KRINN'S PHARMACY, 609 CUSTER AVE., EVANSTON - Edward M. Krinn, R.Ph.G.

Those people who are familiar with my blog already know that I spent my childhood on Harvard Terrace in Evanston, Illinois.  I recently heard from someone who grew up two doors away from me and she said that "Harvard Terrace in the 50s and 60s was a great place to grow up."  I certainly agree with that.  One place that was familiar to us was our neighborhood pharmacy - Krinn Drug at 609 Custer Avenue.  Krinn's (as we always referred to it) was owned by Edward M. Krinn, a Registered Pharmacist.  Recently I was filling Find a Grave requests in Westlawn Cemetery and I came across the grave of Edward Krinn's brother Joseph.  That made me think about the pharmacy and Edward Krinn.  I decided that would be a good topic for a blog article inasmuch as it brought back many happy memories.  So, before we take a look at the Krinn Pharmacies (yes, there was more than one), let's see what we can dig up about Edward M. Krinn, R. Ph. G.

Edward Krinn was born Yitzhok Krinsky on September 27, 1910 in Chicago to Nachman Musaf (Nathan) Krinsky (1862-1936) and Rachel Elkes (1867-1957).  Both Nachman and Rachel were from what was called "Russia/Poland" back then but is now Belarus.  They were married January 15, 1891 in what is now Hrodna, Belarus.  The groom was twenty-eight years old; the bride was twenty-four.

Nachman and Rachel Krinsky were blessed with six children - three boys and three girls.  They are:  Chashe (Anna) M. Krinsky/Mrs. Dietrich Kemptner (1892-1981), Leva (Leah) Krinn (1896-1984), Elisheva (Ella) Krinski/Mrs. Enos H. Margolin (1897-1985), Abraham Musaf (Robert) Krinsky (1899-1965), Joseph Krinsky (1905-1983), and Yitzhok (Edward) M. Krinn (1910-1990).

Some members of the family "Americanized" their last name to "Krinn," the others stuck with "Krinsky."

Nachman Krinsky was a cigar maker by trade.  He came by himself to the United States arriving on August 3, 1900.  When he came to the US to get established, his wife, three daughters and one son waited in Russia/Poland for him to send for them.  He did send for them and they came to the US on the RMS Etruria, departing from Liverpool, England, June 11, 1904 and arriving in New York June 19, 1904.

The RMS Etruria

The 1910 Census Enumerator came to the Krinsky home on April 18, 1910.  The family was living at 2150 W. Armitage in Chicago:

2150 W. Armitage, Chicago, Illinois

  

The family consisted of:  Nachman Krinsky (45 years old), wife Rachel (42), daughters Annie (18), Leva (15) and Ela (13), sons Abe (11) and Joseph (4).  Nachman and Rachel said they had been married twenty years, and it was the first marriage for them both.  Rachel said she had given birth to five children, and all five were alive in 1910.  All were born in Russia (Jewish) except Joseph who was born in Illinois.  All of them could read, write and speak English except for Joseph.  Nachman gave his occupation as "Cigar Maker in a Factory."  Annie was a Stenographer.  Although Yitzhok would not be born until later that year, this gives you a good idea of what he was born into.

As stated above, Yitzhok Krinsky was born September 27, 1910 in Chicago.  The Cook County, Illinois Birth Register shows his first name as Isadore.  

The 1920 US Census shows the Krinsky family has moved to 1856 N. Humboldt Boulevard in Chicago:

1856 N. Humboldt Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois

.   

The family consisted of:  Nachman Krinsky (54 years old), wife Rachel (53), daughters Leah (24) and Ella (23), and sons Abe (20), Joe (14), and Edward (9).  We do not know when Yitzhok/Isadore Krinsky changed his first name to Edward but we see from this Census that he was calling himself Edward by the age of 9. 

Nachman Krinsky reported that he came to the United States in 1900, the rest in 1905 (it was actually 1904) except for Joseph and Edward who were born in Illinois.  

All those who were not native born reported that they became naturalized citizens in 1910 (it was actually July 16, 1909).  They could all read/write and speak English except those born outside the US said their native tongue was "Yiddish."

Nachman reported his occupation as Cigar Maker in a Cigar Shop, Leah was a Bookkeeper in a Cloak House, Ella did Clerical Work for a Newspaper, and Abe was an Office Man in a Glove Factory.

Anna Krinsky no longer lived with the family - she had married Dietrich Klemptner in 1913.

