Table Of Contents

1. History
   • Quidi Vidi Battery
2. Accomodation
   • Christ Church Airbnb
   • The Inn by Mallard Cottage
3. What to Do
   • Exploring the Village
   • Hiking
   • Quidi Vidi Charters
   • Quidi Vidi Village Plantation
4. Where to Eat
   • Mallard Cottage
     • About Mallard Cottage Restaurant
   • The Wharf at Quidi Vidi
   • Sweet Spot
5. Where to Drink
   • Quidi Vidi Brewery
   • The Inne of Olde
     • Happy Travels, Adventurers

History

The name Quidi Vidi is a real mystery. Even locals can’t agree on where the name comes from. Some say it was named by the Portuguese, who called it “quey de video,” meaning, “what a beautiful sight.” Others claim it’s Latin, since…well it sounds like Latin. There is also a local legend that says it’s named after a hotel bar that once sat on the edge of the lake. The owner of said bar was named “Kitty Vitty” and they went about naming the whole area after her. Up until the 1900s, the area was even written as “Kitty Vitty” on local maps.

However you pronounce it (or spell it), everyone can agree that the history of Quidi Vidi revolves around fishing. In the 1600s, fishermen arrived every Spring to fish the rich sources of cod they found in the area. The fishermen liked to set up small fishing huts on the harbour until the cold weather arrived. They found the harbour at Quidi Vidi to be very inhabitable as its inlet enabled it to be sheltered from the harsh winds. Soon, men began to stay behind to face the cold winter. By staying behind there were able to set up in advance for the fishermen who would arrive come the Spring. These “overwinterers” were some of the first to build homes in the area. Many of these immigrants were from southeast Ireland. But instead of returning home in the spring, they remained forever. Calling Quidi Vidi their new home.

Quidi Vidi Battery

In 1762 the French built the Quidi Vidi Battery. The French were constantly at war with the English, and vice versa. They were in a heated battle over control of the rich fishing waters around Newfoundland. When the French finally departed once and for all, the Batteries all became occupied by the local Newfoundland army. Although it was once a National Historical Museum, the Battery closed in 2011.

Accomodation

Christ Church Airbnb

If you can book your stay months and months in advance, there is no better place to stay than at the old Christ Church. The old building has been restored and converted into a stylish Airbnb! The original church was built in 1834. It was designated as a combined church for the Anglicans, Methodists, and Congregationalists who lived in Quidi Vidi. It’s such a wonderful example of the ecclesiastical architecture of the time. The white siding is framed with bright red and green highlights. The stunning bell tower was added in 1890.

The building was sold to the Newfoundland Historic Trust in 1966. Over the years, it served as the town hall, antique store, furniture restorer, and theatrical rehearsal space. It was even used in the first feature film (with sound) made in Canada, called The Viking. It was recently purchased by Aiden and Elizabeth Duff who lovingly renovated to be a magical two-bedroom Airbnb. Is there anything better than staying inside a piece of Newfoundland history? I think not!

$359 / NIGHT

The Inn by Mallard Cottage

If the Christ Church is booked, consider staying in the charming Inn by Mallard Cottage. Run by the same owners as the famous Mallard Cottage restaurant, two original cottages have been renovated into this incredibly chic hotel. The building now contains seven king suites and one common area/meeting room. Each room is decorated with this perfect blend of bright modern colours and vintage Newfoundland cottage vibes.

$279 / NIGHT

What to Do

Exploring the Village

Honestly, my favourite part of visiting Quidi Vidi was simply wandering the harbour and hillsides. Soaking in the atmosphere and brightly coloured houses along the harbour is a journey of discovery. Houses on stilts popping out of the water surprise you around the water’s edge. Colourful fishing huts can be spotted a mile away. And old fishing equipment is strewn about like sprinkles on a cake, haphazard but seemingly a method to the madness

Still to this day, the people in the area make their living on the water fishing for cod. Almost any time of day as you explore the village you’ll see fishermen cleaning their lines, bringing in the catch of the day or repairing their boats for the winter.

