Wray's Guardian Pharmacy has been located in downtown Alliston for almost 70 years, providing pharmacy and health services to our satisfied customers. Wray's Guardian Pharmacy is independently owned and is proud to be a member of the Guardian Banner of pharmacies. We offer “Option +” brand products, a high quality, cost effective alternative to more expensive name brands. Compliance packaging of medications and nutritional supplements is a specialty at our pharmacy. Improve your health and take the worry out of remembering when to take your medications. We also offer lottery tickets, gift cards, greeting cards, fashion accessories and jewellery. Our History in Alliston, spanning 3 centuries.
1877 - 1902:
In 1877, Isaac McMahon opened his first drugstore in Alliston, (location unknown). In 1881, he made the decision to move to Dr. Bell’s Building, presumably referring to Dr. Bell’s residence/office located on the northwest corner of King & Victoria Sts. and presumably to better serve Dr. Bell’s patients. By c.1885, Mr. McMahon had left Dr. Bell’s location and returned to the business section on Victoria St. The building he occupied at c.33 Victoria St. was destroyed in the devastating 1891 fire. In 1892, he reopened in a new building erected at 33 Victoria St. and remained in business until selling to Edmund Schell in 1902. Schell’s Drugstore, 1902 - 1938:
In 1902, Edmund Schell moved to Alliston from Stayner after purchasing Mr. McMahon’s drugstore business. On the occasion of his 25th anniversary as a druggist in Alliston, he stated that “the greatest pleasure of his twenty-five years here was derived from the association with wholesome friends unhampered by the restrictions of closely packed urban communities where the majority of people are not acquainted with the people living across the street”. In c.1935, he became an associate of the I.D.A chain of drugstores, (Independent Druggists Alliance)*. During his time in business, he was an active member of the Board of Trade and was three times elected as town councillor. Due to ill health, he sold his business in 1938 to Fred Gallagher. Schell passed away in 1942. Gallaugher’s Drug Store, 1938 - 1943:
T. Fred Gallaugher, a native Allistonian, graduated from Alliston High School in 1929 with hopes of becoming a registered pharmacist. During the next two years, he became well known within the business community as he apprenticed with local pharmacist, Mr. Hipwell. In 1931, he was accepted into Ontario College of Pharmacy, (OCP), joining fellow Allistonian, Marvin Patton, who had enrolled the previous year. To earn money for their college expenses, the two students opened a drugstore in the summer of 1932 at Wasaga Beach, a busy resort village on the shores of Georgian Bay. Following graduation, Mr. Gallaugher accepted employment in a Toronto drugstore owned by Thomas Sweet. Learning of Mr. Schell’s impending retirement in 1938, Mr. Gallaugher decided to take the opportunity to open his own business in his hometown. “His ascension to the business fraternity was hailed with delight by business people and citizens generally”. In the summer of 1942, he married Doris McLaren of Collingwood. In early January 1943, Mr. Gallaugher was hospitalized with double pneumonia. He passed away shortly thereafter. Townsfolk were shocked and deeply saddened by his death. While negotiating the sale of his drug and stationery business, Fred’s widow and his mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. Gallaugher, (T. was a former well-known butcher in town), carried on as best they could under the circumstances. Sweet, Fred’s former employer, kindly assisted the family until a new owner could be found. Byerlay’s Drug Store, 1943 - 1953:
Ross Byerlay, native of Tillsonburg and a pharmacist working in South Porcupine, purchased Gallaugher’s Drug Store within a month of Fred’s passing. Byerlay, a 1935 graduate of OCP, had been well acquainted with Fred while at the college. Mr. & Mrs. Byerlay and their son immediately moved to town. Unfortunately, in 1954 due to ill health, Mr. Byerlay was forced to sell his business. Although he hoped to return following convalescence to assist the new owner, R. Wray, he was unable to do so. Wray’s Pharmacy, 1954 - 1989:
On January 1, 1954, Robert J. (R. J.) Wray opened for business at 33 Victoria St. Wray was no stranger to town. Raised in Beeton, he had attended Alliston High School and before entering OCP had apprenticed three years with Mr. Schell and Fred Gallaugher. Following OCP graduation in 1943, he enlisted in the Canadian Army and served three years in England and Europe as a dispenser with No. 3 General Hospital. He returned to work in Toronto and in 1950 married Hazel McAuley. In 1953, he too looked forward to returning home to own his own business, albeit under the unfortunate circumstance of Mr. Byerlay’s forced retirement. Wray, an active Rotarian during his many years as a local druggist, remained in business until his passing in August, 1988. Wray’s Guardian Pharmacy 1989 - 2023:
In September 1989 Randy Greenman, another native of Alliston, along with his partner, David Head, purchased Wray’s Pharmacy. At the time of purchase, Mr. Greenman was the supervising pharmacist at Patton’s Drug Store. It has continued business under the same name, Wray’s Guardian Pharmacy, as it had been known since the 60s, bringing the pharmacy into yet another century. Wray’s Guardian Pharmacy 2023 and onward:
In March, 2023, Angelo Sarsam, who had been a practicing pharmacist at Wray’s since 2015, purchased the pharmacy, along with Randy and David’s pharmacy in Cookstown. Angelo and his teams continue to provide friendly, personal service to the patients and families of Alliston, Cookstown and surrounding areas. The business, first opened in 1877, is considered the second longest continuous business in Alliston, surpassed only by the community newspaper, The Herald, dating back to 1871.
