By Mike Arcand
Some brands are just part of the fabric of a state’s culture, and none is more so in Texas than Dr Pepper.
The drink was created in a small Waco pharmacy more than 140 years ago as an experiment with flavored syrups at the soda fountain. Now one of the world’s most recognized soft drinks, Dr Pepper is still deeply rooted in Texas, especially in East Texas, where the old bottling plant building in Mineola still stands.
It was during this time, at Morrison’s Old Corner Drug Store in Waco, Texas, that Charles Alderton, the young pharmacist behind the fountain, concocted Dr Pepper as we know it today. More than 140 years have passed since the “experiment” behind the Waco soda fountain became the beverage enjoyed by people in more than 40 countries around the world.
The Dr Pepper Brand Is Born
Alderton’s drink was an instant hit with the patrons of Morrison’s Corner Drug Store. So popular was the concoction that customers would even ask for a “Waco.” But Wade Morrison, the owner of the store where the soda was being served, finally gave the concoction its official brand name: Dr Pepper. There are many rumors as to where the name came from, but the most popular is that the “Dr” in Dr Pepper came from the pharmacist, Charles Alderton, and the “Pepper” from a container of mixed pepper spices that Alderton had on his shelf. Even today, the company touts Dr Pepper as a drink made with a special 23-flavor blend. The exact formula of the ingredients, however, remains a closely guarded secret of the company.
Dr. Pepper is the oldest major soft drink in America. It was invented in 1885, one year before the founding of the Coca Cola Company.
A Texas Soda Goes National
When Dr Pepper began to experience an increase in demand for the drink, bottling operations began in 1891. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, independent bottling plants sprang up across the nation. Many of these plants were franchised by the soft drink manufacturer and were operated by local entrepreneurs who had obtained the rights to bottle and distribute the product in a particular geographic area.
These early bottlers often were required to purchase their syrup from the manufacturer and to agree to certain standards for the product and for the operation of the plant. Many of these independent bottling operations were small and were owned and operated by local families. They played an important role in the early growth and success of the soft drink industry in the United States.
Texas Becomes the Heart of that Network
In Dublin, Texas, the Dublin Bottling Works was the first to commercially bottle Dr Pepper under the direction of Morrison and Pepper. Of course, there are Dr Pepper enthusiasts all across the state of Texas. The following is a look at the Mineola bottling company and the role that it played in the local community.
The Mineola Dr Pepper Bottling Plant
The Dr Pepper bottling plant in Mineola was a familiar fixture in the town for many years. Local bottling plants were a mainstay of commerce in many small towns throughout the country, and they often provided identity to a community.
The Mineola Dr Pepper Bottling Company was a franchise founded by Taylor Greer. Greer is reported to have been one of the first Dr Pepper bottlers in the state of Texas. After Greer’s death, the company was continued by his widow.
The bottling plant was also a source of employment for the locals. Many area businesses also benefited from the plant’s presence. Some of the delivery trucks would have traveled along the many highways in the area as well as dirt roads, delivering Dr Pepper and other flavors to the many local grocery stores, cafes, and service stations. It was a familiar sight in the many towns and communities in the Wood County area.
These early bottling plants provided jobs for the local residents of the many small towns across America. There were bottling plants in nearly every small town. The operators of the bottling plants were an important part of the local business community.
They maintained close relationships with the people who worked in the stores and restaurants of the town where they lived. Delivery trucks of glass bottles left the plant daily to deliver bottles to local stores and restaurants for filling with soda. The same trucks were then returned to the plant to be refilled.
Today, remnants of the past exist in the photographs, markers, and the old building that still stands in Mineola. These give the present residents of Mineola a look into the city’s history of early commerce.
The Rise of an American Icon
Dr Pepper continued to grow as a regional favorite in the 20th century, as the company weathered economic hard times, court cases, and a plethora of large corporations attempting to knock the brand off the shelves. One of the most important events for the company was a court case in the 1960s where the company was ruled a “non-cola” soft drink. This would allow the company to be distributed by both Coca-Cola and Pepsi bottlers in various markets around the country.
The brand’s advertising has been a key factor in Dr Pepper’s continued success over the decades. The popular “I’m a Pepper” slogan from the 1970s is a good example of this.
Keurig Dr Pepper is the owner of Dr Pepper today. It is sold in many countries and is an
American icon. However, the roots of the company remain in Texas. There is even new life being breathed into the Dr Pepper brand as of late, as it is experiencing a resurgence in popularity once again, even topping out the soft drink market share of the likes of Pepsi in parts of the United States.
Preserving the Legacy
There is a wonderful Dr Pepper Museum in Waco. It is housed in the historic 1906 Artesian Manufacturing and Bottling Company building. This was the very first building to be specifically built to bottle Dr Pepper. The Museum showcases the history of the company and all the people, bottles, signs, soda fountains, advertising, and businesses associated with Dr Pepper throughout its long history.
The museum not only tells the story of the soft drink Dr Pepper but also of the Dr Pepper bottling plants, old soda fountains, Dr Pepper advertising, and other local businesses that were part of the growth of this small-town Texas soft drink to become a worldwide brand.
Mineola is one of those communities. The local Dr Pepper Bottling Company is an important part of the local industry.
Dr Pepper is remembered and revered by many Texans who consider it a part of their culture. For many, Dr Pepper evokes the happy memories of family and friends who would frequently gather at their homes for Dr Pepper-filled get-togethers.
Dr Pepper’s history, from a Waco pharmacy counter to Mineola’s bottling lines, is Texas history.