Jim Irwin of Zaks Town Trader in Olalla’s recent acquisition of an old safe comes with a story to tell.
Keremeos’ first pharmacist, John Campbell, was the first owner of the safe. His first business in the 1920s was housed in the building currently occupied by My Town Realty.
In 1936 he moved to his brand new building at 615 Seventh Avenue, currently housing Berg’s Oxe Yoke store.
The safe was installed there in the 1930s, where Campbell operated the “Red and White” pharmacy until 1947 when he sold it to the Andrews family who operated it as a “United Purity” store until the late 1980s.
The safe was purchased by Charlie Olsen, a well known locksmith and saw sharpener on September 28. It still has Campbell’s name on it.
On September 28, the safe was moved to its new home in Olalla, and can be viewed at Zack’s Town Trader in Olalla.