Dublin Dr Pepper recieves historical marker
Kelsey Fitzgibbon
Issue date: 10/29/09 Section: News
The oldest Dr Pepper Bottling plant in the world received recognition with a historical marker from the Texas Historical Commission Saturday, Oct. 24 in Dublin.
The event was held at 10:24 a.m., in honor of the 10-2-4 slogan developed by the Dr Pepper company. According to dublindrpepper.com these numbers represent the times of day, 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., that the body needs a "pick-me-up," according to research done by Dr. Walter Eddy at Columbia University in the 1920s.
Photos by Shawn Hughes/ The J-TAC
Lori Dodd welcomed and thanked guests, who gathered at the plant to watch the dedication. The ceremony was held outside of the bottling line, where the marker would be placed.
Bill Kloster led the invocation, the PACS Color Guard presented the colors and Elise Leatherwood led the audience through the National Anthem, Pledge of Allegiance and Texas Pledge of Allegiance.
Mayor Tom Gordon spoke on behalf of the city of Dublin. Gordon said the plant has had a major influence over the city of Dublin, bringing in more than 70,000 visitors and Dr Pepper drinkers. This has helped with sales and revenue for the city, and Gordon said the Dr Pepper staff has always been friendly.
Karen Wright of the Dublin Historical Society gave a brief history of the Dr Pepper Plant, explaining how Sam Prim decided to bottle the drink in his plant, back in 1891.
"Sam set in motion a drama that could not be rivaled in movies or even reality TV. He made good and bad choices; he stumbled over the bad and prospered from the good ones," Wright said.
According to dublindrpepper.com, Prim brought the drink to Dublin after being introduced to the soft drink by Wade Morrison and Robert Lazenby. By 1904, the drink gained national exposure at the World Fair in St. Louis and over the next few years became one of the top three soft drinks in the United States. The Dr Pepper Headquarters remains in Texas.
Wright said Prim saw the Dublin plant survive through the Great Depression and both World Wars. Although it is Dr Pepper's smallest franchise, the rarest of things are usually the best, and Wright said the small size and limited availability and distribution of the drink helped the plant more than hindered it.
"Sam Prim could not have envisioned what this plant has become," Wright said.
Kloster spoke last, on behalf of his father, Bill Kloster senior, who took over operations after Prim and his daughter's deaths, and the Dublin Dr Pepper family. Both Wright and Kloster described Kloster senior as having changed the face of the plant, making it what it is today.
The plant boasts the Dr Pepper museum collection and Doc's Old Soda Shop, where visitors can still order Dr Pepper floats, Dr Pepper cake and other treats, as well as purchase clothing and memorabilia from the plant.
Erath County Historical Commissions officer Cather Hartmann presented the historical marker and Mildred Walker read the marker's text.
"I have dedicated more markers in Dublin than any other part of the county," Hartmann said.
After the presentation, free bottles of Dublin Dr Pepper and slices of Dr Pepper cake were passed out to participants and the bottling plant was opened for tours. Miss Pretty Peggy Pepper handed out vouchers for free T-shirts and many participants enjoyed floats and refreshments in the soda shop.
For more information about the plant, dublindrpepper.com or stop by 105 E. Elm in Dublin.
The event was held at 10:24 a.m., in honor of the 10-2-4 slogan developed by the Dr Pepper company. According to dublindrpepper.com these numbers represent the times of day, 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., that the body needs a "pick-me-up," according to research done by Dr. Walter Eddy at Columbia University in the 1920s.
Photos by Shawn Hughes/ The J-TAC
Lori Dodd welcomed and thanked guests, who gathered at the plant to watch the dedication. The ceremony was held outside of the bottling line, where the marker would be placed.
Bill Kloster led the invocation, the PACS Color Guard presented the colors and Elise Leatherwood led the audience through the National Anthem, Pledge of Allegiance and Texas Pledge of Allegiance.
Mayor Tom Gordon spoke on behalf of the city of Dublin. Gordon said the plant has had a major influence over the city of Dublin, bringing in more than 70,000 visitors and Dr Pepper drinkers. This has helped with sales and revenue for the city, and Gordon said the Dr Pepper staff has always been friendly.
Karen Wright of the Dublin Historical Society gave a brief history of the Dr Pepper Plant, explaining how Sam Prim decided to bottle the drink in his plant, back in 1891.
"Sam set in motion a drama that could not be rivaled in movies or even reality TV. He made good and bad choices; he stumbled over the bad and prospered from the good ones," Wright said.
According to dublindrpepper.com, Prim brought the drink to Dublin after being introduced to the soft drink by Wade Morrison and Robert Lazenby. By 1904, the drink gained national exposure at the World Fair in St. Louis and over the next few years became one of the top three soft drinks in the United States. The Dr Pepper Headquarters remains in Texas.
Wright said Prim saw the Dublin plant survive through the Great Depression and both World Wars. Although it is Dr Pepper's smallest franchise, the rarest of things are usually the best, and Wright said the small size and limited availability and distribution of the drink helped the plant more than hindered it.
"Sam Prim could not have envisioned what this plant has become," Wright said.
Kloster spoke last, on behalf of his father, Bill Kloster senior, who took over operations after Prim and his daughter's deaths, and the Dublin Dr Pepper family. Both Wright and Kloster described Kloster senior as having changed the face of the plant, making it what it is today.
The plant boasts the Dr Pepper museum collection and Doc's Old Soda Shop, where visitors can still order Dr Pepper floats, Dr Pepper cake and other treats, as well as purchase clothing and memorabilia from the plant.
Erath County Historical Commissions officer Cather Hartmann presented the historical marker and Mildred Walker read the marker's text.
"I have dedicated more markers in Dublin than any other part of the county," Hartmann said.
After the presentation, free bottles of Dublin Dr Pepper and slices of Dr Pepper cake were passed out to participants and the bottling plant was opened for tours. Miss Pretty Peggy Pepper handed out vouchers for free T-shirts and many participants enjoyed floats and refreshments in the soda shop.
For more information about the plant, dublindrpepper.com or stop by 105 E. Elm in Dublin.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Bill Lawson
posted 11/14/09 @ 6:14 PM CST
Here's an information page on the new Dublin Dr Pepper Bottling Company historical marker, along with the text:
http://www.stoppingpoints.com/texas/sights. (Continued…)
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