Harlich's Pharmacy
It's been years since Arthur Harlich (1920-2007) filled a prescription at his business on Cavitt Avenue, but his Rx symbol can still be seen above the doorway facing Fifth Street. Mr. Harlich started his pharmacy business in 1947 at the building currently occupied by Dom's Pizzeria. He was also owner of the H&H “five and dime” store and moved his pharmacy across the street to 438-440 Cavitt Avenue. Before moving into this space, it was once the location of the Star Super Market for twenty years (1933-1953). A photo with the Star Market sign in the background (see below) was taken during Trafford’s Golden Anniversary parade in 1954.
2020 photo above shows the Rx still painted above the doorway.
“After Mr. Harlich graduated from Schenley High School, the owner of a drugstore where he worked loaned him $20 to enroll in pharmacy school at Duquesne University in exchange for working nights. Too poor to afford bus fare, he walked to class from Penn Hills. He graduated and joined the Army Air Corps, where his math skills landed him a job analyzing bomb performance. Officially he was not in combat, but the Germans bombed his post outside London. Decades later, while comatose after a heart attack, all he could talk of was the falling bombs. After the war he worked briefly for Thrift Drug, then bought his store in Trafford. Back then, a drugstore was also a social hub. Mr. Harlich was known for giving sodas to kids who couldn’t afford them — and banana splits on the house if the Trafford High football team had a big win. He knew customers’ prescriptions by heart. If someone couldn’t pay, they still got the medicine. People sought his help if they couldn’t get to a doctor — he once delivered a baby at the store. He kept up with all the new drugs, but he also retained the old art of mixing medicines.“ These excerpts were taken from a memorial written by Ann Rodgers that appeared in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on April 15, 2007.
