History of Poor Richard's Art
From "Images of America Rogers" by Marilyn Harris Collins and "Rogers Arkansas 1881 - 2006" by James F. Hales
Brothers J. E. and A. R. Applegate opened the first drugstore on First Street where Centennial Park is today. J.E. bought his brother's shares in 1882 and went on to build his own structure father south on First Street . The building was beautifully designed by A. O. Clarke of the firm Matthew and Clark of St. Louis in 1905 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The interior is elegantly appointed with inlaid tile floors, marble counter tops, pressed tin ceilings, and mahogany counters and shelves. Original ceramic knobs are still in place on the drawers. All the fixtures in the store remain the original ones. There is a lovely pendulum clock on the south wall which still continues to tick and Mr. John Applegate (who took over the pharmacy from his father) winds the clock each week.
In 1970 the Applegate Drug Store had been business for about six decades became the Lewis Drug Store. In 1986, the building was bought by Steve and Betty Goodman as Poor Richard's Gift and Confectionery, a thriving business on the same site for many years. Steve and Betty retired in 2005.
It is now the proud home to Poor Richard's Art Gallery a non-profit organization with the mission to nurture and present innovative art of uncommon quality in all types of media from artists located in NWA (Benton, Washington, Carroll, and Madison Counties); and to preserve the J. E. Applegate Drug Store building and help with the economic development of Historic Downtown Rogers.
Clarice Strode Moore, of Poor Richard's Art was raised in Rogers ;raised her family in Rogers and had a very productive business in Rogers . She and her partner Jack Cole were the owners of Speaco Foods, Inc. until they retired to Florida in 2000. Clarice has continued to come back to the area to visit her daughter Mary Schopp and during this trip realized there was another way to give back to Rogers.
Clarice served on the city council in the late 1970's and was on the council when the railroad decided the Frisco Train Station needed to be moved or torn down. At that time the city of Rogers did not have the funds to move the building - hence it was destroyed along with a big part of Roger's history. For this reason and Clarice's love of Rogers 's downtown she decided to make sure one of our town's treasures was not lost. So, the adventure has begun on learning Art, Retail and Non-Profit Organizations! So, along with many kind friends and artists in the area Clarice is learning new skills and has a smile on her face that let's you know she is happy in her decision. Mary, Clarice's daughter is now running the store and the smile has gotten larger! So, the mother and daughter team are working on economic development for Historic Downtown Rogers as a team!!
