Walter Cook and Willis Schwendeman started Schwendeman and Cook Drug
Store in downtown Lancaster, Ohio in 1947 after both returned home from
the war. The building they purchased was built before the Civil War and
until recently was still being used by us.
With steady growth they incorporated under the name Heritage, which
was taken from the name of the local historical district that included
the downtown district and their building.
Heritage Pharmacy specialized in free delivery, home medical
equipment sales and rental as well as medical, hernia and ostomy
supplies. They were the first drugstore in our area to use a computer to
fill prescriptions.
Their business included retail customers, early nursing and group
homes, county government, private and public clinics, doctor offices and
more.
The business has remained in the family along with children of early
employees. In 2005, we joined two of the largest group purchasing co-ops
in the world, moved to a larger location and expanded our inventory to
include more medications, medical equipment and supplies.
