World's Most Unusual Drug Store

 Webb's City was the brainchild of James Earl "Doc" Webb. He bought into the St. Petersburg, Florida drug store in 1925, and within a year he had bought out his business partner. At that time, he changed the name of the store to Webb's Cut Rate Drug Store. Webb kept his prices low and his business actually thrived during the Great Depression. He used his profits to expand his business, buying up everything around it, until he eventually owned seventy stores covering 7 blocks. As the business expanded, Webbs didn't just sell drugs; he also sold hardware, furniture, clothing, and provided services such as haircuts, dry cleaning, and dance lessons. At one point, he had an average of over 60,000 customers per day!

Doc Webb used clever gimmicks to attract customers, including special attractions like mermaids, chimpanzees, and shooting the flying Zacchinis out of a cannon in the parking lot. At one point he even had a limited-time offer of dollar bills for sale at 95 cents. The gimmicks worked for a long time, but eventually lost their effectiveness. Doc Webb sold out in 1974, and the business declared bankruptcy in 1979.

In 1949, Norma was toiling away at the Victoria Paper Mill in Fulton, new York when she received a postcard from Millie, who wrote:

Dear Norma,

You really should take a vacation here. It is hot but wonderful. Getting a nice tan. Pop's really enjoying it too. 

Millie

Motel Topton - North Carolina

I feel like I've been here before. Maybe it was in the movie Motel Hell or Mountaintop Motel Massacre. In any case, I think I'd better head out before sunset.

W Tripoli Italiana

What's up with the W Tripoli Italiana stamp on this postcard? In 1912, when this postcard was sent, Italy had just won the Turco-Italian War and been awarded Libya as a prize. Although this war only lasted for 13 months, it showed some notable advances in warfare technology such as the airplane, which was used not only in reconnaissance, but also to drop a bomb on Turkish troops in Libya. The airplane on this card hardly resembles a bomber, but I think the reference is intended anyway. The card is originally French; the Tripoli stamp was probably added later.

The postcard was sent to someone I would love to have met in person, the carissima (dearest) Carmelina Piccolo. I admit it's because I love her name.

As luck would have it, another Carmelina graciously agreed to translate this card for me. You can see what Carmelina's creating these days on her blog, Creative Carmelina. Although Carmelina couldn't make out the last sentence, here is her translation:

Endicott, 11 Nov. 1912

Dearest C.

I'm sorry that I haven't written you sooner, but it's because I was waiting to give you a small photo of myself. Please wait patiently and do not worry. We are all well here.