"soda fountain" 1811, antedating OED2 1824--

[Joel S. Berson]

At 3/1/2011 03:28 PM, Victor Steinbok wrote:
>So the notion that a pharmacy would have a
>soda fountain is not surprising at all--although it would have little to
>do with the medicinal value of the tonic and more with the broadening of
>the appeal of the drug store as an "everything" store.

Well, for a connection between medicinal value and soda fountain,
soda waters were considered (by their purveyors) both medicinal and
tasty -- and a Boston location --

    Addressed to all those who are
       "Exquisite in their Drinking:"
The Public are respectfully advised, that the Soda and Mineral
Waters, are not, as some erroneously suppose, a nauseous potion for
the benefit of the sick, but a stimulating and pleasant beverage,
calculated as well for the man in health as the invalid, and with the
addition of a little syrup may be ranked as a most luxurious and
delicious draught.---After an early promenade in a warm morning, or a
feverish thirst in a forenoon, to a man who is steady in his habits
and curious in his choice of fluids, the Soda Fountain is the only
salutary refuge.
    ...
    For sale at the corner of Winter-street, Cornhill-square, and at
the south west corner of the new Building, in front of the Exchange.

Independent Chronicle [Boston, Massachusetts]; Date: 07-29-1811;
Volume: XLIII; Issue: 3160; Page: [4]; col. 4.  [EAN]
-----
And brought west 5 years later:

      New Drug and Medicine Store.
The subscriber has just received a further supply of fresh Drugs and
Medicine, Paints, Dye Stuffs, &c. which makes his stock on hand very
complete.  [and very much later:] And a variety of other articles ...
His Soda Fountain is now in operation, and a constant supply of
Water, of the best quality, will be kept on hand, and may be had at
the Fountain from Sun-rise in the morning until nine o'clock in the evening.
    Anthony R. Thornton.
     Winchester, Aug. 7.

Farmer's Repository [Charlestown, West Virginia]; Date: 08-14-1816;
Volume: IX; Issue: 436; Page: [3]; col. 3. [EAN]

The frontier territory of west Virginia in 1816!  (The masthead reads
"Charles-Town (Jefferson County, Virginia").  Not much after Dan'l,
although he was further west by then.  Who'd-a thunk it?

Joel

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