Roanoke Virginia Dr Pepper and H and C Coffee Signs
by Susan Rissi Tregoning
Title
Roanoke Virginia Dr Pepper and H and C Coffee Signs
Artist
Susan Rissi Tregoning
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
The iconic H&C Coffee and Dr. Pepper neon signs define Roanoke Virginia’s downtown skyline paying tribute to Roanoke’s commercial past.
The original Dr. Charles T. Pepper opened Dr. Pepper's Drug Store in Rural Retreat, Virginia, in the late 1800s. A young man named Wade Morrison worked at the drug store but eventually moved to Waco, Texas. Morrison and his partner opened a drug store of their own and began selling a new drink that Texans could not get enough of. It was named Dr. Pepper after Morrison's old boss in Virginia.
In 1936, Bill Davis opened Virginia’s first Dr. Pepper Bottling plant in Roanoke, Virginia, and this Dr. Pepper sign was placed downtown in the 1940s. From 1957 through 1959, the people of Roanoke drank more Dr. Pepper per capita than any other place in the world, and they did it again in 1961. To this day, Roanoke still has the highest per capita consumption rates in the USA.
In 1927, the Woods brothers established Woods Brother’s Coffee Company in Roanoke, Virginia. After a time, Harold purchased Clarence’s interest in the company but continued with the brand name of H&C Coffee. In the ’40s, Harold made a trip to New York and was so impressed with the neon advertising that he had the H&C Coffee neon sign made.
The Dr. Pepper and H&C Coffee neon signs were moved to their current location in 2005 after being refurbished. They are classified as National Historic Landmarks.
Copyright 2020 Susan Rissi Tregoning
Uploaded
January 20th, 2020
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