Category:American Medicine Company

The American Medicine Company store opened in April 1893 at 516 Hamilton Street. Owned by Paul Livingood, the store sold the medicines of the day, consisting of patent medicines. The store also sold a variety of soaps, baby food, toilet paper, lotions, perfumes, and also had a soda fountain. The store did well in its first few years, expanding into 518 Hamilton in 1897. The 643 Hamilton Street property became available in 1898 and the store moved into the single-sized building, which had much more foot traffic due to its Center Square location than the store near Fifth and Hamilton did.

Livingood retired to Cuba in the summer of 1906, and the business was sold to Jacob B. Waidlich. Waidlich was better known at the time as a major figure in the Lehigh County Democratic Party. From 1901 to 1904 he was county sheriff. As owner, Waidlich aligned himself with the Rexall Drug Store chain. In 1919, Waidlich expanded the business by taking over the adjacent property at 641 Hamilton Street, previously occupied by the Hamilton Shoe Company.

With the business prospering, Waidlich purchased the Peters and Jacoby Building at 627-629 Hamilton (at Church and Hamilton) in 1925 which was built in the 1870s. The older property was torn down and in its place he erected a new building. Initially known as the Stag Hotel, it later became known as the Waidelich Building in 1932 and retains that name today.

In 1932 the American Medicine Company became a victim of the Great Depression and it became a Sun Ray Drug Store. It later was converted to Emil E. Otto, a women's ready-to-wear dress store in the 1950s. Today known as The Archive, retail store specializing in footwear, apparel, and accessories for men, Women, and Kids