Early Site of Dr. Logue's Drugstore

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'll do my best to do it justice. Now, you might pass through Colorado County without thinking twice, but pull over a second, because this patch of Texas holds a story that stretches all the way back to the days when Texas was its own nation. We're talking about the early site of Dr.

Logue's Drugstore, known as the first drugstore in the Republic of Texas. Let that settle in for a moment. The first one.

In the whole Republic. Dr. John G.

Logue founded it in 1844, and he hadn't exactly wandered in off the prairie to do it. He'd earned his credentials at Jefferson Medical College up in Philadelphia, graduating in 1842, and then made his way here. Born in 1815, he'd go on to leave his mark on this place before his death in 1861.

Now, if you want to talk about the company Logue kept, consider his partner for a time, a Dr. John H. Bowers.

Dr. Bowers had himself a resume that raised eyebrows, having served as physician in 1836 to none other than captive dictator Santa Anna. That's right.

The man who'd stood across from Texas on the battlefield, and there was Dr. Bowers, tending to him. So Logue's little drugstore had some history swirling around it right from the start.

The store passed through a succession of owners over the years, each one adding a chapter. One of them, Dr. R.H.

Harrison, went on to found the city's railway hospital. Then came Weller and Burford, who built the trade area out to reach as far as Gonzales and Bastrop. That is a serious stretch of Texas to be serving out of one store.

But perhaps no owner put more of himself into the place than O.A. Zumwalt, born in 1870, died in 1951, who served as proprietor for forty-eight years. Forty-eight years behind that counter.

The store itself kept moving, operating on various sites over its long life, and by the time this marker was recorded in 1973, it had landed on Bowie Street. The first drugstore in the Republic of Texas, still standing, still on the map. Some things just refuse to quit.

What the marker says

Known as first drugstore in Republic of Texas. Founded 1844 by Dr. John G. Logue (1815-1861), who came here after graduation (1842) from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. A partner of his for a time was Dr. John H. Bowers, physician (1836) to captive dictator Santa Anna. Store has had a succession of owners. One, Dr. R.H. Harrison, founded city's railway hospital. Later owners Weller & Burford served trade area extending to Gonzales and Bastrop. O.A. Zumwalt (1870-1951) was proprietor for 48 years. The store, operated on various sites, is now on Bowie Street. (1973)