The Dorchester Beacon, October 26, 1907
R.E. Bellows
Proprietor of old drug store at Neponset, in existence since 1875
One of the oldest and most reliable drug stores in this district is that of R. (Rufus) E. Bellows, at Neponset, Dorchester, which was founded in 1875 by John Craig. Mr. Craig died and be was succeeded, later, by W. W. Wells. The latter also died and the business came into the ownership of Mr. Bellows, in 1889, and he has conducted it uninterruptedly since that year, a period of 18 years. The store is a comfortable, cheerful place to trade in, being bright and sunny by day and well lighted at night, and is neat and well appointed. The stock of goads kept on sale is large and of a high grade and consists of pure drugs, chemicals, proprietary medicines, toilet articles, rubber goods. sick-room supplies, perfumery, stationery, candies, cigars, druggists novelties, etc., in great variety. Mr. Bellows makes a notable specialty of the compounding of the prescriptions of physicians, performing that most vital work in the most careful manner, never permitting anything hut the freshest and purest drugs and other ingredients to enter the composition of these important medicines and never tolerating the substitution of one drug for another prescribed. The work of making up prescriptions is done in the well-appointed laboratory attached to the establishment.
Mr. Bellows was born in Milton Lower Falls, this state, and was educated in the schools of his native town. He has been engaged in the drug business since 1880 and is au expert pharmacist. He is a man now approaching middle age. In his store, Mr. Bellows has an interesting collection of old prescriptions, some of which go back to 1S75 and earlier.