Hiking

One of the best ways to get in touch with nature around the village is to go on a hike. The nearby Cuckold’s Cove and Signal Hill Loop is a great introductory trail. It spans 6.9 kilometres and loops up into the hillside and around the Quidi Vidi Lake. It will take about 2-3 hours, depending on your fitness level or how often you stop to take scenic pictures! During the late summer and early fall, there are many berries to be picked along the trail. And in the springtime, it’s a great place to collect wildflowers.

Quidi Vidi Charters

Since Quidi Vidi’s history is steeped in the fishing industry, there is no better way to get acquainted with the waters than on a boat. Where you can try your hand at fishing for yourself! Quidi Vidi Charters takes small groups of people out on the water to teach them the time-old traditions of cod fishing. While out there you’ll also hear charming historical stories and local legends. They run tours from January to September when cod is in season. The tours last about three hours and cost $150 per person. Keep your eyes peeled for whales and seabirds on your journey out on the Atlantic. After bringing in your catch of the day, the guide will even show you how to clean and gut a fish! Plus, you’ll be able to eat your catch right there on the wharf. Nothing could be fresher!

Quidi Vidi Village Plantation

The large yellow trimmed building facing the harbour is the Quidi Vidi Village Plantation. Inside is a collection of local artists who are hard at work on their craft. You can just wander around the halls, watching the amazing creations in progress. But you also can buy some of these awesome handmade creations directly from the artists. It’s a great way to see what local creators are being inspired by here in Newfoundland.

You’ll notice rocks covered in crochet blankets all over the town. They are so adorable to spot along your journey and all the knitting is done right here! As a means to bring visitors into the plantation.

Where to Eat

Mallard Cottage

One of the best ways to start or end your day is with a visit to Mallard Cottage. The historic green and white cottage was built in the 1840s by the Mallard family. They had immigrated from southeast Ireland to make a new life here in Newfoundland. The cottage’s style was typical of the period, inspired by Irish cottages, with low hipped-roof and a large central chimney.

The Mallard’s passed the house down from generation to generation, eventually selling it off in 1950. Because it was so well cared for, it remained in pristine historic condition. Today, it is one of the oldest wooden buildings that remain in North America. It changed hands multiple times over the years and in 2013 was purchased and restored to become a five-star restaurant. This is no doubt the finest restaurant in all of St. John’s, let alone Quidi Vidi.

About Mallard Cottage Restaurant

Walking into Mallard Cottage is what I imagine an old-fashioned inn from the middle ages would have felt like. Furs hang on the walls along with taxidermied moose and deer heads. Plus seems to grow out of the woodwork giving the room a breath of fresh air. The room is dim, lit throughout with candles and chandeliers. The kitchen is open to the room. Guests can sit at the bar to watch the chefs at work. The flames roar in the background, and the sound of excited chatted simmers in the air. Mallard Cottage is open Wednesday to Saturday for dinner, and an exclusive reservation is available for Sunday Brunch.

Their dinner menu consists of seasonal fare sourced in Newfoundland and Labrador. The menu changes along with the months, so there is always something fresh and delicious on the stove. The dinner menu features a Family Style option of $90 per person. It is a multi-course meal and includes one alcoholic drink.

The Family Style meal comprises a myriad of their favourite menu items. It is served “family style” on large platters brought to the table to share amongst your party. I would go with this option every time. We couldn’t decide what we wanted and figured this was the best way to sample a bit of everything. And it was A TON of food! Come hungry!

Their brunch menu is just as impressive! And the $45 prix-fix includes one main, two sides, a non-alcoholic drink and access to their breakfast cake table. You can grab whatever you want from their incredible dessert table, whatever can fit into your cake box!

The Wharf at Quidi Vidi

The old wharf in Quidi Vidi Harbour has been reinvented into an incredible, modern event space! The Wharf is a new pop-up event featuring food vendors, artists and locally brewed Landwash craft beers. It’s a Newfoundlander beer garden by the water. The company is a non-profit helping Stella’s Circle‘s Clean Start program. Since Quidi Vidi is such a small village without much parking, they even offer a free shuttle to help with congestion.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Wharf at Quidi Vidi (@qvwharf)

Sweet Spot

The Sweet Spot is one of the popular spots on the Wharf. They serve delicious ice cream, baked goods, and hot coffee right off the dock. Their elaborate sundaes are the real star of the show. Such a perfect cool treat for a hot day near the water.

