Dr. Pepper called Bristol home
BUD PHILLIPS/SPECIAL TO THE HERALD COURIER
Published: November 3, 2007
Updated: November 4, 2007
Most of us know of the popular Dr. Pepper soft drink, but it is doubtful that many have followed the “ten, two and four” regime previously advertised on each bottle. Published: November 3, 2007
Updated: November 4, 2007
Fewer still know that the specified times are based not altogether on the supposed desires to sell more drinks, but were determined by an actual practice of the noted doctor for whom the drink is named.
Dr. Charles Taylor Pepper was born in Wythe County, Va., in 1830. Old Pepper’s Ferry, in that county, was named for his ancestors.
Early in life, he became a medical doctor. When about 28 years old, he decided to move to the fast growing town of Bristol. Others of his family also moved here at about the same time.
Dr. Pepper soon opened his office on the Tennessee side of Bristol on Main Street (now State), a short distance east of the present Paramount Theatre. He soon enlarged his office space to include a drug store.
Years later, he became a partner with fellow druggist Jeremiah Bunting in the firm of Bunting and Pepper. His brother, John Givens Pepper, may have also once been in this firm.
Dr. Pepper and others of his family, soon were accepted here and became among the leading citizens of the new town. Dr. Pepper even served a term or two on the city council.
Dr. Pepper was of the opinion that in order to maintain good health, one should drink only pure water in large quantities.
There was a well at his drugstore and one at his home, but he would never drink water from either of them. Instead, he used water from a spring that was within the bounds of present Steele’s Creek Park. Owners of this spring sold and delivered water to Bristol for many years.
Dr. Pepper had a large striking Regulator clock in his store. Every day, when that clock struck 10, 2 and 4 o’clock, he stopped what he was doing – even if he was filling a prescription – and measured out an exact pint and one half of the spring water, and drank it rather slowly. Not only did he prescribe water for himself, but he also prescribed it, in the same time order, for most of his patients.
That became his best-known “prescription.”
Finally, after years of faithful service to Bristol and vicinity, Dr. Pepper decided to return to his native Wythe County (around 1878-79).
At that time, I.C. Fowler, legendary editor of the Bristol News, wrote of his move and lamented that the town was losing one of its best known and highly respected citizens.
Dr. Pepper soon opened a drug store and began a medical practice in the beautiful and prosperous village of Mt. Airy, now called Rural Retreat. He died in 1903 and is buried there in the very beautiful and well-situated Mountain View Cemetery. His drug store building burned a few years ago.
It is said that his son-in-law actually was the originator of the formula for the Dr. Pepper soft drink. He well knew of his father-in-law’s water drinking habits and how he prescribed the same regime for his patients, thus he immortalized this famous prescription in advertising material and on countless bottles.
You know the rest of the story.
BUD PHILLIPS is a local historian and author. He can be reached at (276) 466-6435 or e-mail .
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