When Dunwoody Methodist Church contructed a new sanctuary in 1970, a small tin salve box was discovered in the ground. The box read “Eureka Ointment, Eureka Laboratory, Dunwoody Georgia. Price 25 cents. Recommended for chapped hands, face and lips, chafes, burns, catarrh etc.” (The Story of Dunwoody 1821-2001, by Elizabeth L. Davis, Ethel W. Spruill)
Eureka Laboratory was one of several business located along the Roswell Railroad in the early 20th century. The Roswell Railroad ran from Chamblee, through Dunwoody, to Roswell and back from 1881 until 1921. Eureka Laboratory was just off Chamblee Dunwoody Road on Nandina Lane, then known as Spruill Street, and next door to Dunwoody Methodist Church.
Lawrence Albert Ball, born 1885, and his sister Clara Elizabeth Ball, born 1890, started the business. They were children of Reuben Greenleaf Ball and Martha Salina Brightwell Ball.
The Ball family already had a long history in Sandy Springs and Dunwoody. Albert and Clara’s grandparents were Peter and Margaret Ball, who came to Georgia from South Carolina. Peter Ball owned a mill along a creek today known as Ball Mill Creek, located along Ball Mill Road.
Peter and Margaret Ball had four sons and five daughters. Reuben Greenleaf Ball was one of those children.
Albert Ball received his training at the Atlanta College of Pharmacy (established 1891) and became a registered pharmacist. Then he began developing his formulas for healing salves and lotions.
Clara Ball was known as an accomplished student and cook. She often prepared food for families facing illness or difficult times. She made face powders, perfumes and cosmetics to sell at Eureka Laboratory.
In addition to working as a pharmacist, Albert Ball was an early mail carrier for Dunwoody, traveling the long route by horse drawn buggy. The route went from Dunwoody to the area along Roswell Road just south of the river, over to Morgan Falls and back to Dunwoody along Mount Vernon Road.
In 1918, Albert Ball completed a draft registration card for World War I. His registration card is signed by Mr. Tilly. There are no records to indicate that Ball was ever called to report for military duty.
1920 census records show Albert Ball lived in the same house with his mother Martha and his sister and business partner Clara. Reuben Ball died two years earlier. The space for occupation shows Albert is a student at a medical college.
When the 1950 census was recorded, Albert was 65 and Clara was 59. Albert’s occupation recorded on the document is working around the house and garden. I believe today we call that retired!