Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

Bennett's drug store

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  • The store window of Bryson City Drug Company, commonly known as Bennett’s, displays plants and advertisements for cigarettes. The window's lettering reads "Bryson City Drug Co. Kodaks." The photographer was “Doc” Kelly Bennett (1890-1974), a prominent pharmacist in Swain County, NC. Owner of the Bryson City Drug Company, Bennett served as alderman and mayor of Bryson City, on the Swain County Board of Education, as well as several terms as NC State Senator and NC State Representative. He participated in numerous other initiatives and organizations. Known as the “Apostle of the Smokies,” Bennett was an instrumental figure in the movement to create the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. He was also an avid photographer, skillfully documenting a wide variety of people, places, and events in Swain County and the surrounding area.