Drug Store of Washington and Lee, Alexandria, VA. [ Leadbeater's Apothecary ]

Baltimore: Photo Card Printing. Very Good+. 1920. Ephemera. Postcard; 1 pages; Subject:Interior of E. S. Leadbeater & Bro. Apothecary - Alexandria, Virginia with two gentlemen standing behind the counters on either side in front of shelves filled with bottles [Prohibition?]. Type: Real Photo Post Card (RPPC) Location: Alexandria, Virginia U.S.A. Era: Divided back, standard size,White Border (c. 1915-1930) Printed by: Photo Card Studios, 108 North Greene Street Baltimore, Md. Condition: Unposted, quite nice condition. Edward Stabler started the business in 1792. Stabler sold to a variety of city and country residents – from Martha Washington to Robert E. Lee, the local doctor to the local farmer. His son William took over in 1831. John Leadbeater was William Stabler's brother-in-law, and he took over the business in 1852. here is a legend that Robert E. Lee was in the store when he received the orders to put down John Brown's raid in 1859. His son Edward S. Leadbeater took over in 1860. The Union-supporting family nearly lost their enterprise to the Confederates, but Alexandria was quickly occupied by Union troops, especially after the First Battle of Manassas. In 1852 when Leadbeater purchased the business from Stabler's widow, he changed the name from William Stabler Co. to John Leadbeater Co. E. S. Leadbeater & Bro. Apothecary also known as E.S. Leadbeater & Co. prior to 1869 and E.S. Leadbeater & Sons after 1892 until 1933.Unfortunately, the Great Depression put the Leadbeater Drug Co., then one of the oldest pharmacies in the United States, out of business. However historic minded citizens purchased the property at the foreclosure auction. The establishement was reopened as the Stabler Leadbeater Apothecary Museum in 1939. After renovations were carried out from 2004 - 2006, it was reopened and donated to the City of Alexandria. .