McMURDO AND COMPANY

Thomas McMurdo opened a drug store on Water Street in 1823. In April of 1890, Thomas McMurdo died, at the age of 69, and the business was taken over by John McNeil. McNeil continued to operate the business until his death in 1898, at which time his son Thomas took over. Thomas ran the business until 1918, when he died at sea in the wreck of the Florizel.

Thomas McNeil was succeeded by his brother-in-law, R. G. Rendell, who reorganized the company. Rendell became director and manager until 1928 when C. P. Ayre took over. Harold McPherson succeeded Ayre in 1930. The business prospered into the 1940s, with another branch located on Military Road. McMurdo's continued to operate until recent years, as they operated a large wholesale business and bottled numerous products under the Acme label.

Photo 1: Partial light blue coloured prescription bottle embossed “MC. MURDO & Co. / CHEMISTS / ST. JOHNS . N.F.” Circa 1880, shape: ovoid with two flat sides.

Photo 2: Light blue coloured prescription bottles embossed “T. MC. MURDO & Co. / CHEMISTS & DRUGGISTS / ST. JOHNS . NF / EST 1823.” 1890s, shape: rectangular with flat chamfers.

Photo 3: Prescription bottle embossed “From Thomas Mc. Murdo & Co. / Chemists / Water St. St. John's, NF.” c. 1900, shape: Baltimore oval. Only example known to exist

Photo 4: Prescription bottle embossed with a crown motif and the words “T. MC. MURDO & Co. / CHEMISTS / WATER ST / ST. JOHNS . N' F' L' D / ESTABLISHED / 1823.” 1890s, shape: Philadelphia oval.

Photo 5: Prescription bottle embossed with a mortar and pestle (surrounded in foliage) and the words “THOS. M'MURDO & CO. / DRUGGIST / ST. JOHN'S / N F L D.” Circa 1900, shape: Wallaceburg oval.

Photo 6: Prescription bottle embossed with an owl on a mortar and pestle and the words “McMURDO & CO. / CHEMISTS / ST. JOHNS, N.F.” Approximately 1900-1920, shape; princess oval.

Photo 7: Cobalt blue prescription bottle embossed with an owl on a mortar and pestle and the words “McMURDO & CO. / CHEMISTS / ST. JOHNS, N.F.” Approximately 1900-1920, shape; princess oval.

Photo 8: Paper label for "Cantharidine Hair Tonic." c. 1900

Photo 9: Paper label for "Nutritice Hypophosphites." c.1900

Photo 10: Paper label dated 1921

Photo 11: Paper label for "Camporated Chaulk."