Edward Krinn attended Hibbard High School in Chicago, Class of 1926.  Here is his yearbook photo:

The 1930 US Census finds the Krinsky Family living at 4807 N. St. Louis Avenue in Chicago:

4807 N. St. Louis Ave., Chicago

  

The family consisted of Nachman Krinsky (65 years old), wife Rachel (61), daughter Leah (28), and sons Joseph (24) and Edward (19).  They reported that they rented their apartment for $70/month and they did have a radio.  Nachman said he was been 30 years old when he got married, Rachel said she was 26.  Actually he was 28 and she was 24.  But remember, the Jewish calendar does not always easily translate to the Gregorian calendar.  Interestingly, they now reported their mother tongue as "Polish" as opposed to the "Yiddish" they had previously reported.

Nachman said his Occupation was "Cigar Maker for a Tobacco Manufacturing Company."  Rachel did not report an occupation, Leah was a "Bookkeeper for a Retail Dress Shop," Joseph was the "Proprietor of a Drug Store," and Edward reported his occupation as "None."

Edward's older brother Joseph Krinsky had graduated from the University of Illinois in Champaign in 1925 with a Certificate of Pharmacy, followed in 1926 with a Graduate of Pharmacy degree.   

Edward first attended Crane College, then followed in his older brother's footsteps to the University of Illinois where he obtained his Pharmacy degree,  While at the U of I Edward joined the Kappa Alpha Sigma fraternity.

After graduation Edward joined Joseph in his pharmacy at 2901 W. Devon in Chicago in 1932.  

2901 W. Devon, Chicago

In March of 1933, it was announced that Edward M. Krinn was engaged to Florence "Dolly" Chiplovitz of Hammond, Indiana.  Her parents threw her an engagement party that was written about in the Lake County (IN) Times on March 13, 1933:

Florence Chiplovitz was born April 28, 1910 in Iron Mountain, Michigan to Peter Chiplovitz (1868-1938) and Gertrude Meltzer (1867-1936).  Here is her Birth Certificate:

Peter and Gertrude were from Russia/Poland like the Krinskys.  They married in the old country and came to the United States in 1902.  When they came to the US they "Americanized" their last name to Chiplovitz from its original "Tseplovich."  As time went on, the second generation just used "Chip" as their last name.  Peter Chiplovitz owned a grocery store in Hammond, Indiana.  

Peter and Gertrude were blessed with ten children:  Sarah/Mrs. Louis Green (1884-1984), Anna (1888-1970), Sophie/Mrs. Maurice Bishop (1891-1982), Samuel (1892-1915), Oscar (1895-1977), Helen Anna/Mrs. Mannie L. Bishop (1898-1989), Bertha "Birdie"/Mrs. Herman Krieger/Mrs. Ben Diamond (1900-1982),  Bessie/Mrs. Leo C. Arkin (1901-1967), Harry (1908-1995), and Florence "Dolly"/Mrs. Edward Krinn (1910-2004).

Dolly's brother Oscar changed his last name to "Love."

Dolly Chiplovitz graduated from Hammond High School, Hammond, Indiana in 1928.  Here is her high school yearbook picture:

Dolly Chiplovitz and Edward Krinsky were married September 16, 1933 in Chicago.  The bride was twenty-three; the groom was twenty-two:

The Hammond (IN) Times - 18 Sep 1933

After their honeymoon in the Wisconsin Dells, the newlyweds were living at 3356 Eastwood Avenue, Chicago.  A modern apartment building occupies that spot today.

In 1935 Edward Krinn opened his own pharmacy at 609 Custer Avenue in Evanston.  Here's the entry from the 1935 Evanston Directory:

It also indicated that the newlyweds have moved - to 1335 W. Birchwood Avenue in Chicago:

1335 W. Birchwood Avenue, Chicago

Note:  Everyone (including my mother), called my father "Craig."  It was the same way with Edward Krinn.  In all the years I knew of him, I never heard anyone call him Ed or Edward or even Eddie.  It was always "Krinn."  "I ran into Krinn in the post office today," or I stopped by Krinn's on the way home from work," or "Have the doctor call Krinn."  So, for the remainder of this article if I am referring to Edward M. Krinn I'll just call him Krinn.