Where to Drink

Quidi Vidi Brewery

In a huge green building dominating the harbour is the Quidi Vidi Brewery. This old fish plant was transformed into a local brewery in 1996 by David Fong. Over the years, he has created one of the most beloved breweries all over Newfoundland. They brew over 25 different kinds of beer, including the infamous blue-bottled Iceberg Beer. The Iceberg Beer is made with 20,000-year-old iceberg water, harvested from icebergs off the coast of Newfoundland. Walk into any restaurant, grocery store or liquor store in Newfoundland, and you’ll find their brightly coloured cans.

But if you are looking to sample a bunch of their different brews, then head over to their taproom. You can get a flight sampler made to your preferred taste. Their fantastic beer hall and outdoor patio is brimming with energy. Live music is usually on every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. There is nothing better to pair your beer with than a gaunty tune played by some local Newfoundlanders.

Although there is no food on offer at the brewery, not to fear! If you’re looking for something to eat, you can head outside to the Quidi Vidi Fish Company truck. This is parked outside the brewery and acts as their defacto restaurant. There are a small set of tables outside where you can eat on the water.

The Inne of Olde

Tucked away on Old Quidi Vidi Road is one of the mainstays of village life, the pub. The Inne of Olde is better to know just as “Linda’s.” Linda is the owner and heart of the establishment. Walking in the door, you are immediately struck with the waves of personality that Linda has decorated the pub with. There are families photos all over the walls, trinkets, keepsakes and of course, seasonal decor. If you are looking to chat with a local, there is no better place than the Inne of Olde. You can find some real characters in here and the later the night gets the more stories they are prone to tell!

Quidi Vidi really makes for the perfect escape and feels like a village out of time, just minutes away from the centre of downtown St. John’s. Hopefully, this guide enlightened you into the incredible things to see and do here. You make a point of visiting on your next trip to the Maritimes.

Happy Travels, Adventurers

The post The Ultimate Quidi Vidi Newfoundland Travel Guide: See, Do & Eat first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

Stepping in here feels like going back in time. It is a joyful place to visit too. That might seem odd since you might associate medical museums with being a bit morbid. But honestly, the museum staff adds so much excitement and interest to all the objects on display. These old pharmacies would have been a local hangout and place to socialize back in the day and the friend faces inside continue that tradition on today. It’s hard not to get carried away looking at every jar and bottle on the shelves. Asking questions about what each ingredient was used for. Luckily, your guides have ALL the answers and will be more than happy to cure your rabid curiosity.

Table Of Contents

1. History of the Newfoundland & Labrador Pharmacy Museum
   • Restoration of the Pharmacy Museum
2. 20th Century Drug Stores
   • Work of the Apprentice
   • The Local Drug Store
3. Hours & Access
4. A Tour of the Museum
   • #1 Show Globes
   • #2 Ship's Medicine Chest
   • #3 Patent & Quack Medicine
   • #4 Poisonous Medicine
   • #5 Vintage Perscriptions
   • #6 Cod Oils
   • #7 Soda Shop
   • #8 Vintage Packaging
   • #9 Beauty Products
   • #10 The Guides!

History of the Newfoundland & Labrador Pharmacy Museum

In the early 19th century, the city of St. John’s in seaside Newfoundland was on the rise. The population was growing thanks to the development of the seal, salmon and Grand Banks fisheries. But a horrible fire in 1892 destroyed almost all of what was then downtown St. John’s. The fire cause 11,000 of its citizen to become homeless and cost over $13 million in damages. Government buildings, churches and commercial businesses were all burnt to the ground. This also included the eight drug stores that operated within the city.

