Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
L to r: Kathy Berg, Paul Hendrickson and Sherry Groom share their retirement cake.
DAYTON - Paul Hendrickson began working at Elk Drug, in downtown Dayton, in 1968. He and his wife, Marcene, purchased the business in 1979 when the pharmacy was 90 years old.
Now, nearly 47 years later, Hendrickson has concluded his career as a pharmacist and has retired - for the second time. He is followed by longtime employees Sherry Groom and Kathy Berg.
"I feel blessed to have had such loyal employees and customers - from both Dayton and Waitsburg - over the years," Hendrickson said. The Hendricksons sold Elk Drug to Sean and Andee Thurston in April 2011 and Paul retired from full-time work but remained part-time to help as a pharmacists until his official retirement on August 31.
"I had a nice transition period," Hendrickson said. "Now it's time for the newer generation to take over. I've been greatly blessed with good mental and physical health and want to spend time with family and enjoy some freedom we haven't had in a long time."
Dozens of customers, colleagues, friends, family, and community members stopped by Elk Drug on Thursday afternoon during an informal retirement party (complete with cake shaped just like the familiar, round Elk Drug sign) to wish Hendrickson, Groom and Berg well.
"Thank you, thank you for your decades of service," said Dr. Michael Luce on Thursday, shaking hands with the three retirees. Luce, another well-known member of the local medical community who recently retired, has worked with the three drugstore employees closely over the years.
Both Groom and Berg worked at Elk Drug for more than three decades, starting back when the now-125-yearold establishment was still located on the corner of 2nd and E. Main streets (where Columbia County Public Health is now).
Berg retired as assistant pharmacist in August of this year but has continued to help out in the shop until now. Groom, who worked as bookkeeper and clerk, retired from full-time employment three years ago but came back shortly after to help out part-time behind the counter.
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