NORWICH – Approximately 100 local residents, historians, city officials and former employees of the Norwich Pharmacal Company, Norwich Eaton Pharmaceuticals and Proctor & Gamble were on hand last night for an official ribbon cutting ceremony opening the new Norwich Pharmacal exhibit at the Chenango County Historical Society Museum.

The former Pharmacal Museum, located in the Eaton Center up until three months ago, was originally created by Proctor & Gamble, who acquired Norwich Eaton Pharmaceuticals, formerly known as Norwich Pharmacal, in 1982. Following its departure from the center in 1995, much of the pharmaceutical memorabilia was presented to the county’s museum at 45 Rexford St. in Norwich.

The new exhibit features a number of informational wall hangings, historic artwork, advertising pieces and a digital slide show, according to Historical Society and Museum Director Alan Estus, who said the importance of featuring this company and its importance to the community could not be underestimated.

Curator Diane Hamblin said the move had been in the works for some time now, as the museum continues to renovate and expand its services.

“We wanted to be sure the history of the company was well told and never forgotten,” she said.

Norwich Pharmacal, which rose to prominence in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries thanks to products such as Pepto-Bismol and Unguentine, employed thousands of workers locally in the 50s, 60s and 70s. Norwich’s Frank Benenati, who worked for the company for 37 years, considers those years very important ones in the growth of the community.