Blanco Pharmacy and Wellness

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Local lore states that a Mr. Cage and John W. Speer had a general store on the east side of the square as far back as 1875 that was the largest business in the county at the time. When Cage and Speer split up, Cage opened a store of his own on the north side of the square, while the east-side store became the John W. Speer & Son business. Deed records in the Courthouse show that Speer owned the land down the block where the Telephone Building (see #13) was built.

The present building was constructed as a drugstore in 1900 for Thomas Jefferson Alexander and Joe Alley Speer by George Kennedy for $325. The first owners studied books from a traveling druggist, went to Austin, and got licensed to be pharmacists. They later studied books about photography, bought camera equipment, and started the photography studio.

In later years Speer became sole owner. The next owner of the drugstore was Dr. Robert L. Fulcher. For many years Dr. Hemple Edwards had his dental office and Dr. Fulcher his medical office in the back of this building. Despite having been sold several times, this building has remained a drug store.

The building originally had a prominent sign surmounting the cornice and metal shutters for the big glass window on each side of the doors (both elements visible in the old photo on page 27). Each morning when opening for business, the shutters were pulled up by a rope on a pulley and secured by a hook arrangement. At closing time, the shutters were lowered and secured from the inside.

The building has changed very little in these 98 years and looks almost exactly as it did in 1900. In 1976, the Fulcher family sold to Phillip Strickland, who operated his own drugstore for many years.

The structure is a one-story, rectangular Victorian commercial building with limestone load-bearing side and rear walls. Cast-iron plinths resting on cast-iron sills highlight the wood-framed facade. Inside walls are plaster, the floor and ceiling are wood tongue-in-groove. This building is notable for its wood floors, large display windows, and decorative woodwork. A historic clock and other antique items are on display inside.

One of the oldest buildings in town, it represents commercial development in turn-of-the-century Blanco.