In 1922, Peter O’Mara was one of the first to reopen a new drug store. The pharmacy opened at 488 Water Street, where we find the museum today. Water Street was located right along the waterfront. This meant the drug store could efficiently service all the naval officers, fishermen and sailors working on the docks. Peter O’Mara‘s druggery had been operating in St. John’s since 1899, but he had outgrown his previous Drug Store. And thanks to the fire this was his push to expand. The architect of his new store went with Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles, popular during the 1920s. Today, the pharmacy is a shining example of that kind of architecture and interior design that has otherwise disappeared over the years.

Restoration of the Pharmacy Museum

Walking inside this pharmacy, you’ll notice right away the amazing originally restored elements of the interior. This includes the original tin ceilings, ornate cabinets and aged maple flooring. All these were evidence of the money that went into the Pharmacy making it such a special place to shop! All of the original oak fixtures were made in England and shipped to Newfoundland. Quite a journey in the 1900s and a shipment that would have been extremely expensive. But pharmaceuticals were a lucrative business. And Peter O’Mara wanted to make sure his Pharmacy stood out. When the drug store was finally closed, the fixtures were sold off. Luckily, the museum was able to repurchase them in 1975. Turns out they were being used inside the nearby Donald Hogan drug store.

20th Century Drug Stores

The design of Peter O’Mara’s Pharmacy was based on the traditional British system of druggery. Therefore designed in a classic English style. This system focused on apprenticeship to learn the trade. Apprentices would be paid a meagre salary and their time in service as an apprentice would last years. They were given room and board by the advising pharmacist but little spending money. Many pharmacies would be a two-storey building, with a living space above the main shop. Apprentices would work for four to ten years before they would be consisdered members of the guild of Pharmacy. Only after this time could they practice independently.

Work of the Apprentice

The life of an apprentice was tough. After all, the job of a pharmacist held the lives of people in their hands. Proper training, good service and top-notch medical knowledge were of the utmost importance. The apprentice’s work would consist of simple tasks like cleaning, pounding crude material, preparing mixtures, measuring quantities and taking stock of supplies. Back then, you couldn’t just simply order all your ingredients. Many of them needed to be made by scratch. So when you walk inside the museum and see the hundreds of glass jars and bottles on the wall you really appreciate how much work making the elements for just one prescription would have been.

What is also super interesting to take note of is that all the labels are written in Latin. Latin was still a very rare language for someone to read or write back in Newfoundland during the 20th century. But this was yet another skill the apprentices had to learn. Latin was still being used on the bottles and as well as on the written prescriptions from doctors.

The Local Drug Store

The 20th-century Pharmacy was more than just a drug store. It was a local hangout. Every day goods were sold here, almost like a general store, it wasn’t just pharmaceuticals. And who wouldn’t want to hang out inside such a pretty shop?! The store would have also carried exclusive imported items from England and France like chocolates, candies, perfumes and other beauty products. Some drug stores even produced their own branded household items. They would be able to compound anything from furniture polish to beach, floor cleaners and ginger wine!

While Doctors were required for prescriptions for serious conditions, if you had a common cold or stomach ache, you could also go right to the pharmacist. Just like you do today with over-the-counter drugs. Stomach aches were widespread as refrigeration wasn’t standard and food spoilage was rampant. Treatment for these types of maladies was the most common over-the-counter medicine pharmacists would have developed. And depending on which pharmacy you visited, they might each have their own unique blend and recipe for treatment.

Hours & Access

Currently, the museum is open to the public by appointment only. But don’t let that put you off. Deanne (the museum curator and guide) is excellent at getting back to you ASAP to find a time to fit you in. Simply email info@nlpharmacymuseum.com to arrange a time to visit.

The museum is open Tuesday to Friday, but you can always inquire about other times if they have some availability. The museum is located along 488 Water Street in downtown St. John’s. There is parking available right beside the museum if you are planning on arriving by car. But this area of town is super walkable if you’re staying in the area it’s easy enough to walk to the museum. 

A Tour of the Museum

Lining the Pharmacy shelves are over 2,000 artifacts. Everything you would find inside a 19th-century pharmacy. Antique bottles containing pharmaceutical substances with their original labels face out to the incoming customers. Mortars and pestles, along with scales and tablet presses, are placed on the countertops as if ready to be put to use. Inside the glass cabinets, you can find perfumes and cosmetics right at the front of the shop. There was also a soda fountain, a staple of any good pharmacy back in the 1920s. But what are the BEST reasons to visit the Newfoundland Pharmacy museum? Below are my top 10 exhibit items that make this place so very special!

