Delano Original Commercial District - Chance Drugs
Railroad Avenue, 1869, Delano's Original Commercial District
The photo was taken from the point where the railroad bridge crosses River Street. There are fifteen people showing in the picture, seven on the second story of the hotel veranda, one woman, three men, four children, one dog and many, many round-head rocks in the foreground.
The first building from the left was built in the winter of 1868-69 by F. B. Nichols, who conducted a general store. The next building, in the center of the picture, was the Avenue House. Miner Ball had moved it in from Greenwood. It was run by J. F. Powers, later became Young’s Hotel in 1871, and eventually was known as the Great Northern Hotel. To the right of the hotel was a general store conducted by Frank Hopkins. The two-story white building on the edge of the clearing was the Chance building.
In the Summer of 1869, Dr. Perry Chance came to what was then known as Crow River, and had built an office, drug store and home on the corner of Railroad avenue and Second street. The streets were barely defined, with no sidewalks and very muddy. He was the first resident physician. Dr. Perry died November 19, 1871, shortly after establishing himself, leaving his wife to raise five children. After his death, Maranda continued in the druggist business until 1882.
The September 15, 1881 Delano Eagle stated that Mrs. M. A. Chance had kept a drug store for the past 11 years, and did a very fair business, having kept a good stock of drugs always on hand. Besides having a drug store, Mrs. Chance also had charge of the post office, which was kept in the same building. Maranda Chance was appointed postmaster of Delano in 1880, a position she held until 1883, when her son Norman was appointed.