Great buildings don't make great towns; great people do. The former Davenport Pharmacy buildings deserve special mention, not only because they are fine buildings, but also because of the dedication of the Davenport family to the preservation of Mason history. Grace Ray Davenport was one of the driving forces behind the Main Street Program, and her many years of research on the history of the buildings around the Square underpin the information in this tour. She kept historical photographs on display in the pharmacy, and a visit with her was always a must to appreciate fully the Square and what it means to Mason.

The western Vedder building was built by C. S. Vedder about 1902. Vedder ran a confectionery and ice cream plant and later expanded into bottling soft drinks. Vedder Drug Store, with its 20-foot pressed tin ceilings, electric ceiling fans and lights, and wood showcases, became the home of Davenport Pharmacy in 1942, when the Davenports moved from the Fort Mason Hotel. The Davenports expanded into the building to the east, formerly a tin shop, after a fire in 1976 destroyed much of the interior. Grace Ray Davenport was the pharmacist at Davenport Pharmacy from 1942 until 2004. Davenport Pharmacy finally closed its doors in 2004 when owner, Grace Ray Davenport, finally decided to retire.

The west side of the building is currently vacant. The east side is now the home of the Mason Square Museum, providing locals and visitors with a connection to the Mason's past.