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Lutes Drug Store
379 Main Street
Landmark Designation: 1983
Construction Date: ca. 1890
Architectural Style: 19th Century Commercial
The lot upon which the building was erected was part of the original purchase made by the Trustees of the Chicago-Colorado Colony in 1871. In 1899, Charles Kistler purchased the building from Emily Holbrook and established the Kistler Drug Store. Mr. Kistler remained in the drug store business until 1908 when he assumed the presidency of the Longmont National Bank until 1927. ,Mr. Kistler was considered one of Longmont's leading citizens.
In 1908, Mr. Kistler sold the property to Harry F. Vyse, Rae H. and Ernest Kiteley. Rae and Ernest Kiteley were grandsons of John Kiteley who served on the Colony's Board of Trustees and was founder of the First National Bank. Rae Kiteley was superintendent of Longmont's schools as well as mayor of Longmont from 1911 to 1921. Ernest Kiteley owned a hardware store jointly with Harry Vyse, who held much real estate at that time.
The Longmont Drug Store leased the building from 1908 to 1912. The Longmont Drug Store was owned by Fred Chase Heverley, who was once an employee of Kistler Drug Store.
In 1913, Rae Kiteley sold his interest to his brother, Ernest, and Harry Vyse. The pair operated the Kiteley & Vyse Clothing Store until 1917 when they leased the building to J.C. Penney Company. This Penney store became the 169th addition to the growing chain.
In 1919, the property was sold to Oscar J. Smith, however J.C. Penney Company continued to lease the building.
In 1936, the property was sold to E.E. Lutes and the building became known as the Lutes Drug Store and remained so until 1982. Mr. Lutes had purchased the Gunning-Palmer Drug Store, which had been located at 400 Main Street, in 1922. Mr. Lutes had been experienced in the pharmaceutical business, having been a traveling salesman of pharmaceuticals prior to the purchase of the business.
In 1949, Mr. Lutes sold his interest in the drug store to Floyd Pettet and Lansin Carmean. The new owners retained the Lutes name for business purposes. In 1962, the deed to the property passed to Mr. Carmean who continued to run the business until his retirement in 1982. Upon retirement, Mr. Carmean liquidated his inventory, sold the store's fixtures, and sold the building and property. The building operated for several years as the City News, which offered books, magazines, newspapers and tobacco.
Reference
1983-1