At least 47 Tribune advertisements placed by an Albert Lea drug store back in 1935 and early 1936 also served as short commentaries on the city’s history.

The first of these ads found by local historical researcher Kevin Savick was dated May 23, 1935, and the last in the series may have been published April 20, 1936.

These ads were sponsored by the Spicer Drug Store, then located at the corner of South Broadway Avenue and West Clark Street. The owner of this pharmacy was Lester Wedge Spicer who was then considered to be one of the city’s top historical experts.

Each ad had the heading of “Drug Store Reminders.” This was followed by a sentence or two based on a local historical fact or event. The rest of the 2 1/2 by 6 inch ad featured merchandise items or remedies on special sale at the store.

What really inspired the publication of these ads was the centennial of the first known Americans to arrive in what’s now Freeborn County. At the end of July 1835 three companies of the U.S. Army Dragoons crossed this part of south Minnesota on an official exploring trip. One of the officers in this unit was a lieutenant named Albert Miller Lea.

The Spicer ad in the July 18, 1935, issue had this historical fact, “Fountain Lake was not seen by Col. Lea 100 years ago. Instead he saw a large stream fed by several lakes, and large tracts of lowland north and west of the present lake.”

(The use of Col., an abbreviation for the military rank of colonel, refers to the rank Albert Lea may have or may not have achieved in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. Fountain Lake was originally created by the dam built by George S. Ruble in November 1855.)

Two of the Spicer ads were based on what’s now Lakeview Boulevard. The first in the Sept. 16, 1935, issue said, “Fountain Lake Drive to Oakwood was completed in 1880. Previously to what’s now Wedge Nursery the route was Bridge Street, then northwest across Bancroft Creek.” The second ad on Sept. 19, 1935, said, “Signs of warning were placed on Lake Drive in 1908, ‘No automobiles except Tuesday and Friday afternoons.’”

(Up to about 1935, Bridge was often referred to as a street. In reality, it’s officially designated as an avenue.)

Another bridge, the one between the main portion of Fountain Lake and Edgewater Bay and leading to Shoreland Heights, was featured in the ad published on Dec. 5, 1935. It said, “Hatch Bridge was named for Col. S.H. Hatch of New York. At his hunting lodge in Oakwood he entertained his eastern friends each fall.”

Another place in the city, such as Lakeview Boulevard, which is now on its third name is Pioneer Park. This is confirmed with Spicer’s ad on Aug. 26, 1935, which reported, “Lake View Park (Tourist) was long used as a picnic grounds. Col. Lea spoke here in 1879. This (park) was purchased in 1920-21 from the Morin estate.”

What may be the oddest of this series of drug store reminders was published in the Sept. 30, 1935, issue. It confirmed a local legend with, “There were two floating bogs in Fountain Lake in the early 1890s. One of those is now a beautiful flowered island and the other is now a public playground.”

Both of these odd bogs were eventually anchored down and enhanced with added soil. The “flowered island” is now another local place with three names ­— Hanson, Dress and Monkey. The “public playground” place is Katherine Island.

The ad published in the March 2, 1936, edition provided aquatic information about the area. It said, “Freeborn County had 30 lakes, two rivers and seven well defined creeks. The waters of three townships flow to the north.”

During the early history of Albert Lea, the post office was moved from place to place every few years. Thus, 13 of the Spicer ads in 1936 were based on the various stores and buildings that served as the post office locations for what was then a much smaller community.

This series of 47 known Tribune ads based on local history was created by the owner of Spicer’s Corner Drug Store. A Tribune news article in 1961 commented:

“His store brought him a living, but his community brought him a life.”

As a member of the City Council he was cited as being among the civic leaders who were responsible for the paving of rutted streets, replacing boardwalks with concrete sidewalks, and for helping to create the meatpacking firm that evolved into the Albert Lea plant of Wilson & Co. And as an enthusiastic historian, he was one of the founders of the Freeborn County Historical Society 60 years ago. Spicer also wrote a series of historical articles for the Tribune.

Lester Wedge Spicer was born in Albert Lea on Oct. 20, 1876. His father, also named Lester, was a local pharmacist who was a partner with Dr. A.C. Wedge in the operation of a drug store. The elder Spicer died in 1884. (Spicer Road was likely named in his honor and is located on a part of his farm once situated across from what’s now the Freeborn County Fairgrounds.)

The younger Spicer graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1895 and the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy in 1897. He then became a part of the drug store started by his father and Dr. Wedge. Spicer died Dec. 5, 1961.

This pharmacy once owned by Spicer and others is now the Taco King. Proof that this location was once a pharmacy can be seen with the partial Rexall sign that is still visible on the brick wall facing Clark Street.