Art Walk Exhibit: The Kilmer Family -- A Binghamton Empire

As part of Binghamton's First Friday Art Walk -- and in celebration of the Broome County Bicentennial -- the Connelly Gallery at 205 State St, Binghamton, NY 13901-2711 will hold an exhibit and sale of personal and business artifacts of Dr. S. Andral Kilmer on Friday, June 2, 2006 from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m. (Note the early-bird start). A household name in the Golden Age of Patent Medicine (1880-1920), Dr. Kilmer's Swamp Root Kidney Liver and Bladder Cure -- which was 10.5% alcohol -- made the Kilmer family millions. John C. Darrow, "The Swamp Root Man," will be on hand at the opening to lecture and amuse with his Kilmer-themed anecdotes and antics. The exhibit and sale of Kilmer artifacts will continue through June 23, weekdays from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and at other times by appointment (Telephone: 607-722-9593).

The Kilmer family "empire" got its start with patent remedies, which included Dr. Kilmer's Female Remedy and his Indian Cough and Consumption Cure, but soon built a Sanitarium and a Cancertorium. The family, which founded The Binghamton Press, and owned baling wire and fence manufacturing plants as well, maintained stables in Binghamton and Virginia, and owned the 1918 Kentucky Derby winner, Exterminator. Dubbed the "The Kilmer Dynasty" by local raconteur and Kilmer historian, John C. Darrow, the family has been a passion of his for over 30 years. Darrow, who runs an antique business with his wife Danette when he's not lecturing on the Kilmers, will display artifacts from his personal collection, and beguile you with his enactment of a 19th century "snake oil salesman." A quick cure for the blahs and the blues is guaranteed. Additional details in the Exhibition Brochure.