Exploring the 135-year-old pharmacy in Our Town Milford

MILFORD, Ill. (WCIA) — Pharmacies play a big role in community health, but it’s not always easy to access one in rural areas. In Our Town Milford, that’s not the case. There has been a pharmacy in downtown since 1889, and a dedicated team is committed to keeping family history alive.

Today, there’s a whole lot of history nuzzled into the walls of Kelly’s Drugs.

“Blu’s was the first owner that I have labels for and he was down at the corner,” Jeanne Vanhoveln said.

Ownership changed hands, and it eventually moved down the street where Vanhoveln’s dad eventually bought it. She later took it over.

“I’m proud of the history that’s been here, I’m proud that we’ve been able to work and weather the storms for so many years,” the owner said.

Vanhoveln and her sister, Cynthia Hacherl, help keep the history alive. The front of the store includes pieces of history showcasing how the store has changed year after year.

“It’s important to keep rural health care in the communities especially when another pharmacy is so far away,” Vanhoveln said.

To do that, they’re keeping up with the ever-changing times. A few years ago, Kelly’s Drugs became licensed and certified to give out the COVID-19 vaccine.

Hacherl returns to her hometown from Indianapolis as often as possible to help administer the vaccines.

“We’ve opened it up to do shingles, pneumonia, flu vaccine, and we’ve become a real resource for the whole area,” she explained.

Over the years, she has vaccinated thousands of people in and around town.

“It makes you feel good because reading about vaccines in the rural communities across the country, the rate of vaccination is very low,” Hacherl said.

This duo is dedicated to making sure that doesn’t happen in Our Town Milford, and want to maintain access to healthcare for people in rural areas, while never forgetting their pharmaceutical roots every step of the way.

“It’s such a beautiful store, and you get to see the history of pharmacy,” Vanhoveln said. “That’s something you’re not going to see anywhere else.”

You can see and explore Kelly’s Drugs on Friday, Aug. 23 in Milford. The WCIA news team will be near their building during the 4, 5 and 6 p.m. newscasts. There will also be games, food, drinks and live music.

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