The West Side Drug Co. is listed in the Westside Quasquicentenial book as existing in 1900. It was located in the Payne Building at the southeast corner of Main St. and Hwy. 30 (then First St.). The Payne building burned in a spectacular fire. Many businesses suffered great losses and never relocated including the West Side Drug Co.

According to the Quasquicentenial book:
"The largest fire in Westside was discovered at 4:30 a.m. on January 1, 1942. The Payne block, one of the oldest landmarks in town, was completely destroyed by fire. Businesses in the building that that time included the offices of Dr. C.L. Patterson and Dr. T.J. Beirne, The Westside Drug Company, Ida's Café, Kroeger's Grocery, Masonic Lodge rooms, and the household goods of Gilbert Kroeger, which were in their apartment on the second floor.

"The fire did not spread, despite the fact that this fire occurred during a raging snowstorm, because buildings nearby were covered with snow and the water sprayed on them turned to ice…Fire trucks from Arcadia and Carroll helped contain the fire to this building.
"By June of 1943, the Harlan Construction Company rebuilt the Payne building." This building stands today.

Dr. Beirn had boarded with the W.R. Doyle family for many years. In 1944, Dr. K.A. Doyle, D.V.M. (son of W.R. Doyle) bought Dr. Beirn's practice and 2 rooms in the rebuilt Payne building. Due the fuel rationing during WWII, Dr. Doyle and Dr. Patterson shared offices. Dr. Patterson had fuel oil rations, Dr. Doyle did not.

In 1945, Dr. Doyle married Joy Moore (MHS class of 1942). These are parents of Kim Fara (wife of Dean MHS class of 1974). Kim has oak cabinets, complete with the apothecary jars, that were found behind the counter of the Westside Drug Co. and survived the fire.