Guerin’s Pharmacy – Summerville, South Carolina

Guerin’s Pharmacy in downtown Summerville is located at 140 S. Main Street. It has the distinction of not only being the oldest pharmacy in South Carolina, but also Summerville’s longest running business!

The story of Guerin’s pharmacy begins with Dr. Schwettman, who moved to Summerville during the Civil War to open a drugstore. He sold his business in 1871 to Dr. Henry Charles Guerin, who later sold it the Dunning family. Today Dr. Barbara Dunning runs the pharmacy while her semi-retired father, Charles Dunning, works here part time.

While waiting for your prescription to be filled you can have a hot dog, sip on a fountain soda, or enjoy an ice cream milk shake. History comes alive inside the shop where wooden glass cabinets hang on the back wall, colored medicine bottles line the window ledges, and decorative tin art covers the ceiling. This is a place that will take you back in time.

SCIWAY gives a very special thanks to Linda C. Shaw of Summerville for this great description and picture taken in November 2011.