The following is from a work-in-progress about the history of Fullerton. You can support my ongoing research and writing on Patreon.
In 1937, Fullerton celebrated its “Golden Jubilee” 50th anniversary with a three-day event featuring a massive historical pageant play, displays of historical artifacts and photos, and other social events. The Fullerton News-Tribune (which usually ran about eight pages), released a massive 60-page edition featuring an impressive array of articles profiling notable local figures and institutions. One person featured was William Starbuck, Fullerton’s first druggist, librarian, first telephone company representative, first high school trustee, first undertaker, and probably more. Here’s a bit more about Starbuck.
Mr. and Mrs. William Starbuck opened a drug store in Fullerton in the 1890s, just after the town of Fullerton was founded.
Because there were so few other stores here at that time, the Starbucks sold many other items besides drugs, including school books, Christmas toys, and much more.
“The Starbucks had the first soda fountain here and were amused at seeing school children waiting to touch the ice, inasmuch as many of them never before had seen ice,” the News-Tribune states.
The Starbucks started the first library in Fullerton, located in the back room of their drug store, with couches for guests to sit on and read.
Starbuck managed the first telephone system in Fullerton and under his management, the system grew to include Placentia, Yorba Linda, Brea, La Habra, and Buena Park.
Starbuck was also instrumental in the formation of Fullerton Union High School, and served as a high school trustee for 15 years.
Starbuck established the first undertaking business in the city after taking an embalming course in Los Angeles.
He was also involved in establishing Fullerton’s first hospital.
Unfortunately, there was a darker side of William Starbuck. In the 1920s, he (along with many local notables) was involved with the Ku Klux Klan.
In 2011, OC Weekly editor Gustavo Arellano wrote a piece on Starbuck as part of his series “Profiles in OC Pioneers Who Were Klansmen.”
“The druggist also helped lead the efforts to protest Mexicans moving into Fullerton, sat on a school board that created Mexican-only schools, and played a prominent role in an episode involving the Klan, corruption, and city officials,” Arellano wrote.
Click HERE to read that piece.
In 1937, Mr. and Mrs. Starbuck were retired and living on their ranch at S. Highland and at Maple avenues.
The Gem Pharmacy was located approximately where Kentro Greek restaurant on the 100 block of East Commonwealth is today.
Fullerton History 