#1 Show Globes

When you walk inside, facing out on either corner of the shop are two ornate Show globes. Their golden lustre shines in the window when the shades are open. The show globes would have been used to advertise the pharmacy in the same way barbers used striped poles. The golden eagles hold a giant glass orb from the chains held in their beaks. One of the show globes is filled with blue-coloured water, the other with red. The colours inside the globes were used to advertise medical outbreaks in the city. This could be anything from cholera, syphilis or, in our current climate, covid. This ensured that even people who couldn’t read the newspaper were kept abreast of any fast-spreading diseases.

Show globes date back to the 17th century and originated in England. During this time, many people were illiterate, so coloured globes were an easy way to communicate to the general population. The two globes inside the Pharmacy Museum have named the globes ‘Belladonna’ and ‘Hexamina.’ The names come from common ingredients used in ancient pharmaceuticals which are the favourites of the museum curators.

#2 Ship’s Medicine Chest

At the front of the shop, you’ll immediately be drawn to the large open chest. Like a giant treasure chest. But instead of gold coins and precious gems, this wooden box contained shimmering glass bottles containing life-saving medical treatments. There are a myriad of different liquids and powders hidden away inside the various wooden compartments. The box contains ointments for burns, itching and other skin conditions. It also included a “clap mixture.” This was because sexually transmitted diseases were prevalent on ships and sailors on leave. There were also lots of tonics to treat upset stomachs, fever and constipation. There were compounds used for toothpaste, detergent and aftershave for daily use on the ship as well.

The “poison” chest was locked and only accessible by a key held by the captain. But not to worry, the poison wasn’t used for nefarious purposes. Poison was actually a common ingredient in many medical concoctions. But if not appropriately used, it would indeed be a hazardous thing for just anyone to get their hands on.

Also provided inside the chest was a copy of the Ship Captain’s Medical Guide from 1946. These guides would be held by the captain and could be used to find medical treatments for whatever is necessary. Ships with under 99 people often would not be required to carry a doctor on board. Therefore, first aid courses administered by St. John’s Ambulance service would help captains train for aiding the sick and injured on-board.

#3 Patent & Quack Medicine

One of my favourite types of medical history is “quack remedies.” A quack is a “fraudulent or ignorant pretender to medical skill.” They often will create unproven, usually ineffective, and sometimes downright dangerous medicines and treatments sold directly to the public without the need for a prescription.

Radway’s Ready Relief

The museum’s collection features ‘Radway’s Ready Relief.’ This was a counter-irritant liniment and carminative tonic. The relief medicine claimed to be a universal “cure-all” to help with everything from rheumatism, sciatic, fever and even nervousness! But the “medicine” proved to be filled with ammonia, capsicum (pepper spray), soap, and the primary ingredient was alcohol, at 27%! So more than likely if you took this remedy, you might just be drunk enough to forget about the pain. In the end, the company was charged $50 for their fraudulent claims, although this didn’t stop others from producing fake medicine.

Dr. Wilson’s Herbine Bitters

Dr. Wilson’s Herbine Bitters, from 1880, claimed to make your blood purer! The bitters were said to help with headaches, indigestion and liver problems. But in actuality, it contained more alcohol, which no doubt would have made liver problems even worse.

Dr. Pierce’s Favourite Prescription

Dr. Pierce’s Favourite Prescription was made to appeal to the “weaker sex.” Which in the 1800s referred to women. Dr. Pierce (who actually wasn’t a doctor) created this tonic to “regulate the menstrual function and quiet nervous female irritation.” Back then, the treatment of female problems was widely overlooked and not taken seriously. Often they just wanted to silence women rather than actually look into what was causing the pain. While not listed on the label, the tonic contained dangerous substances, including tincture of opium. The Ladies Home Journal even tried to prove this made a fraud after many women who were given the tonic made several complaints. But they were unable to verify the quackery but continued to advocate against it. This resulted in the journal having to pay Dr. Pierce a hefty fine for slander. Despite being right all along!

