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GEORGE E. VOZEOLAS, Pharmacist 1871-1965

 My Father, came from a small village called Vourlia, located on the outskirts of Sparta, Greece. At the age of 14, He was sent to work as an apprentice at Mr. Nicholas Orphanos Apothecary in Sparta. He left Orphanos Apothecary because Mrs. Orphanos, wife of the pharmacist, at their daughter's wedding sent the Maid with leftover lamb bones with hardly any meat on them for the Apprentices (Boys) to eat. When my Father saw what they sent them, he hit the bottom of the tray the maid was carrying. All of the bones went flying. He then told the Maid "Tell the Lady of the House this food is for dogs and not for humans" Right then and there he made up his mind to come to America. After a Doctor helped him get the money owed him he left for America. This same doctor later happened to be the uncle of Helen Ermilios, who my father met in this country, married her in 1917, and had three children ... Eleftherios, Arthur, and Ismene.

He arrived in Lowell, Massachusetts on Aug.15,1895. He only worked in the cotton mills for a year and then acquired a job at the Faulkner Drug Store located at 408 Suffolk St. The Greek Immigrants for their health needs found out that a Greek person was working in a drug store and came to him for help. He made arrangements with a Doctor and with the Owner of this Pharmacy to have a Clinic on Thursdays for the Greek people who need medical help.

He opened the PHARMACY on August 18, 1900 at 492 Merrimack Street. He was the first Greek Immigrant to open a Pharmacy in this country. Since he was not legally registered as a Pharmacist, he hired Registered Pharmacists to work for him. In the meantime, he was going to Boston as an observation student at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy. He passed the exams and became registered as a Pharmacist in Massachusetts in 1907 … He helped a few to become Pharmacists and/or helped to pay for any Pharmacy education. … Some worked for him … He sent money to Greece to help relatives come to America. He always advised Greek Immigrants who came in the Drug Store to try to learn to speak the English language and make sure that they apply for citizenship.

It came to My Dad's attention that a Greek Doctor, outside the Lowell area, who he knew well, took advantage of the Greek patients by overcharging them. Dad found out that he was planning to come to Lowell and open a Pharmacy along with an office. Dad felt that it would not be in the best interest of the Greek people for him to come to Lowell. He was afraid the doctor would continue to exploit them. He spoke to Pharmacist Peter Chagaruly, a personal friend, who at that time was also working for Dad, about this Doctor's intentions. Dad explained to Peter that there was enough work for both of them to make a living in Lowell. They agreed and Mr. Chagaruly open the other drug store nearby so the Greek people would be treated fairly and thus discouraging this Doctor from coming to Lowell … The Plan worked … and now … Lowell had two Pharmacies separately owned and operated by Greek Immigrants.

As a youngster, I worked (helped) in the drug store. I recall Dad refusing to fill a prescription if he felt that it was not the right medication. Many, first came to him with their medical problems before they would see a Doctor for advice. If anyone had any symptoms associated with the possibility of Diabetes, he would ask then to bring in a sample of their urine so he could test it for free. If the test was positive, he would scare the H—I out of them to make sure that they see a Doctor … He'd test Olive Oil samples free, if any person or supplier would bring it in to him. This way, they found out if it was pure or had been adulterated with other oils. He was still doing these tests until he was hit and killed by an automobile in the morning of January 8, 1965 while walking to open the Pharmacy on Market Street.

I remember a line of people waiting in the store to have Dad swab their sore throats with Tincture of Iodine and "Patisi" (press the pustules around the tonsils). ... He would remove wax build up in the patient's ears. ... He never accepted remuneration for any of this. ... and if you did not have money to pay for your prescription “that was all right.. when you feel better you can pay me". ... He never sent bills out for payment that people owed him. One incident impressed me in how he handled people's health problems. It involved an elderly man who came in the store with tears in his eyes and with a shaky voice saying "Mr Vozeolas, the Doctor has condemned me to death. / cannot eat meat, no Lamb, no Beef I'll starve to death"... My Father Looked at him seriously then said.. "Open your mouth wide." The man obliged. My Dad touched the man's jaw, moved his head a little ......looked serious and said "I do not see any dog's canine dogs teeth in your mouth"... Dad continued.. "Did you see Donkeys in your town die from starvation, how about the Cows, the Horses, the Elephants, and Monkeys.. They do not starve to death.. All they eat is grass and vegetables .... Do what the Doctor told you to do.. you'll live" ... The man looked at my Father ... smiled,.... turned around and left the Drug Store knowing that he wasn't going to die.

The Drug Store was also a place that kin folks could send money to Greece. They felt safe and secure that Mr. Vozeolas would 'take care of it". He became an agent of a Bank in Greece so any money they sent would arrive safely to the town in Greece … Many letters sent from Greece would be addressed to Vozeolas Drug store, USA, in English. Some were written in Greek to a loved one who had came to America with Lowell or America written as the only address on the envelope. The Post Office would bring them to the Drug Store, identified, and be posted along with all the others on a special enclosed wall area. People would come in to check for their letters (Mail) from Greece. The Drug Store was open seven days a week.

He financed Mr. Apostolos A. Johnson, and in Partnership, opened a Cigarette Factory under the name Pyrgos Cigarettes at 624 and 626 Market Street. Due to financial difficulties, the partnership was dissolved in 1910. He helped Greek Immigrants to establish themselves in the community. He cosigned bank notes and/or agreed to except promissory notes from Doctors, Farmers, Produce Retailers, Wholesalers and individuals during the very early 90's period. We found some Wills where he was named as the Executor.

With the help of the Georgitchiani, the Vourliotis Societies and Dad, water was brought to the Town of Vourlia. These Societies were also very instrumental in the building the Holy Trinity Church The project started in 1905 costing $40,000.... The Chandelier cost $600. The parishioners would bring their jewelry to him so he Gould get the maximum money for them and be used towards building the new Church. He was the First Treasurer for the Holy Trinity Church. He was involved somehow with and claims that there is a time capsule placed somewhere at the basement of the Church's foundation containing the names of the all the original Boards Members of the Church along with paper's and artifacts of the era.

When my brother Arthur and I with our wives visited Sparta, we hired a Taxi driver by the name Costas Keriakithis. That night when the driver went home, he was telling his wife about the two Greek Pharmacists from Lowell. He made a few attempts at our last name. His father in-law, sitting in the corner, overheard him and ask 'Can the name be Vozeolas".... "Yes, that is the Name Father"... O Son, that man saved the village. He was sending Quinine from America for everyone during the epidemic we had".... I had similar experiences when we met a Greek immigrant in Jackson Mississippi, the owner of this Restaurant, were we ate. When he found out that we were from Lowell, he told us that he once lived in Lowell and asked if we knew a man by the name of Mr. Vozeolas. 'That man saved me when I was sick. Tell him I am well and doing well" He left Lowell and came to Jackson Mississippi from information given to him by Mr. Vozeolas At the Drug store, Dad received many letters from Greek people, who once lived in Lowell, some having useful information of their area to pass it along.

The above is a glimpse of a Pharmacist, George E. Vozeolas, while practicing his profession in Lowell, dedicated himself in helping Greek Immigrants in The City of Lowell during the very early 90's

Note: The material used in this article are from impromptu conversations of tape recordings of Mr. George E. Vozeolas, R.Ph., along with Papers, Letters, Books, Photos found after his death and family recollections.

All rights and materials are the property of The Vozeolas Family Collection.

Article by El G. Vozeolas, R.Ph. October 30, 2000

GEVbio1S.doc

Copyright © by El G. Vozeolas. All rights reserved.