Ted Wooster is fascinated with people’s reactions to the disappearance of a sign that hung from the brick wall of the building at 5 Friendship St. that has been in his family since the middle of the last century.
Wooster, a pharmacist at Community Pharmacy of Waldoboro and a selectman in the town, said Jan. 15 he last saw the Waltz Pharmacy sign dismantled in the store where he and his father worked, beginning in 1952. He said there were “numerous other pieces of the dismantlement.” inside the building when he was there just prior to New Year’s and that he believed the sign was taken by Rite Aid employees.
“They [Rite Aid] had rent on the building and were furnishing directions to employees of Waltz Pharmacy,” Wooster said. He said representatives of the law offices of Bernstein Shur also provided direction for the removal of material and equipment.
On Nov. 5, 2012 Waltz Pharmacy announced it would permanently close the doors of the Waldoboro store two weeks later. Business Manager Susan Blake said at the time that Rite Aid was purchasing some inventory and other assets, as well as the store’s prescription accounts.
The store was reopened after being purchased by Community Pharmacies of Augusta.
Community Pharmacies’ president and chief executive officer Joe Bruno said he was not sure who took the sign, which he believes has historical significance.
“We’re going to replace the sign,” Bruno said. “It won’t say Rexall. That Rexall sign is worth a lot of money…We would like that sign to have stayed right there.”
Two similar Rexall drug store signs, but without neon lighting, appear at the online auction site, eBay. One is priced at $799 and the other at $1499; neither has any bids listed.
Bruno said he believes the sign was removed shortly before New Year’s. He said Rite Aid employees took most of the fixtures inside the building.
Wooster said he doubts the sign has much monetary value, but he would like to know what happened to it and he is trying to determine who owns the it. “Legally, the precise ownership has not been decided in a court of law,” he said.
“It had been there 60 years and deteriorated considerably,” Wooster said. He said his father bought the sign in 1951, as a condition of buying the store. “It was up there in numerous storms and never moved.”
“I’ll be interested in seeing how this game plays out,” Wooster said.
A spokesperson for Rite Aid was unable to provide requested information by press time. Attempts to reach representatives of Waltz Pharmacy and the Bernstein Shur law firm were unsuccessful.
