David Versus the Two Goliaths

So this past Saturday was "Small Business Saturday." The ads and publicity around the event must have worked, because it got me thinking about Norton and the modern village I hope it can become. I considered my local buying habits, and I thought about the local merchants in town. One shop really attracted the bulk of my focus, Haskins Pharmacy.

I have lived in Norton since 1997. I try to buy local whenever I can. Despite that, I have never once set foot in Haskins. That is going to change.

In an earlier piece, I made a tongue in cheek reference to Norton's rather peculiar The District consists of two Goliaths ( and ) and one David ().

I can't imagine what it was like for the local druggist to hear that after decades of serving Norton, that not one, but two corporate giants were setting up shop within the store's shadow.

I have nothing against CVS and Walgreens. I shop at both chains and I will continue to shop there. They are both great stores. However, out of sheer respect of the perseverance that Haskins has shown, I am resolving to make at least one purchase a month there for the next year.

I don't even know what they sell, but I'll find something. I remember as a kid that I would always talk my mother into buying me a lollipop at Dykeman's Drugstore in Stoughton (before the Osco came in and put Mr. Dykeman out of business). Hopefully Haskins sells lollipops, that will be my fall back purchase when my medicine cabinet is stocked. 

Before writing this piece, I deliberately didn't research if there is a Mr. or Mrs. Haskins still running the local drug store. I suppose I will learn all about it over the next year. I hope there is. I hope I don't find out that Rite Aid secretly owns and operates the store.

I also think I read that Haskins used to have a soda fountain. I wonder if I promise to buy a milk shake every week they will bring back the fountain. Wishful thinking, I suppose.