Happy Birthday to Dr Pepper!

The U.S. Patent Office recognizes December 1, 1885, as the first time Dr Pepper was served. Right here in Waco, Texas! All of these photos are from our group album “Waco Bottling Companies”, and photo credits are given there.

The following text is from https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-dr-pepper-4070939

The history of Dr Pepper dates back to the late 1880s. In 1885, in Waco, Texas, a young pharmacist called Charles Alderton invented the soft drink “Dr Pepper,” a carbonated soft drink marketed as having a unique flavor.

Alderton worked at a place called Morrison’s Old Corner Drug Store and carbonated drinks were served at the soda fountain. Alderton invented his own recipes for soft drinks and found one of his drinks was becoming very popular. His customers originally asked for the drink by asking Alderton to shoot them a “Waco”.

Morrison, owner of the drug store, is credited with naming the drink “Dr Pepper” after a friend of his, Dr. Charles Pepper. Later in the 1950s, the period was removed from the “Dr Pepper” name.

As demand grew Alderton and Morrison had trouble manufacturing enough “Dr Pepper” for their customers. Then in stepped, Robert S. Lazenby, Lazenby owned The Circle “A” Ginger Ale Company in Waco and was impressed with “Dr Pepper”. Alderton did not want to pursue the business and manufacturing end of soft drinks and agreed that Morrison and Lazenby should take over and become partners.

The Dr Pepper Company
The U.S. Patent Office recognizes December 1, 1885, as the first time Dr Pepper was served.

In 1891, Morrison and Lazenby formed the Artesian Mfg. & Bottling Company, which later became the Dr Pepper Company.