In a modern world where large corporations seem to own everything, it is nice to drive down a small-town Main Street and patronize a family-run business.

Spanning four generations in the same building, Wightman Pharmacy in downtown Waterloo is just that.

The pharmacy’s history dates back to 1853 when Hubert Kunster, newly emigrated from Germany, opened the first drug store in Monroe County inside his home. Married to Bertha Berghoff, a sister of the town’s doctor, Kunster built the building in 1872 that is still used today.

Twenty-five years later, in 1897, P.A. Hamacher graduated from the St. Louis College of Pharmacy and would eventually buy the building from Kunster. It was Hamacher’s daughter, Adele, who would marry Joseph “Sid” Wightman and bring the business the name it is known by today.

Like his father-in-law, Sid graduated from the St. Louis College of Pharmacy and was ready to run the business.

Sid and Adele’s son, Tom told the Republic-Times that he really enjoyed coming to the store as a child because it was a way to spend time out of their packed house. His first recollection of the store is riding his tricycle down the aisles.

When it was time to go to college, he knew exactly where to go — he also graduated from the St. Louis College of Pharmacy and took control of the business from his father in 1959.

Tom saw many changes throughout the 40 years he ran the business. In the past, doctors would often distribute medication from their own supply, limiting the need for pharmacies. This meant these businesses had to sell other items to stay running. Over the years, Wightman’s sold everything from paint to window glass to tobacco products.

The largest changes during Tom’s years in charge were the implementation of computer systems and the many changes in insurance coverage.

Steve Wightman, Tom’s son, who became the fourth-generation owner when he took over the business in 1999, said computers have changed everything — for both good and bad.

Graduating from St. Louis College of Pharmacy in 1994, Steve’s first memory of the store is stopping by as he walked home from elementary school at Ss. Peter & Paul. He has kept the family values and a customer-first approach alive as he runs the business.

He and Tom, who is still a common face around the building, take pride in knowing their customers by name and still answering the phone themselves.

They also separate themselves from the big national chain pharmacies by still compounding medications in the store. This allows customers to fill special prescriptions that drug companies do not produce in mass.

Wightman Pharmacy also has its own vitamin regimen and ointments made in-store to ensure the highest quality.

While Wightman’s works hard to serve each customer’s specific needs, it also helps the community by participating in the pharmaceutical disposal program. This program allows for the confidential, safe disposal of any old medications so they can’t fall into the wrong hands or be flushed into the water system.

Starting the drop-off program in their store in 2011 — in conjunction with the 24-hour   drug drop-off box located inside the Waterloo police station lobby — the pharmacy has since received an award for helping out.

When asked about the future, Steve and Tom agreed they would just like to continue the success they’ve enjoyed all these years. They also mentioned expanding on their popular created-in-house medications.

When stopping by Wightman’s, you will be greeted by name and treated to a pleasant conversation in a way best achieved by a small-town local business.