The Dr Pepper formula and name began in Paris, Texas. And, the first Coca-Cola sold in Texas was at B.F. Ledgerâs cubby-hole confectionary on the south side of the townâs square. We are sticking to that story.
No doubt, as Mary Clark pointed out in her column May 16, a visit to the Dr Pepper Museum in Waco is a pleasure. It is a shame, however, that the docents there do not mention to visitors that four men from Paris did the primary work to invent at least part of the recipe and bottle the product.
We donât know how this group got to Paris, but we suspect a link between one of the four and a local druggist, Dr. W.C. Elliott. We do know from our townâs most reliable writer, A.W. Neville, the locals tinkered with and sold a fountain drink at least at the Tennessee Drug Store, and learned the bottling profession where three also were employed at the Elliott Bottling Works.