In 1925, three businesses operated in a building on Francis St. One of those businesses was the Wesley G. Van Ness Pharmacy at. 138 Francis. The pharmacy stayed there until WW II.
This particular fan was from the 1920’s, when Putnam Dyes used this artwork on advertising fans throughout the U.S.
The lithographed front with General Putnam escaping from the British during the Revolutionary War is very colorful and has only a few, small discolored spots (barely noticeable). The bottom left has the company logo insert that was used in the early 1900s.
Someone long ago repaired the handle with a thick gray string to keep the handle secure. They did a good job.
On the back is the pharmacy’s name and address (no phone yet) with the motto: “Try the Drug Store First.” Since the pharmacy was located next to the Otsego Hotel, guests could make a quick trip for necessities.
Also on the back are descriptions of three different Putnam products.
The fan itself measures 8 3/8 x 6 3/8 inches while the original wood handle is approximately 5 3/4 inches. The fan is a great piece of Jackson, MI, business history and is in great shape for being a 100 years old.