As the oldest pharmacy in continuous operation in Alliance, Nebraska, Thiele Drug Co. Inc. has literally grown with the city. Begun in 1888 by T.D. Shurtz, who moved the business from South Auburn, NE, the store had several owners in the late 1800’s. Yet from 1904, when Harry F. Thiele, a pharmacist and jeweler, purchased and named the store, there have only been four owners in over 95 years of existence.
In the early 1900’s the store was one store with a soda fountain, jewelry and drugstore all connected. After Thiele died in 1944, Harlan & Lois Gorder became sole owners. It was their decision to move the fountain to the drugstore’s north wall and seal the passageway which had connected the businesses.
V.E. (Swede) Lierk purchased the store in 1969 and remodeled the pharmacy and later removed the fountain that was in disrepair. After graduating from Creighton, Charles (Swede’s son) and daughter-in-law Ellen returned to Alliance to take over the business.
In 1997, Ben Fischer, the owner of Thiele Jewelry, decided to retire and sell Ellen and Chas his part of the building. Retracing history, the Lierks once again opened a passageway to the north store and added a finer gift line to their pharmacy.
In the early 1900’s the store was one store with a soda fountain, jewelry and drugstore all connected. After Thiele died in 1944, Harlan & Lois Gorder became sole owners. It was their decision to move the fountain to the drugstore’s north wall and seal the passageway which had connected the businesses.
V.E. (Swede) Lierk purchased the store in 1969 and remodeled the pharmacy and later removed the fountain that was in disrepair. After graduating from Creighton, Charles (Swede’s son) and daughter-in-law Ellen returned to Alliance to take over the business.
In 1997, Ben Fischer, the owner of Thiele Jewelry, decided to retire and sell Ellen and Chas his part of the building. Retracing history, the Lierks once again opened a passageway to the north store and added a finer gift line to their pharmacy.