In 1955, the Holyoke City Directory listed 29 pharmacies operating in Holyoke. It was the era of independent pharmacists operating their businesses in many of the city's populated neighborhoods. Today, we learn a little more about Normand Grenier, who
Normand Ernest Grenier was born to Joseph and Armenie Grenier in Holyoke on March 19, 1925. The 1930 Federal Census indicates that the family had lived in French-speaking Canada until immigrating to the U.S. around 1922. Normand was one of nine children, of whom only he and a younger brother, Robert, were born in the United States. He was living at 527 South Bridge Street at the time.
Mr. Grenier attended Lawrence Junior High School and Holyoke Trade School. He was employed by the Kaffir Cigar Company prior to his induction into the Marines on May 12, 1943.
In June 1955, Mr. Grenier graduated from the Hampden College of Pharmacy, located near the intersection of Chicopee and Meadow Streets in Willimansett. Upon graduation, he worked for his brother, Romeo Grenier, who operated Grenier's Pharmacy at 518 South Bridge Street, on the corner of Cabot.
Around 1956, Normand Grenier became the manager of the Medical Arts Pharmacy, which was also owned by his brother, Romeo Grenier. This pharmacy was located in the Medical Arts building at the northwest corner of Essex and Elm Streets. During the early 20th century, this was the home of prominent Holyoke industrialist William A. Prentiss and his family. The structure was razed within 10 years of this writing.
In 1960, an opportunity arose for Normand Grenier to own his own pharmacy. Thomas Hartmann, a pharmacist who owned two pharmacies in Holyoke, listed his 2014 Northampton Street pharmacy for sale, having operated it there since 1941. Mr. Hartmann's other pharmacy was located at 600 Homestead Ave. Mr. Grenier purchased the Northampton Street drugstore located across from the Joseph E. Metcalf School.
On April 6, 1960, Normand Grenier opened his pharmacy, renaming it Normand's Pharmacy. The pharmacy filled prescriptions, sold personal care items, greeting cards, and some household items.
In 1962, the pharmacy began accepting payments of Customers' Holyoke Gas & Electric bills, and in 1965, opened a courtesy mailing counter. When a fire destroyed the Ridgewood Pharmacy in May 1966, active prescriptions and refills from that pharmacy were transferred to Normand's.
Ten years after purchasing and operating the Northampton Street business, Normand Grenier relocated to an expanded space at 522 South Street, which he purchased. This tenement building with a couple of retail spaces was constructed in 1913. This was the location of the former Schmitter's Pharmacy, which operated in the building from 1913 to 1970.
In the mid-1970s, the soda and ice cream fountain was shut down. Also, during the 1970s, a regular feature of the Holyoke-Transcript was Mr. Grenier's informative column entitled "Your Pharmacist Speaks."
In 1984, customers could purchase money orders at the pharmacy and, a year later, pay their telephone bills there. Several smaller stores used the in-store bill-pay service to attract additional customers.
Mr. Grenier, who had experienced health challenges, had largely retired from full-time work in 1984, and his son, Ronald Grenier, was the Registered Pharmacist. Also, Normand's wife, Claire (Larocque) Grenier, continued to assist in operating the business.
On April 16, 1988, Normand's Pharmacy closed its doors. The nationwide impact of pharmacy chains affected the small shopkeeper, who could not compete with their greater buying power and lower prices. Prescriptions were transferred to Fay's Drug Store, located in the Zayre/K-Mart Plaza, where Ronald Grenier was then employed.
Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript & Transcript-Telegram; publication dates and pages are shown.
Ancestry.com (paid subscription): Genealogy Records and Price & Lee, Holyoke, Massachusetts, City Directories
HolyokeMemories.blogspot.com Schmitter's Pharmacy
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