PORT ANGELES — Jack Zaccardo will talk about patent medicines and the bottles they came in during History Tales at 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
The North Olympic History Center/Clallam County Historical Society’s History Tales presentations resume for the season at the First United Methodist Church, 110 E. Seventh St. The program will be in the social hall; parking and entry are on Laurel Street.
History Tales is free and open to the public.
Those who attend this program are encouraged to bring any patent medicine bottles in their collections.
Patent medicines were a staple in pioneers’ homes and early drug stores.
These concoctions promised to cure any and all ailments, from gall stones to catarrh.
Dr. Kilmer’s Swamp-Root claimed, “Druggists who have your health and welfare at heart will sell you Swamp-Root when called for, as experienced druggists usually know the value of Swamp-Root as a Diuretic to the kidneys.”
Lydia E. Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound promised to cure women’s ailments and help “keep them fit to work.”
Zaccardo, who retired from the state Department of Natural Resources, is originally from Port Angeles and is a fourth-generation timber worker.
For more information, call the North Olympic History Center’s office at 360-452-2662 or email artifact@olypen.com.
