POULSBO — It used to be a place where people gathered to talk business, politics, and even play a little dice or have a beer.

It used to be where local teens learned to be soda jerks.

It used to be where you could get a lettuce and tomato sandwich for 15 cents.

This week, the Poulsbo Drug soda fountain started the journey into a new phase of its 74-year existence. The piece was dismantled and will soon be put into storage.

But not indefinitely.

It will eventually be reassembled in the Poulsbo/North Kitsap Historical Society’s museum, which is planned to be built across Jensen Way from Poulsbo City Hall in the near future.

Poulsbo Drug Owners Craig and Sally Kvam donated the fountain to the historical society when they decided to move their operations to the former New Day Seafood Eatery. The drug store will officially move to its new location, which was vacated in October, on Feb. 24.

“We’re just glad that we’ve found a good home for it,” commented Craig Kvam of the fountain that had operated continuously since 1929. “We’re confident that the historical society will take good care of it.”

Bill Austin was asked to dismantle the piece for the historical society. While he said it was going to be a challenge, he was fairly familiar with the stand, as he had given it a face lift in about 1985 at the Kvams’ request.

Carefully prying the Italian marble counter top from the wood underneath, Austin chuckled at the notion of that he was undertaking an “historical” project.

“Historical? Hysterical is what it is,” Austin said with a grin. “When I worked on this way back, I never thought I’d be taking it apart someday.”

Historical society President Barbara Mitchusson said her group hopes to rebuild the fountain and have it actually operating in the new museum if funds allow.