EB Walker

   Before the days of Wal-Mart you could shop downtown in De Leon at the Big 5 Nickle---or at least that’s the way it was spelled on the store front.  These two great photos took a circuitous route to De Leon Handbook, apparently beginning with Roger Pounds who passed them to Bennie Bruton, then to Bill Morgan then to here.

   E.B. Walker had his store as early as the 1890’s but little else is known.  There is no evidence from these photos but the store may have been located on the east side Texas south of the peanut warehouse.  S.J. Walker ran a stage and wagon yard where the brick peanut warehouse stands today.  In the early 20’s A.H. Bibby opened his store in the building formerly occupied by E.B. Walker.  That location is believed to be the rock building where Dr. Pino’s Clinic was previously located. Later, William Walker’s filling station operated on the S curve (part of the building is still standing).  Whether or not E.B. and William related are unknown.

    From the letterhead, his partner appears to be E.L. Woodley.  They dealt in dry goods, men’s furnishings, racket goods and produce.

Here are some of the things the photo tells us.  There was going to be or had been a circus in De Leon on October 26.  They have a Dr. Pepper dispenser so we know the photo was taken after 1885.  There are no electric lights so it is before 1906.  J.B. Hilliard had a store in De Leon and his sewing repair shop sign is on the back wall.  A barrel of apples appears to be on the left below a selection of hard liquors but the store also offered ice cream, milk shakes, cider and confections.  How clean do you think the glasses were on the Dr. Pepper stand?