By Michael D. Wynne
Central Louisiana truly has had some of the most amazing people of our state and of the South. But all of these great people that I am now referring to are not just of the living. Our Cenla heritage of great women and men, past and present, continue to make contributions to our nation, even today.
Charles Varner Ammen (1862-1928), of Swiss heritage and a native of Virginia, had a drugstore at the corner of Jackson and Prytania Streets in New Orleans in the 1890s. He began tinkering with creating medicinal products in the age of patent medicine usage. This was to better serve his customers’ needs in the hot, humid climate of New Orleans. In August of 1901, Charles, a self-described chemist, first introduced “Prickly Heat Powder” which he said was “he scourge of hot weather.” This powder, which he sold for 15 cents a box, was created to prevent heat rash.
Ammen grew in prominence in the drug field and received a patent in July of 1905 for a “drug dispensing apparatus.” By December of 1906, Ammen was receiving national attention for his leadership in encouraging the creation of pure food and drug
laws – his statements were featured in a Detroit newspaper speaking then about the extent of the adulteration of foods and drugs. By June of 1907, Ammen had created his own company, The Charles Ammen Company Limited, which sold stock and had a board of directors. In July of 1907, Ammen became ahead of his time in speaking publicly about grocers short-weighting their products, in essence committing fraud.
Ammen continued to be outspoken throughout 1907 and in February of 1908, entered into a public fight with New Orleans Mayor Behrman in the national publication, Collier’s Weekly, over the conduct of pure food and drugs in New Orleans. This lead
Ammen to his unsuccessful run for City Treasurer of New Orleans in late 1908. In 1909, Ammen, along with others, sued Hartford Insurance Company and won regarding their safety issues. Along with all of Ammen’s public leadership work in holding society accountable, in April of 1926, Ammen also started the “Radio Shoppe” corporation in New Orleans.
Ammen’s fight for pure food and drugs in New Orleans cost his pharmacy business dearly, forcing him to move his business from the city. In December of 1913, he moved his corporation and his family to the city of Alexandria. By then, his Charles Ammen Corp. Limited was known throughout the United States for his popular “Prickly Heat and Baby Powders and other specialties.” The Ammen family, wife Theresa Mullen (1871-1937), whom he married in 1891, and sons Charles Edward and Arthur Koiner, first lived at 420 St. James Street in Alexandria. Son Arthur (1904-1990) would later build his home on Claiborne Street in Pineville where he remained until his passing.
Charles V. Ammen and family lived and worked in Alexandria for 5 years with the family becoming a major part of the Alexandria community. It was here in Alexandria that Ammen’s most important product was developed and would take off – “Ammen”s Antiseptic Powder,” a product that is still sold today all over the United States.
This, and the other products, were produced at the Ammen’s plant located at 1028 Front Street, now the site of the downtown levee. According to Ammen’s great granddaughter, Janet Butler of Mangham, La., the powder was distributed to every soldier in our military during World War II “to keep their feet dry, particularly in the Pacific theatre.” Butler added, ” just remember that when I was young that so many people used the powder and just loved it.”
Ammen later moved his family to Greenwood, Mississippi in 1918, but continued to manufacture his powder here in Alexandria for many years. In a 1921 advertisement, the powder is described as “…a carefully blended preparation of skin-healing and skin-
satisfying ingredients created for the benefit of the skin-suffering humanity.”
According to the family, Ammen’s son would later sell the business to a major drug manufacturer. But this internationally-known foot powder that first started in Alexandria is still available on many Target and Wal-Mart shelves today.
