The 19th-Century Foundations

In 1854, J.C. Heaton purchased a partner's share in the Niells & Wilson Drugstore located in the coastal port of Port Lavaca, Texas, renaming the business Heaton & Wilson. To assist with operations, J.C.’s brother, L.D. Heaton, relocated from New York in 1860. Following the passing of partner Thomas Wilson in 1867, the business was officially renamed J.C. Heaton & Brothers. Three years later, another brother, D.H. Heaton, joined the team, allowing the family to expand and open a brand-new branch in Victoria, Texas.

Bringing the Legacy to Cuero (1872)

The very next year, in 1872, the brothers opened a new branch line in the newly established town of Cuero, appointing D.H. Heaton as the manager. Disaster struck eight years later when their original wooden storefront burned completely to the ground. Remarkably, the resilient Heatons managed to salvage enough merchandise to open for business in a neighboring building within 24 hours!

In 1889, they constructed the majestic, two-story brick landmark building that stands today. Amazingly, the entire construction process—including the installation of the breathtaking, ornate interior cabinetry—took only about eight weeks to complete. Following D.H. Heaton’s passing in 1912, his widow successfully managed the drugstore for the next nine years.

The L.L. Buttery Era (1921)

In 1921, L.L. Buttery purchased the historic business, changing the name to L.L. Buttery Drugs. Mr. Buttery owned and operated the storefront for an incredible 51 years. Throughout his decades of service, he intentionally chose never to perform any major remodeling, beautifully preserving the authentic, old-time atmosphere of the 1889 interior for generations to experience.

ValuMart Pharmacy & The Museum Transformation (1972)

In 1972, Joe Reuss purchased the historic store from Mr. Buttery and renamed it ValuMart Pharmacy, placing operations in the hands of David Polasek, a passionate Cuero native and pharmacy graduate. Interestingly, one of Joe's primary motivations for buying the store was to create a friendly, healthy competition with his own family business, Reuss Pharmacy. He later proudly stated that purchasing the building was "one of the best things he had ever done."

When ValuMart closed its doors in 2012, the building had operated continuously as a pharmacy for over 124 years. Today, instead of letting that historic run fade away, the building serves as the permanent home of the Pharmacy & Medical Museum of Texas—proudly displaying its rich, untouched architectural and medical heritage for all to see.

  Frontier Foundations in Indianola (1845)

The remarkable story of Reuss Pharmacy began in 1845, when German immigrant Dr. Joseph Martin Reuss emigrated to the bustling coastal port of Indianola, Texas. There, he established what would become the absolute oldest operating drugstore in the State of Texas. In those true frontier days, the first structure wasn't a brick-and-mortar shop—it was a simple canvas tent shared directly with Dr. Reuss's medical practice.

As the region expanded, the family looked inland. In 1872, Dr. J.M. Reuss and his son, Dr. August Reuss, branched out into the brand-new railway town of Cuero. They constructed a one-story wooden storefront on Main Street, proudly naming it J.M. Reuss & Son Drug Store.

The Great Storm and Family Shifts (1875)

Following a catastrophic hurricane that battered Indianola in 1875, the Reuss family made the fateful, brilliant decision to completely dismantle and relocate both their home and business safely inland to Cuero. Tragically, just a year after the move, Dr. August Reuss passed away after a brave battle with tuberculosis. Seeking to keep the family heritage alive, his brother, Oscar Reuss, joined the business immediately upon graduating from Pharmacy School.

To keep pace with Cuero's rapid growth, the original wooden storefront was physically moved in 1885 to make way for a modern, state-of-the-art two-story brick building. The first floor housed the booming apothecary shop, while the second floor was utilized as a local doctor's office.

A historic archival review from the Cuero Star newspaper celebrated the grand building, recording the storefront to be:

"handsomely furnished in all white fixtures and stock of drugs, chemicals, oils, paints, varnishes, proprietary medicines, toilet articles, school supplies and druggist sundries all in full and complete stock."

A Multi-Generational Transition

Tragedy struck the family lineage again in 1908, when Dr. J.M. Reuss passed away, followed just one week later by his son Oscar. To keep the pharmacy operational, Dr. Joseph H. Reuss—the youngest child of the founder—returned from Dallas to manage the storefront for approximately two years. Oscar's son, Edward Reuss, then stepped up to take the reins, managing operations for a couple of years before tragically succumbing to consumption (tuberculosis). In 1912, his brother, Theodore Reuss, purchased the drugstore from the family estate to secure its future.

The Joe Reuss Era & The 2025 Chapter

Theodore’s son, Joe Reuss, officially joined his father as a business associate in 1957. Within a short time, Theodore fell ill and entered retirement, leaving the complete management of the legendary family legacy in Joe's capable hands.

Adapting to modern healthcare needs, Joe built a large, state-of-the-art pharmacy building at 515 North Esplanade in 1971. This facility served as the final proud home of Reuss Pharmacy, anchoring the community's healthcare needs until it bittersweetly closed its doors in 2025 after an incredible, historic 180-year continuous run. Today, our museum stands as the official protector of this legendary Texas milestone. 

The Vital Role of the Community Pharmacist

Pharmacists are highly trained, skilled healthcare professionals who have always been essential to ensuring optimal wellness outcomes for their patients. In Cuero's early days, as is often true today, many local pharmacists were also passionate small-business owners. By running the independent pharmacies where they practiced, these dedicated individuals played a foundational role in the economic growth, civic leadership, and daily development of our city.

A Global Legacy Reaching South Texas

The history of pharmacy spans millennia, with some of the earliest recorded prescriptions etched onto clay tablets by the Sumerians around 2,000 B.C. The world's first dedicated drugstore was later opened by Arabian pharmacists in Baghdad in 754 A.D.

