In 1905 Samuel G. Beaver established a general store at Mexico, PA, and remained there two years. He moved to Port Royal in 1907 and established a department store with a stock of about six thousand dollars. The S. G. Beaver Store property would eventually become a combination drug store and restaurant.
It is possible that John T. Emery operated this restaurant at this location on Market between Second and Third Streets. If John operated at this location, it was likely before Frank "Doc" Suloff and his wife Grace (Hartman) moved their drug store (from the first floor of the Odd Fellows Hall) to this property in the late 1940s and operated the eatery in the east side of the drug store.
The business was eventually transferred to Curtis "Curt" and Helen McMullen and after them their daughter and son-in-law, Loubrinton "Toots" and Lee Kilmer. It may be that "Toots" and Lee did not own the property, but just ran the business, because the following note appeared in the May 25, 1960 edition of the Port Royal Times:
SALE OF PROPERTY: John Leister bought from Mr. and Mrs. Curtis McMullen both the drug store and restaurant on Market Street between Second and Third Streets.
Paul Beale acquired the business from Leister. Beale next opened a frozen custard stand north of Mifflintown near the Mid-Way Drive-in. Beale then transferred this business and property to Clair E. and Connie (Knepp) Parson, who owned and operated Parson's Restaurant, from May 1966 until the property was destroyed by fire in June 1976. (See account that follows)
MAJOR FIRE IN PORT ROYAL
Shortly before midnight on Thursday evening [17 June 1976], the fire alarm sounded in Port Royal, then urgently a second time. Residents looking out their windows immediately saw the tower of flames silhouetting the night sky. "It looked like the whole town was on fire," agreed the spectators who assembled around the scene within minutes.
The Leroy Kirchoff family, in whose home the fire is believed to have started, huddled closely together as they wept. Connie Parson, owner of Parson's Restaurant, fell into a friend's arms and clutching the one salt shaker rescued from the business, half sobbing and half laughing said, "This is one way to go out of business." Veteran barber L. O. "Cricket" Shellenberger caressed his barber's chair after it was brought back into this shop, which narrowly escaped being engulfed in flames, too.
The blaze, which, according to Mrs. Kirchoff, began in the kitchen of their home, belonging to H. J. Kramer, Port Royal RD, as she went to put on some coffee water, accidentally turning on the wrong burner, on top of which was a pan of grease. The Kirchoff home was totally destroyed, as was the adjoining Parson's Restaurant and Dining Room, owned by Clair and Connie Parson.
Also affected was the home of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Longacre as well as another building owned by them, occupied by James R McLane. The row of buildings, all wood frame, approximately fifty years old, were connected without any fire walls. The Kirchoff home, in the middle of the row immediately sent flames in all directions.
According to Wendell Longenecker, Port Royal Fire Chief, and Assistant State Fire Marshall, damages can be set in the $100,000 range with all the buildings declared a total loss. Close to 100 volunteer fire fighters took part in the operation. As a result of the disaster, three families are homeless, and one business totally destroyed.
