Bio: Schwarze, Mr./Mrs. Durward (Granton Citizens of Year – 1972)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Schwarze, Amidon, Reichart, Steiner

----Source: Tribune/Record/Gleaner (Loyal, Wis.) 14 Sep 1972

Mr. and Mrs. Durward Schwarze, recently retired drug store operators in the village of Granton (Clark Co., Wis.), will be honored as "Citizens of the Year" at the Granton Fall Festival Sept. 15, 16, 17. This is an honor conferred annually by the Granton people at their festival.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Schwarze were born in Greenwood (Clark Co.) and graduated from high school there. Mrs. Schwarze, better known as Alvera, to her many friends, is a registered pharmacist and graduated from the Milwaukee School of Pharmacy. She picked up her love for pharmacy as a freshman in high school when she started working for the Gullord Pharmacy in Greenwood. She worked there after passing her state board, and in 1941 the Schwarze's had the opportunity to purchase the Granton Drugs Store from Mrs. G.E. Amidon.

Following high school graduation, Mr. Schwarze worked for his father in Greenwood at the Schwarze Implement. He continued to work for his father after they had purchased the store in Granton, but a short time later broke a bone in his instep and then came to Granton to help in the store. In 1943 he served a two and a half year hitch in the army.

Mrs. Schwarze remembers her first day in business in Granton when she took in just a little over twenty dollars. She was sure it was a losing business then, but was determined to make a go of it. When they retired the first of May, they had one of the nicest drug and sundry stores in central Wisconsin. It is believed she is the only lady pharmacist in Clark County.

Time have changed in the drug business. Year ago you mixed your own medicine, made your own powders, fill your own capsules, and made suppositories. Today this all comes readymade. The McKesson-Robbins and Yarh-Lange Drug Companies had served them the entire 31 years they were in business.

At first, they kept the store open every night except Sunday, and many nights found them still busy at midnight. Their big specialty was ice cream sundaes and malted milks. People were served in booths located along the north wall of the store.

The Schwarze's maintained the Granton Public Library in the back of their store until July 15, 1944, when the Library Board purchased the present brick building from Mr. Reichart. It had been a jewelry store and he sold it to them for $700 with interest at 3 %. Today this modern little library has over 3,000 books. Mrs. Schwarze is still a member of the Library Board.

Durward is a charter member of the Granton Rotary Club and a director of the Citizen's State Bank at Loyal and Granton. He has also served on the Granton School Board and the Granton Village Board. The Schwarze's are members of the Zion Lutheran Church in Granton. They are real supports for the new park in Granton and kind benefactors.

The Schwarze's sold their business on May first of this year to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Steiner, and are now in retirement in their home in Granton. This summer they have built a new ranch style home across from their present home and will be moving into it this fall.