For decades this was the home of Levy’s Department Store, founded in 1873 by Henry Levy (1835-1907) at Otsego and Water Streets in the former Cooling’s Café. Henry Levy was born in Germany and came to Havre de Grace as a young man. At first he sold dry goods and clothing, hides and fur. After high river waters forced him to move, he set up shop in what was then known as the “J. William Bauer home.” After a couple more moves, he opened in “Wright’s Store” at the corner of Union Avenue and Franklin Street; he was there for eight years.

In 1901, Henry and Rosa Levy’s son, Bernhardt Levy (1872-1960), acquired the business, moved it here, and ran it for many years. In 1928, the Levy’s daughter, Daisy, had met Leonard E. Trout who was just starting his National Theatrical Agency in Baltimore, which was to become one of the biggest agencies south of New York City. The families sat next to one another in temple; they later married and had three children. In 1945, Leonard Trout purchased the Levy Department Store business and carried Red Cross Shoes, Marlboro and Rob Roy shirts, Keds footwear, Teena Paige dresses, yard goods, and more. Leonard and Daisy’s three children also worked in the store.

For 60 years, a Heinrich Handwerck doll stood in Levy’s Department Store window here. Known as some of the most beautiful dolls in the world they were made in Germany by Heinrich Handwerck and his wife, Minna, between 1876 and 1902, when Heinrich died. The head was ceramic, the torso plush, and the jointed limbs were wooden. That doll is now housed in the Susquehanna Museum of the Lockhouse.

In 1963, G. Taylor “Tad” Lyon (1896-1983), whose family had owned this building and the adjoining one for decades, had Levy’s Department Store vacate this so he could move Lyon’s Pharmacy from next door (330 St. John Street) into this larger space. James H. Lyon (1924-2004) took over Lyon’s Pharmacy from his father and continued its legacy. A graduate of West Nottingham Academy in Colora, Corporal James H. Lyon was awarded a Bronze Star for his part in the capture of Iwo Jima February 20, 1945. He lived at 827 South Washington Street with his wife, Helen, and was the last Lyon owner of Lyon’s Pharmacy.

When James Lyon died in 2004, he bequeathed the property to Richard E. Long, who had been the pharmacist with him for many years. In 2014, Kunal “Kenny” Shah (also a pharmacist) purchased the Lyon’s Pharmacy business and continues the personalized service tradition of Lyon’s Pharmacy. In 2019, Lyon’s Pharmacy celebrated its 125th year in business here while Richard Long continues to own the property. In spring 2022 the Lyon’s Pharmacy business relocated to premises at the corner of South Stokes and Revolution Streets, leaving this historic store space available.

County Records
Built 1870. 4914 sq ft commercial retail store, 4125 sq ft lot.