Krinn had worked closely with his brother Joseph at the pharmacy on Devon.  He knew that he needed an additional pharmacist to work with him in Evanston.  I'm not sure how they came to know each other, but in 1935 Krinn hired Kenneth Brooks Teague (1900-1966) to work with him in the Evanston store.  From the beginning Mr. Teague was Krinn's right hand man.  In fact, Teague died from a massive heart attack while working in the pharmacy in 1966. 

From the very beginning Krinn recognized the power of advertising.  He wanted to make sure that everyone was aware of the new pharmacy in town.  Here Krinn's is prominently featured in a full page ad from the Evanston Review of October 24, 1935:

In about 1933 Krinn's father's health began to deteriorate. He had retired in 1926 when he was sixty years old, but as he got older he had more and more health problems.  It got to the point where he could no longer be cared for at home, and the family moved him into the Ellis Avenue Rest Home at 4836 N. Drake in Chicago:

4836 N. Drake, Chicago

Nachman Krinsky died in the Ellis Avenue Rest Home on May 17, 1936.  He was seventy years old (his tombstone says 72).  He died from heart disease.  Here is his Death Certificate:

Here is his Death Notice:

Chicago Tribune - 18 May 1936

He is buried at Jewish Waldheim Cemetery in Forest Park, Gate 54 - Order B'rith Abraham - Row 60, Lot 60, Grave 3:

Nachman Musaf Krinsky

Hebrew Translation:  Nochman son of Yudel David

The 1940 US Census shows Krinn and his wife still living at 1335 W. Birchwood in Chicago.  The family consisted of:  Edward (29 years old) and Florence (29).  Neither of them was currently in school; Edward had 5 years of college; Florence had one year of college.  Edward listed his occupation as "Pharmacist/Proprietor of a Retail Drug Store."  They were both living in the same place in 1935.

The Evanston Review from July 19, 1945 told of a rampage that damaged five cars, including Krinn's:

Times certainly have changed.  The Evanston Review of April 25, 1946 reported a robbery at Krinn's:

The robbers stole cigarettes, perfume and cash - no mention of any stolen drugs.  If this were to happen today, they would steal the drugs and cash and forget the cigarettes and perfume.

Speaking of perfume, the Evanston Review from June 6, 1946 carried Krinn's ad for "Masculine Toiletries:"

In addition to being a pharmacy, Krinn's also sold film and film developing, toys, newspapers and magazines, chewing gum and mints, and personal care items including perfumes and colognes.

But every once in a while Krinn would advertise something you would not expect to find in a pharmacy, like this ad for the "Color King Wonder Pen":

Chicago Tribune - 13 Nov 1949

Krinn is listed all the way at the bottom under Evanston:

The 1950 US Census for Krinn and Dolly is a disappointment.  Most of the census form is not filled in for either of them:

About the only useful information it gives is they are now living at 1910 W. Chase Avenue in Chicago.

1910 W. Chase Avenue, Chicago

A new drug law went into effect on April 26, 1952.  Apparently before that time a pharmacist could refill an existing prescription without the doctor's knowledge or consent.  The law changed that, and from then on no prescriptions could be refilled without specific instructions from the doctor.  The law also prohibited the over-the-counter sale of certain medications and required pharmacists to record in writing all prescriptions received over the telephone.  All Evanston pharmacists (including Krinn) supported this new law and took out a full page ad in the Evanston Review of April 24, 1952:

Krinn's mother, Rachel Elkes Krinsky died June 7, 1957 in Chicago.  She was ninety years old (although her tombstone says 91).  Here is her Death Notice:

Chicago Tribune - 8 Jun 1957

Like her husband, she was buried at Jewish Waldheim Cemetery in Forest Park, Gate 54 - Order B'rith Abraham:

Rachel Elkes Krinsky

Rochel son of Avraham

Late in 1953 Krinn and Dolly decided it was time to  move up, as it were and they bought a home at 584 Braeside Road in Highland Park.  

Chicago Tribune - 20 Sep 1953

A home built in 1993 occupies that lot today.  However, on March 7, 1953, before the Krinns owned the home, it was featured in the Chicago Tribune's "The Home of the Week" feature.  Luckily it includes photos so we can see what the home looked like even though it no longer exists:

Quite a change from the apartments Krinn had lived in his entire life.  The term has been tremendously overused, but I think it is safe to call 584 Braeside "Mid-Century Modern."

