop (1957)
- Colonial Gift House (1963–1969)
- Beswick’s Camera Shop and Studio
- Powder Keg Gun Shop (until 1977)
Strafford Acquisition
- In 1978, Bill Jr. and Carolyn Strafford purchased the building from Thelma Barnes
126 West Main Street: The Drug Store’s True Home
Origins in Pharmacy (1870s–1890s)
- Built c.1870 by Hiram “Lindsay” Green and David Hadley
- Operated as a drug store under Green, David Hadley, then Oscar Hadley
- Known for a wide inventory of medicines, oils, varnishes, and stationery
Legal Trouble and Transition
- In 1893, sued by Minnie Wilson, claiming they intoxicated her husband via patent medicines
- Oscar Hadley exited; Eugene E. Watson took over by 1899
Watson’s Drug Store (1899–1933)
- Watson leased then bought the building in 1921
- Installed Plainfield’s first soda fountain in 1926
- Died from injuries sustained in a car crash in 1933
The Strafford Era Begins (1933–1969)
- Bill Strafford, Sr., a pharmacy graduate, purchased the business
- Recovered from a 1935 fire, implemented continuous upgrades:
- 1937: Large west-facing window, chrome booths, new ice cream cabinet
- Late 1940s: Refrigerated candy case, heated nut display, child-friendly merchandising
- 1953–55: Major renovations, including a two-story pharmacy expansion and new façade
A Community Hub
- Soda fountain became a social center, especially for high schoolers
- “Green River” drink was a favorite
- Lunch specials were affordable and popular
The Next Generation
- Son Bill Strafford Jr. began working in the store as a youth and became a licensed pharmacist in 1961
- Purchased the building in 1967
- Sold the business to Hooks Drugs in 1969
- Bill Jr. managed the new Hooks store; Bill Sr. worked part-time until retirement (1971)
Christ’s Corner Bookstore & Consolidation
Post-Pharmacy Uses
- Bill Jr. leased 126 West Main to:
- Vinton-Mills Real Estate
- Meigs Book Store
- When Meigs closed, the Straffords opened Christ’s Corner Bookstore
- Purchased 124 West Main in addition to 126, consolidating the two buildings
From Bookstore to Bike Shop
Christian Retail (1995–2004)
- Family Christian Stores purchased Christ’s Corner in 1995, moved to a new location in 2004
- The Uncommon Corner Bookstore took over, partnered with Mark David, who ran Mission Control, a gaming/tech center (moved in 2005)
Gear Up Cyclery (2011–Present)
- Dennis and Janet Gibbs, longtime residents and biking enthusiasts, opened Gear Up Cyclery
- Completely renovated the space:
- Removed layers of carpet, linoleum, and modern wall surfaces
- Restored hardwood floors, plaster walls, and exposed brick
- Created a fresh, historically respectful retail space that fits Plainfield’s vibrant trail network
For a more detailed history of this building, be sure to check out Sarah Wright’s book, 50 Historic Buildings of Plainfield, Indiana, available for check-out or purchase.
