This, from the entry on ‘findagrave’:
Charles A. Rapelye, dean of Connecticut druggists, for 54 years a leading merchant in Hartford and for many years active in the Connecticut Pharmaceutical Association, died late Wednesday evening [14 May 1930] at his home, 167 Washington Street [Hartford, CT], following a short illness. He was 81 years old.
Mr. Rapelye was born in New Britain, March 21, 1849. He was educated in the grammar schools and high school of that city. He started in the drug business as an apprentice boy, worked his way into a partnership and later launched out into business for himself.
He entered business life in Hartford in 1886, entering the employ of S.G. Moses & Co. He learned the business with that firm and remained with it until the business dissolved in 1881 [typo- probably was supposed to 1891], when Mr. Rapelye went into business himself, forming a partnership with Stephen Goodrich under the firm name Goodrich and Rapelye. Five years later he opened a store in the old Catlin building. When this was torn down he bought the Park drug store at Asylum and High streets.
Soon afterwards, he opened a store in the Hills Block on Main Street and in 1902 formed the Rapelye Drug Company, Inc. Five years later he bought two Marwick stores and combined the business of the Asylum Street and Main Street stores.
He was placed on the honor list of life members in 1917. Mr. Rapelye retired in November, 1920, after 54 years in the drug business in this city. His business at that time was located at the corner of Ford and Asylum streets, and he announched his retirement by hanging a small placard in the window stating simply "Going Out of Business".
So it seems that the Park Drug store with a claimed establishment date of 1871 was probably bought by Rapelye c.1896. Either: he was later in partnership with Palmer for a while, before it became Palmer’s business (possibly after Rapelye’s retirement in 1920); or Palmer was the original owner and possibly in partnership with Rapelye from c.1896 until Rapelye retired and the business became sole ownership again.