Krinn and Kenneth Teague were of one mind politically.  They wrote a letter to the Evanston Review that was published February 15, 1962 endorsing Sam Johns for Chief of Police.  At that time Johns was a Captain with the EPD:

  

Johns was not chosen to be Evanston's Chief of Police but he did go on to become the Chief of Police of Crystal Lake, Illinois a position he held for twenty-four years.

Krinn was always active in professional trade organizations for the pharmaceutical industry.  In November of 1962 the Evanston Review reported Krinn's election as Treasurer of the Evanston Pharmaceutical Association:

In the Evanston Review of February 27, 1964 the Evanston Pharmaceutical Association took out a full-page ad reminding Evanstonians to "Trust Your Neighbor - Your Evanston Pharmacist."  Of course Krinn was prominently featured (I apologize for the quality of the image):

Krinn retired in 1967 when he was fifty-seven years old.  He and Dolly wanted to enjoy life and travelled extensively - especially to Europe.  

Krinn was an avid fisherman, something he pursued with gusto after his retirement.  The Evanston Review from March 14, 1968 reported the following "fish story:"

Edward M. Krinn died July 4, 1990 at St. Francis Hospital in Evanston.  He was seventy-nine years old.  Here is his Death Notice (Note Dolly's Maiden Name is listed as "Chip.":

Chicago Tribune - 06 Jul 1990

He had extensive obituaries in several local newspapers.  Here's his obituary from the Chicago Sun-Times of July 06, 1990:

Surprisingly there was no obituary for Krinn in the Evanston Review.  But researcher nonpareil Mike Kelly found one for Krinn in the Highland Park News from July 26, 1990:

Krinn's Death Record shows the place of interment as Montrose Cemetery in Chicago.  I went to Montrose Cemetery recently with the hopes that I could photograph Krinn's (and Dolly's) graves.  The attendant told me Krinn was cremated there but his cremains were returned to the Funeral Home (Piser Weinstein Menorah Chapels in Wilmette) for final disposition. He is not interred at Montrose Cemetery.

Krinn was our neighborhood pharmacist - something you seldom see anymore.  We knew him and trusted him.  He was a valuable resource throughout our lives.  Both the good things that happen in life and the bad often include a pharmacist and Krinn or one of his associates were always there when we needed them.

Edward M. Krinn, our Family Pharmacist, may he rest in peace.

 

The Rest of the Story

Florence "Dolly" Chiplovitz Krinn - After Krinn's death in 1990, Dolly stayed in the Braeside house until 1993 when she moved to an apartment at 1230 Park Avenue W, #227, in Highland Park.

1230 Park Avenue W., Highland Park, Illinois

In 1996 she moved to 658 N. Vallarta Circle, Palm Springs, California:  

658 N. Vallarta Circle, Palm Springs

In 2001 she moved back to Chicagoland - to Wilmette.  Dolly died April 24, 2004 in Wilmette.  She was ninety-three years old.  Here is her Death Notice:

Chicago Tribune - 25 Apr 2004

I don't know for sure, but I suspect she was cremated and her ashes scattered like her husband's.

Kenneth Brooks Teague - As I mentioned above, Mr. Teague joined Krinn shortly after he opened his Evanston pharmacy.  Unfortunately he had a massive heart attack and died while he was working in the pharmacy on April 14, 1966.  He was sixty five years old.  Here is his obituary:

The Evanston Review - 21 Apr, 1966

He is buried in Memorial Park Cemetery, Skokie, Illinois:

 

Jack E. Rouse (1930-2001) When Krinn retired in 1967 he sold the pharmacy to Jack Rouse, who had come to work for him after the death of Kenneth Teague.  Rouse had previously been employed by Shrout Pharmacy in Evanston.  He closed the pharmacy in 1972 because of repeated burglaries and armed robberies at the store.  In 1978 he was quoted as saying "The troubles began when the neighborhood started to change and burglaries became more frequent.  After getting robbed, threatened, and having the insurance cancelled, I decided to leave because that was no way to live."  After Krinn's, Rouse worked for Osco at Church Street and Sherman Avenue in Evanston until he retired in 1995.  He died in St. Louis, Missouri in 2001.  Note:  Rouse's step daughter Lauren Rouse (Drouin) was a ballerina with the Joffrey Ballet (among others). 

The building where Krinn's Pharmacy was located in the 600 block of Custer Avenue was razed in 1985 and replaced with townhomes.

I know that many people who read this were customers of Krinn's back in the day - some perhaps even worked there.  Please feel free to share your "Krinn Stories" with me.  I will gladly publish them as addenda to this article.