Lydia E. Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound

But there were those creating patent medicines that did the right idea and whose medicine had some real health benefits. Seeing how women were treated by the health industry, Lydia E. Pinkham was well known for making homemade remedies in her kitchen. She created treatments using a mixture of alcohol combined with roots and herbs. She would often distribute these to her friends and family, who would rave about the results. When the financial crisis hit, she decided to patent and sell her remedy as Lydia E. Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound. It was marketed to help with menstrual cramps and menopause symptoms. In the 1900s, one of the primary treatments by male doctors for severe menstrual cramps was to surgically remove the ovaries! Which had a 40% mortality rate. So providing an alternative was greatly desired by the public.

Botanical remedies have been used as practical treatments for ages. But she was one first to market them specifically for women. As a woman, she knew what really worked and what didn’t. Pinkham used unicorn root, which helped strengthen the uterine lining preventing the chance of miscarriage. Pleurisy root also helped cure prolapsed uteri. Black cohosh was an anti-inflammatory which helped with menstrual cramping. Lydia became a hero for women and even started a column in a magazine where women could write in with their health issues. Most of these women had been either completely ignored or mistreated by their male doctors and they found refuge in her column. Even though Lydia wasn’t a doctor, she gave voice to these women and acknowledged their pain as real. Which sometimes is exactly what you need to hear.

#4 Poisonous Medicine

Back in the 19th and 20th centuries, you’d be surprised to find that many of the treatments and tonics prescribed by doctors and pharmacists contained POISON! One of the museum’s most prized possessions is the Gibson’s linseed, licorice and chloroform lozenges. You heard that right, chloroform! Chloroform was actually very widely used in medical treatments back then as it had sedative qualities. Which we now know is because it is indeed TOXIC and LETHAL in large quantities. Sure, your cough probably felt better when you were unconscious but used in large doses this could prove fatal.

Belladonna

But an even more popular poison than chloroform was belladonna. Belladonna is a plant whose name in Italian means “beautiful lady.” Originally the plant’s berries were juiced and drank by women to enlarge their pupils. This was thought to give them a more beautiful appearance. But the leaves and the berries are very toxic when taken in even small quantities.

Nevertheless, doctors were obsessed with the results they saw from belladonna. And while toxic, it was true that there was some medicinal benefits from the plant. Belladonna contains atropine and scopolamine, which can relax muscle spasms, regulate heart rate and reduce body secretions (specifically in the stomach.) This resulted in hundreds of drugs being laced with belladonna. Most strangely, Belladonna Cigarettes were prescribed to patients who suffered from asthma! The idea was that the smoke, when inhaled, would relieve the spasm in the lungs. Today, smoking to help with asthma is the most backwards idea, but back then, poison was your first course of action!

#5 Vintage Perscriptions

In a tall glass box, in the front of the shop is a huge stack of old pharmaceutical prescriptions. The museum’s preserved prescriptions are also stored in a huge book that looks like an ancient tomb. While many things have changed over the years, the one thing that remains the same is that doctors’ handwriting is absolutely unreadable. (At least by the general public) But what made reading these prescriptions even more difficult back then was that they were also written in Latin. And unlike today, doctors’ prescriptions were more like a recipe. Not just the name of the pill or cream and the dosage. Doctor’s had to provide the pharmacist with detailed instructions and measurements to prepare medical mixtures using the pharmacy’s base ingredients stored along the walls.

Pharmacy Equipement

The pharmacist would use a variety of different pieces of equipment to make a simple pill. First, they had to precisely measure out the base ingredients using delicate measuring devices. Then the mortar and pestle were used to mix the ingredients into a paste. Often a percolator would be needed to extract medical compounds from plants. Then the pharmacist would have used the pill-rolling machine or pill cachet to create the individual pills. If the mixture was a liquid, they would have to press their own custom-sized corks to suit the size bottle required. Phew, what an exhausting process! 

