Rees C. Roberts, Druggist

This building stood at the corner of Butler Avenue and Main Street holds a special place in the Ambler community. The building appears in old photographs and postcards that defined the town, but what about this place that makes it special? Its architecture? Its owner? Let's find out!

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Who Was Rees C. Roberts?

Rees C. Roberts (1870-1948) was the son of Matthew H. Roberts who moved to Pennsylvania from Virginia as a fire brick manufacturer, and served in the Civil War in the 192nd Pennsylvania Volunteers. Growing up in Plymouth Township, he attended Norristown High School (class of 1888) and the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy (class of 1892). He became a member of the board of trustees of the college after that.

Fun Fact # 1: Rees was a strong supporter of Theodore Roosevelt who ran as a Progressive during the 1916 election. He was even a delegate at the 1916 Progressive Convention. He even volunteered to join a proposed Theodore Roosevelt Division during World War I. But that idea was later abandoned.

During World War I, he was commissioned a first lieutenant by the Governor and formed Company I, First Infantry, Pennsylvania Reserve Militia in Ambler where men from ages 18 to 45 can join. He also served as special enrolling agent of the Recruiting Service, United States Shipping Board, during the period of the war. He was treasurer of the Ambler Branch, American Red Cross.

He was a member of the American Druggists Syndicate, and one of the directors of the Aseptic Products Company.

Clipping from Ambler Gazette (August 22, 1918): Page 4

Clipping from Ambler Gazette (March 27, 1919): Page 6

Clipping from Ambler Gazette (May 29, 1919): Page 4

Clipping from Ambler Gazette (July 24, 1919): Page 4

Clipping from Ambler Gazette (October 30, 1919): Page 5

Google Satellite Plan View: 3 E Butler Ave, Ambler, PA 19002

A 1905 postcard viewing Butler Avenue (Images of America)

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Bibliography

American Druggist and Pharmaceutical Record, Volume 54. (New York: American Druggist Company, 1909): 115.

Herman, Andrew Mark. Eastern Montgomery County. (Charleston: Arcadia Publishing, 1999): 71.

Hunsicker, Clifton Swenk. Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, A History, Volume 3. (New York, 1923): 458-459.

N.A.R.D. Journal (1916): 828.

"Penna. Reserve Militia." Ambler Gazette. March 28, 1918. Page 5. https://digitalarchives.powerlibrary.org/papd/islandora/object/papd%3Awivp-gazett_10871.

The Voice of the Retail Druggist 3, no. 11, 12 (1909): 410, 450-451.