Waco Drug Company
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Why it's listed
Built in 1925 at Fifth and Mary Streets in downtown Waco, this four-story warehouse served as the headquarters of Waco Drug Company, a wholesale drug business founded in 1911 by James Marrs Penland. The structure combines a poured concrete frame with brick and tile infill, steel industrial windows and a classical cast stone entry with Doric columns. Part of an earlier 1911 corner building is incorporated inside. Penland's company later merged with six other Texas firms to form Southwestern Drug Corporation, which became one of the largest drug wholesalers in the United States. The building is one of only four remaining loft-style warehouses in Waco and survived the 1953 tornado that devastated downtown. It was remodeled for offices between 2002 and 2006 with historic preservation tax incentives, keeping its exterior features and open warehouse interiors. It was listed for its role in local industry and for its architecture.
Significance in brief: The building is tied to Waco Drug Company, founded by James Marrs Penland, which grew into the Southwestern Drug Corporation, one of the largest wholesale drug firms in the nation. It is also one of only four remaining loft-style warehouses in Waco and predates the 1953 tornado that destroyed much of downtown. It retains a high level of integrity.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 08000241, listed March 24, 2008. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 225 S. 5th St., Waco |
|---|---|
| County | McLennan County |
| Listed | March 24, 2008 |
| Reference number | 08000241 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1925-1957 |
| Architect / builder | Milton Scott and T. Brooks Pearson of Scott & Pearson, Architects, of Waco, Texas / J.E. Johnson, Contractor, of Waco, Texas |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th Century Revivals: Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Rehabilitated between 2002 and 2006 using the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives program and converted to offices; currently in business use. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 31.55538, -97.13018 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 08000241.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002662
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.