Friedrichson Pharmacy Museum

Friedrichson Pharmacy Museum

Today, the “Art Gallery” operates in the premises near the main entrance, yet for many residents of Kovel, the building is still associated primarily with the former Friedrichson Pharmacy.

The history of the pharmacy dates back to the late 18th century. Its founding is traditionally dated to 1799 — the same date that was once displayed on a plaque on the façade reading “Friedrichson Pharmacy 1799.” However, the year 1799 most likely refers to the beginning of the Friedrichson family’s pharmaceutical business rather than to the construction of the present-day building.

The historic appearance of the building itself was likely formed in the late 19th century, during a period of active urban development in Kovel. The railway provided a major impetus for the city’s growth, transforming Kovel into an important transportation and trading center. It was during this period that the city’s development began to expand actively beyond its old central core.

For many decades, the pharmacy was owned by the Friedrichson family. Their pharmaceutical business operated in Kovel for more than a century, until 1939, when the pharmacy was nationalized following the establishment of Soviet rule.

Photographs of Kovel from the 1920s and 1930s are of particular interest. They show the appearance of the building and the street that is now known as Independence Street. Above the pharmacy entrance was the sign “APTEKA G. Friedrichsona,” while a neighboring sign identified the office of a notary, “NOTARIUSZ Franciszek Skorupski.” These details offer a glimpse into everyday life in central Kovel during the period of the Polish Republic.

The building survived the events of the Second World War and has remained standing to this day. A small extension was added to it later, but the building continues to be a distinctive part of Kovel’s historic urban landscape.

The Friedrichson Pharmacy is not merely an architectural landmark, but also a symbol of Kovel’s past. It preserves the memory of a family that practiced pharmacy in the city for more than a century, of urban life during the period of the Polish Republic, and of Kovel’s transformation from a provincial town into an important trading and railway center of Volhynia.