Snouder's Drug Store

Snouder's Drug Store

Company type	Private
Industry	Pharmacy, Retail
Founded	1884
Founder	Abel Miller Conklin
Defunct	2010
Headquarters	Oyster Bay , United States
Products	Pharmaceuticals, Soda fountain refreshments

Snouder's Corner Drug Store May 2011.

Snouder's Drug Store held the distinction of being the longest-running business in Oyster Bay, New York. Established in 1884, it was the site of the town's first telephone installation, which remained unique for several years. During Theodore Roosevelt’s tenure as Governor of New York and later as President, journalists frequently gathered at Snouder's to send updates from Oyster Bay. The combination of telephone service and a soda fountain, introduced in 1889, made the store a favored social hub. In the 1990s, the building’s exterior was restored to its original hue following analysis of paint samples. Recognized as a Town of Oyster Bay Landmark, it also featured on the Oyster Bay History Walk audio tour.

History

The exact date when the first structure was built on this site is unclear, though evidence suggests origins dating back to the late 1600s. Since 1884, Snouder's Drug Store stood as Oyster Bay’s longest continuously operating commercial establishment. Founded by Abel Miller Conklin—whose family later established Miller Place in Suffolk County—the store has deep historical roots.

Conklin, previously a pharmacist in New York City, relocated to Oyster Bay’s rural area in 1880 following medical advice that fresh air would benefit his health. His initial drugstore operated somewhere on South Street, though its precise location remains unknown. In 1884, he moved the business to its permanent site where he worked alongside his son-in-law, Andrew Snouder.

Andrew transitioned from the clothing and footwear trade to support his ailing father-in-law. Despite this move, Conklin’s health did not improve and he passed away soon after. Andrew then took over the business but retained the name Conklin's Drug Store initially. In 1887, he installed Oyster Bay’s inaugural telephone—a device that remained the town’s sole line for several years. Even before Roosevelt’s presidency, Sagamore Hill lacked telephone service, so Mr. Snouder often handled messages for the future president.

The telephone service became a central draw for residents at Snouder's. In May 1900, Andrew Snouder designated a section of the store exclusively for telephone operations, allowing switchboard operator Miss Ellen Ludlam to keep lines open until closing hours. That same year marked Andrew’s graduation near the top of his class from the New York College of Pharmacy and led to renaming the establishment as Snouder's Drug Store.

The presence of the telephone also attracted numerous reporters covering Theodore Roosevelt’s political career as Governor and President. Additionally, young people frequented the store not only for phone access but also for refreshments after Andrew installed a soda fountain in 1889. This soda fountain evolved into a social gathering point for many generations through the 1970s. During restoration efforts in the 1990s, paint chip analysis guided returning the exterior to its original color.

After serving the community for well over a century, Snouder's closed permanently in December 2010. At that time, Long Island Realty Agents, Inc. listed the property for sale.

See also

• Oyster Bay History Walk
• List of Town of Oyster Bay Landmarks
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Nassau County, New York

External links

• Snouder's Corner Drug Store Foundation, Inc.
• Oyster Bay Main Street Association - Snouder's Drug Store