#6 Cod Oils

Cod is perhaps what Newfoundland is best known for. Usually in fish and chips but also in medicinal oils used throughout the centuries. Cod liver oil was first used as far back as the Viking era. But in the 1800 and 1900s, you’d find it more commonly in European countries like Norway as a nutritional supplement. Since the cod liver contains high amounts of vitamin A and D it was commonly taken to during the winter months. In these Nordic countries, cod oil was a good replacement when there was no fresh meat or vegetables to be had.

In the 1920s, Cod Oil was being produced on mass in Newfoundland. It was discovered that the Newfoundland cod produced a richer level of Vitamin A, so it quickly became the prize place to export medicinal cod oil. For the next 50 years, cod oil was a popular supplement, especially given to children to improve their overall health. I have no idea how they got kids to take it, though, since it tastes exactly how it sounds, like drinking a fish! Today the use of cod oil has all but disappeared in favour of other, less foul-tasting vitamins.

#7 Soda Shop

Today we have SodaStreamers in our house to get on-tap access to addictive bubbly water. But back in the 1920s, the public would flock to drug stores, pharmacies and general stores to get their fix. But back then, soda wasn’t just drunk for pleasure, it was actually a medical treatment. In the 1850s, pharmacists would prescribe soda to people as cures for lethargy and headaches. Although this might sound off, we all know how sugar can give us a boost of energy, and I know lots of people who drink diet coke when they have a migraine. It’s their secret remedy.

Even after soda lost favour with the doctors as a medical treatment, people had already got a taste for the sweet concoction. So pharmacies continued to serve it as a sweet treat. Brand names like Pepsi and Coke began to export their products worldwide. But Noname varieties, made from flavouring agents, were also a popular choice. Often your local pharmacy would carry their own custom blends or unique mixtures.

#8 Vintage Packaging

Although prescriptions were required for many of the more serious remedies, there were also lots of products that the pharmacist you create from their supplies without requiring a doctor’s note. But you could also get handmade home cleaning and cooking products. Since they made so many of these mixtures, pharmacists would often buy a bulk label dispenser, so they didn’t have to handwrite every label along with the instructions of how to use the product.

These mixtures included “fluid extract cascara aromatic”, which was a laxative for children that contained 20% alcohol. “Parrish’s chemical food” was a tonic given to children, containing iron phosphate, carbonate of soda, carbonate of potassium, ammonia water, powdered cochineal, water, sugar and orange-flower water. Another very popular compound used in the kitchen was “Salt Peter”. Before refrigeration, botulism was very prevalent and extremely deadly. While salting meats would help prevent the meat from going bad, saltpetre was developed to help with the home curing of meats to avoid bacteria growth. But the high levels of Sodium nitrate when taken in large quantities was later proven to result in a significant increase in stomach cancer. 

#9 Beauty Products

As someone who loves wearing makeup, I really got a kick out of their collections of vintage cosmetics. Many of the products from their collections are from the Jergens company, a name brand we can still see on pharmacy shelves today! The Andrew Jergens Company was established in 1882 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Although many of us know Jergens best for its lotions and soaps, it was best known back in the early 20th century for its perfumes. Lily of the Valley is a smell I so closely associate with my grandmother and mother. I was amazed to find that it was one of the most popular scents in the Jergens collection. But Jergens also produced other perfumes with such exotic fragrances as Carnation Petals, Japan Rose, Lotus Flower, Scotch Thistle and Lilac Frost.

What many people don’t know about early 20th-century makeup products is that they were often made using the byproducts from, (are you ready?) slaughterhouses! Excess tallow from the slaughtered animals was used to make emollients in cosmetics. Everything from lipstick, eyeshadow and soap. Fats from the animals were also used in face creams and moisturizers!

#10 The Guides!

Honestly, the best part about visit the Newfoundland Museum of Pharmacy is the guides. There is so much to see here, and everything is bound to pique your curiosity. Getting to ask the experts all your questions is such a treat, and it really feels like you’re getting some sort of VIP treatment. So if you’re visiting St. John’s sometime soon, be sure to message the museum to make an appointment for your own private tour!

The post 10 Reasons Why You Need to Visit Newfoundland Pharmacy Museum the BEST Hidden Gem in St. John’s first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.