WEAVER DRUG

Weaver Drug

   Dr. W.P. Weaver arrived in De Leon in 1896 from  Mississippi.  In 1902 he became partners with a Mr. Murrary who had apparently acquired the interest of another early De Leon drug store, the Thomas Gilmore Drug Co.

   Two years later Weaver became the sole owner of the firm and later was joined in business by his son W.P. Weaver.  The store was later owned by Sam Weaver and currently Bodie Weaver (4th generation).

   The original store was located immediately north of its present location in a rather small building, the larger building which stood on the present site housed Thomas and then Harmon Drug.  Those buildings burned in 1919 only four months into the Desdemona oil boom and the present three-plex of buildings now housing Cook Insurance and Weaver Drug were constructed.      

    The fire broke out around 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 8, 1919 in Weaver Drug, destroying two adjoining buildings.  Dublin’s fire department arrived about 45 minutes into the blaze to help the De Leon squad contain the fire.  

     The loss was estimated at $75,000.  Among the businesses destroyed were T.P. Weaver and Sons which lost an estimated $12,000 in stock and the building estimated at $8,000; Dr. A. M. Allen’s dental office ($1,000); Dr. W.H. Inzer’s office ($1,500); Dr. T.P. Weaver’s office ($2,000); the offices of attorneys Culp & Coe ($5,000); Harmon Drug ($17,000), the C.C. Morris Building (($5,000); the Terrill Store building ($25,000); offices of attorneys Hampton-Harris & Hampton ($2,000); Our Best Store owned by J.B. Wilson ($2,000) and the telephone and light offices were damaged ($500).

Above:  Interior of Weaver Drug about 1915.  Standing behind the cigar counter is Cager Mohon.  Dr. Sam Weaver, son of founder Dr. T.P.Weaver is behind the counter on the far right.  Below:  A remodeled store about 1918.  Cager Mohon is behind the fountain.  Third from the right is W.P. Weaver.  Photos: Willie Mae Weaver for the Centennial book.

Above:  A fire burned the central part of the block in January 1919.  The above photo shows the block immediately after it was rebuilt.  Below:  The new Weaver Drug after it was rebuilt.  L-R are Herbert Weaver, W.P. Weaver, Cager Mohon and Mr. Short who was a jeweler who operated in the store.  Later, Elza Perry operated his jewelry store in Weavers for many years.

Weaver Drug about 1948.  Notice the Rexall sign above the black vehicle.

1919 Weaver Drug ad in the De Leon Free Press