Cuero's own pharmaceutical timeline officially began in 1870, opening as an inland branch line of the historic Reuss Pharmacy from the coastal port of Indianola. Founded in 1845 by German immigrant Dr. J.M. Reuss—great-grandfather to the late Joe Reuss—Reuss Pharmacy proudly held the legacy of being the absolute oldest operating drugstore in the State of Texas for an incredible 180 years.

The Historic Pharmacies of Cuero's Past

Over the decades, a vibrant variety of pharmacies opened their doors to serve the growing families of Cuero. Our museum collections proudly preserve the heritage, vintage bottles, and unique archives of these classic local establishments:

            Booton and Kunitz     Brumlau Drug Store       Bullard Drug Store    

            City Drug Store           Center Pharmacy            Cuero Drug Co.  

            Cuero Pharmacy         DeVinney Drug Store     Heaton Brothers    

            Horizon Pharmacy     Klecka’s Drug Store        Kunitz

            Ley’s Drug Store          L. L. Buttery Drugs        Valumart Pharmacy

            Duggan's                       Lifecheck Drug                Metz-Miller Pharmacy

            Reuss Phamacy

Cuero's Modern Pharmacies

Today, the proud tradition of community healthcare continues. There are currently four pharmacies in Cuero open to serve the general public:

• Brookshire Brothers Pharmacy
• Cuero Discount Pharmacy
• H-E-B Pharmacy
• Walmart Pharmacy

The Original Social Hub: More Than Just Medicine

Early pharmacies were far more than a practical place to get a prescription filled. They functioned as a town social center—and the ultimate spot to take a "date" to enjoy a fresh ice cream soda! Just like today's department stores, a visitor could browse a wide variety of cutting-edge goods, ranging from the latest Edison phonographs and fine jewelry to school supplies and premium tobacco products.

The famous term "soda jerk" directly originated inside these vintage drugstore ice cream parlors. The name came from the physical, rhythmic jerking action the server used on the heavy soda fountain handle to add carbonated soda water to a glass—and had nothing to do with the server's temperament!

Medicine Without Modern Knowledge

As you walk through our various museum displays, you will notice a heavy emphasis on plant-based extracts (botanicals). It was not until around 1860 that the world's first chemically synthesized, non-naturally occurring medicines were developed.

You will also notice that some early 19th-century medical practices show a total lack of understanding of human physiology. For example, patients were often intentionally "bled"—either by opening a vein or through the medical use of live leeches—in an effort to drain "poison" or imbalance from the body. While these intense treatments can seem shocking today, they were performed in absolute good faith based on the leading scientific and medical consensus of the era.

Brumlau Drug Store / DeVinney & Ley

During the early 1890s, the Brumlau Drug Store served local residents from its storefront inside the historic Stratton Building, located in the 100 block of North Esplanade. In October 1895, the business was purchased by a young local dentist, A.E. DeVinney, who reopened it as the DeVinney Drug Store alongside August Ley as the staff pharmacist. Within a short period, Mr. Ley acquired full ownership of the shop, operating it as the Ley Drug Store for several successful years before finally closing its doors.

City Drug Store

Established during the difficult Depression years of the early 1930s, the City Drug Store operated in the 100 block of West Main Street as an independent branch line of the historic Reuss Drug Store. The location was managed by pharmacist J.D. Cohen, who later advanced to become the co-owner of the Harding & Parker Drug Store (formerly known as Heaton Brothers Drug) in neighboring Victoria, Texas. After several years of independent operation, the storefront was officially consolidated back into the main Reuss Drug Store.

Bullard Drug Store

During the Great Depression and continuing safely into the 1940s, Dr. T.A. Bullard—a prominent African American physician in DeWitt County—proudly operated the Bullard Drug Store. Located in the 200 block of West Main Street, his storefront provided vital medical care, essential pharmaceutical goods, and dedicated community support to the families of Cuero during a historic era of economic hardship.

Klecka Drug Store & The Breeden Building Timeline

In 1927, Louis J. Klecka launched the Cuero Pharmacy inside the Dickinson Building, located in the 10 block of East Main Street. Seeking a more prominent location, Mr. Klecka soon relocated his pharmacy to the bustling corner of East Main and Esplanade, leasing a dedicated section inside the Breeden Brothers Grocery facility.

The business has seen a fascinating multi-generational legacy:

• The Riebschlaeger Chapter (1933): Charles Riebschlaeger was hired to serve as the lead manager and pharmacist. Following the sad passing of founder Louis Klecka in 1934, Mr. Riebschlaeger purchased the pharmacy outright and continued operating it as the beloved Klecka Drug Store.
• Post-War Expansion (1949): After successfully graduating from pharmacy school, Mr. Riebschlaeger’s nephew, Ray Katzmark, joined the family business as a staff pharmacist. In the early 1960s, Klecka Drug expanded by opening a successful branch location on North Esplanade named Center Pharmacy.
• The Modern Era: Ray Katzmark and his wife, Beverly, purchased the flagship pharmacy in 1971. In the early 1990s, Mr. Katzmark chose to combine Center Pharmacy back into the primary Klecka Drug storefront. In the mid-1990s, Ray sold the historic establishment to Bill McAuliff, who operated it briefly before selling to Horizon Pharmacy, a regional storefront chain. Following Horizon Pharmacy's corporate restructuring, the historic location was acquired by LifeCheck Drug, which successfully operated the landmark storefront on East Main Street inside the Breeden Brothers Building until wrapping up its final operational chapter.

Come for a visit and take a step back in time.  

City of Cuero owned & operated.