2 days ago
Repairs reveals a piece of history in Durban North
A BUSINESS owner in Broadway made a historical discovery after maintenance had to be conducted on the store's signage.
Merisha Nayager, the owner of Kensington Pharmacy, unearthed a remarkable piece of the suburb's heritage, which she believes is the store's original handpainted signage dating back to the pharmacy's founding in 1951.
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'We had to remove the lightbox signage as it needed to be refurbished. When I saw the original signage, I stood there in awe. It's handpainted art which you don't seem to find in this modern day. It reminded me that the pharmacy is not just a business, it's deeply rooted in the history of this area,' she said.
Before being wowed by this discovery, there were tiles covering it, Nayager said.
'As we chipped away, we noticed some lettering. Little did I know that it would be a hand-drawn and handpainted sign which I believe to have been created during the pharmacy's earliest days under its original owner, Dr. Fred Clarke.'
Dr. Clarke established the pharmacy practice in 1951, and it soon became the neighborhood institution. He then went on to study medicine and once his studies were completed he sold it to Peter and Keith Carruthers, forming a long-standing legacy that has seen only three owners over its 70-plus year history.
'Community reaction has been swift. Residents are just as surprised, and excited as we are about the old signage,' she said.
'People have also been asking if we'll restore or keep it. There are mixed feelings. It's old and weathered, but it has so much character. We're exploring ways to preserve it,' added Nayager.
The emotional impact of the find hasn't been lost on the team at Kensington Pharmacy.
'It makes us proud to know that we work in a place that has such rich history and strong ties to the community.'
'To see the beginnings of this business and where it all started reminds us to carry the legacy forward while evolving.'
She added that the pharmacy has always blended the old with the new, from keeping vintage medicine bottles to honouring customer memories like those who would come in asking for specific colours of nail polish from years past.
'It was not only compounding that was done here in the past. The pharmacy also custom-mixed nail polish and would take special requests from our customers who wanted a specific shade. Imagine that.'
Nayager is inviting the community to be part of the story.
'If anyone has photos, stories, or even memories of the pharmacy, we'd love to hear from you. This is more than a business, it's part of Kensington's heart. Pop in and let's chat, ' she said.
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