Hankins Drug Store

by Connie Sue Low

John M. Hankins was born in Prairie Lea, Caldwell County, Texas, September 19, 1877. Nellie Corkill was born in Conception, Duval County, Texas, July 7, 1880. Each moved to Kerrville, Texas, with their parents as children. They attended school in Kerrville and married there April 3, 1901.

John and Nellie and daughter Lois moved to Junction from Kerrville in early 1904, where he had worked for Capt. Charles Schreiner at Schreiner’s General Mercantile Store. John transferred to the Junction Schreiner’s store. Later in July, 1904, their second daughter Blix was born.

In 1907, they purchased the drug store from John Munn, which was located on the East side of the first floor of the second story Burt building, which was owned by Dr. J. W. Burt. Dr. Burt had his office at the back part of the building.

In 1909, Dr. Burt sold the building to the Masonic Lodge, but the drug store remained.

Hankins studied and took the pharmacy test and became a registered pharmacist in 1913. In those days, all that was required to become a pharmacist was to be able to pass the pharmacist test.

All supplies were brought to Junction in those early days by freight wagons from Kerrville, which at that time, was a 60-mile trip and took several days to complete.The drug store, in addition to being a prescription pharmacy, sold other drugs, sundries, pat- ent medicines, ice cream, cookies, candies, fruits and sometimes at special times, like Christmas, had fresh vegetables. At times, even oysters were brought in on the freight wagons, packed in ice; and customers would bring their own containers, usually a small bucket, to pick them up.

When the freight wagons would arrive with ice, ice cream would be made and served in the drug store. What a treat that must have been.

In 1913, John Hankins and W. P. Riley purchased the lot on the southeast corner of Main and 6th Street, where there had previously been a saloon. They had a large two story frame building built. The Hankins-Riley Opera House occupied the second story, where dances, home talent plays, minstrels, entertainment of all kinds, and a “picture show”, as it was called in those days. The shows, of course, were actually only pictures as the movies were silent.

The drug store was on the first floor. In the drug store, customers could buy pharmacy drugs, over-the-counter drugs, sundries, candies, a soda fountain, ice cream parlor, and fishing supplies, like cane poles, lures etc.

In the basement, there was soft drink bottling, and that was where the ice cream was made; the large freezers were powered by a gasoline engine.

The first ceiling fans in Junction were installed in the building. Since there was no electricity, the fans were operated by belts which were powered by a gasoline engine in the basement.

Of course, lighting was provided by gasoline lamps which had mantles and were pumped to operate.

There was a large popcorn popper, decorated like a circus wagon, mounted on wheels. The popcorn wagon would be wheeled out to the sidewalk each morning. There was a glass enclosed area where the popper operated. On top of the glass enclosure was a clown doll that delighted children as they watched it move up and down as the corn popped.

There was a large case of penny candies, each in a flat glass dish. Some children would take quite a while to select their five candies at the price of one nickel! There were also several different kinds of chewing gum: Wrigley’s like we have now and Long Tom, which was wrapped in bright yellow tissue paper with fluted ends. It was made of a long paraffin stick and sugar. Another kind of gum was called “Tickle Chickle Five Tickles for a Nickel”.

Candies also came in wooden buckets, and these candies were sold by the pound. The box candies were very popular as gifts for young men to give to their girl friends.

The building housing the drug store and opera house burned in 1927. A one story concrete building was built to replace the woodframed one that burned. There was a new soda fountain, serving all fountain drinks and ice cream. There was also a sandwich counter where crisp, butter toasted sandwiches were made and served. Curb service was offered and used extensively. There were tables and chairs and booths. The drug store was the gathering place for all ages.

One of the regular customers was Ellsworth McCampbell. He was the only colored man who lived in the community then. He was well respected and loved. He worked in the country on a ranch and would come to town each weekend to get supplies and a few drinks. He was loved by the children, as when they saw him they would run up to him smiling, and he would pick them up and hug them tightly. He spent his hard earned money buying candies for the children, keeping back only enough for his supplies and a “few” drinks! He would walk into the drug store in the early part of the day and say to whomever was working, “Morning Glory.”

On one occasion, after more tourists began coming through Junction, Henry (Tuffy) Taylor was working behind the fountain when a young boy from out of town came in and asked for an Eskimo Pie. Tuffy had never heard of an Eskimo Pie and he replied that he did not have one. Back in those days some of the soda fountains and ice cream parlors referred to an ice cream cone as a “Say So”. The boy then asked, do you have a Say So? Tuffy thought the boy was trying to “pull his leg” and loudly replied to him, “If you want something, you say so or you get out of here!”

The drug store operated until 1946 when Hankins sold and retired. The drug store was sold to Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Moon.

John Hankins organized Junction’s first band, with practices held in the Hankins’ home. He played on local baseball teams, and built Junction’s first tennis court. He and his wife, Nettie, both worked with many civic projects. Mrs. Hankins was one of a group who were responsible for getting Captain Charles Schreiner interested in donating the land for the Charles Schreiner Park (our present city park) which was developed and promoted to be used for public gatherings. John Hankins was a member of Woodmen of the World, Knights of Pythias and Masonic Lodge. He took the Scottish Rite degree in 1920.

He organized and served as fire chief of the Junction Volunteer Fire Department for many years. In 1930, he was instrumental in organizing the Hill Country Fireman’s Association and was its first president, served as secretary-treasurer for 20 years, and in 1951, was designated as life-time secretary and presented a gold watch by the members in appreciation for his service. Hankins charter and organizing 1928, was its first secretary-treasurer and served until his death in 1960, and was credited with 32 years of perfect attendance.

Mrs. Hankins (Nellie), and daughters Lois and Blix, were charter members of the First Presbyterian Church of Junction, which was organized in 1925. Blix Hankins Motley was ordained the first woman Elder of this church in January 1972 and served until 1976.

The Hankins had three children: Lois, Blix, J. M. (Dee).

John M. Hankins died December 27, 1960, in Junction, Texas, at the age of 83.

Nellie Corkill Hankins died June 15, 1975, in San Antonio, Texas, at the age of 94.

Junction and Kimble County were very blessed with everything this couple accomplished. Like many of the early settlers of our community, they saw the beauty in Junction and Kimble County and wanted to help make it a wonderful place, not only as a to live but place where families could in safety, knowing there