The Ruggles House

Mary Ruggles Chandler

Miss Chandler was born in 1875, the daughter of Samuel S. Chandler and
Annie Brown Chandler. Her Chandler grandfather was Doctor Alphus S. Chandler.
She is descended from Judge Ruggles and Ruth Clapp Ruggles by their daughter
Lucy Swift Ruggles who married Emery Brown. Their daughter was Annie.
Mary Ruggles Chandler, gathered support to preserve the Ruggles House.
At the time of her death, in 1955, the house had been restored as a historic house
museum, incorporating many original Ruggles family furnishings, including a
striking Hepplewhite sideboard that has always remained in the house.

HONORED BY PHARMACISTS-- Miss Mary R. Chandler (left) of
Columbia Falls, said to be the oldest pharmacist in the State of
Maine, was presented with a 50-year gold pin at the mid-winter
convention banquet of the Maine Pharmaceutical association and the
Traveling Men's auxiliary, held here Friday. Miss Louise Stack-pole (right),
of Augusta, association president, made the presentation.
(Staff photo by Baker)

Obituary of Mary R. Chandler
Columbia Falls, Nov. 4 1955

   Miss Mary R. Chandler , 80, Maine's first lady registered pharmacist, died suddenly Friday morning at the home of Miss Anna Crandon in Columbia Falls.
   Miss Chandler was born in Columbia Falls January 8, 1875, the daughter of the late Samuel S. and Annie Brown Chandler. She had lived in Columbia Falls all her life and had graduated from Washington Academy in East Machias.
   She was the first woman to graduate from the University of Maine's College of Pharmacy, graduating in 1904, and the only woman in her class. She ran her own drugstore in Columbia Falls until 1945 when it burned . She was very active in the affairs of her community's churches.
   A direct descendant of lumber baron Judge Thomas Ruggles, who had the famous Ruggles House built for him, Miss Chandler had been clerk of the Ruggles Historical Society since 1921 and custodian and receptionist for the Ruggles House Society since1950.
   Miss Chandler is survived by a niece, Mrs. Fred Champion of Columbia Falls; three nephews, Major Spring Chandler of Beverly Hills, Calif., Robert Chandler of Augusta, and Fred Chandler of Los Angeles, Calif.
   Funeral services will be announced. The remains were taken to the Blackwood funeral home.