George Wonder Ware built this building in 1900 to house the Ware Drug Store. By the turn of the century, brick buildings had largely replaced the original wooden structures that once lined State Street, but horses still dominated transportation, and the front of every business included a hitching post while Saturdays found the dirt streets of Jerseyville bustling with buggies and wagons. Over the years, multiple drug stores operated in Jerseyville, and in 1929 George Ware recalled when pharmacists made their own elixirs, tinctures, pills, and powders from herbs, roots, and leaves. They also made vanilla extract for 25 cents per 4 ounces and baking powder for 35 cents per pound, while whiskey sold for 50 cents a pint and the sale of laudanum, a 10 percent solution of opium powder in alcohol, was unregulated. Ware's was the first of three drug stores housed on this corner. Thrifty Drug operated here from 1946 until 1958, and Kranich Drug Store from 1958 until 1983. After Kranich's closed, businesses in the building included Video Stop, The Red Rooster and other gift shops, a couple of financial companies, and Mike's Pizza.