Captain James Hamlin

Captain James E. Hamlin (1859-1924) was an amazing man whose name is synonymous with Raleigh's Black history.

A graduate of Shaw University, he operated several businesses in the Raleigh area, and worked as a clerk at the Post Office.  The businesses included:

• Green Front Saloon on S. Wilmington Street (1890's)
• People's Drug Store with partner Walter T. Harris (more on that later!)
• Ideal Cafe
• Billiard hall

The Green Front Saloon served as a recruitment center for Blacks who wanted to participate as a regiment in the Spanish-American War (1898).  He helped create the famous Black Third NC regiment of US infantry in the Spanish-American War and became a Navy Captain.  Stationed in the Philippines, they fought bravely in El Caney and Santiago de Cuba.  After the war, he adopted a native young man, Valentin Cortez Hamlin, who became a pharmacist.

People's Drug Store, which was at 13 E. Hargett Street, was the oldest Black pharmacy in the country and the 1st licensed drugstore in North Carolina.  Captain Hamlin bought out his partner in 1911 renaming the store, JE Hamlin and Company, then Hamlin Drug Company.  Hamlin Drug Company closed in the late 2010's.  Hamlin was well known for delivering prescriptions to people via horse and buggy.

Captain Hamlin also helped to incorporate the People's Savings Bank in 1909.

Information obtained from:

• Hamlin Apothecary website and Facebook page
• Legendary Locals of Raleigh (Stormi Souter/Elizabeth Weichel)
• Negro Makers of History (Dr. Carter G. Woodson)
• Culturetown:  Life in Raleigh's African American Communities (Linda Simmons-Henry/Linda Harris Edmisten)
• The Urban Negro in the South (Dr. Wilmoth A. Carter)