We’re proud to be a part of the community in Springerville, AZ, and the surrounding areas. We have a rich history of taking care of people’s needs as a pharmacy, sporting goods, and general store. It’s our goal to continue serving all of our customers just as we have for more than 85 years. Stop by to speak to a pharmacist or call 928-333-4321.
We’ve been open 365 days a year since 1934!
Our History
- 1934: Western Drug was established in 1934 by Ellis Chitwood.
- 1959: Western Drug was purchased by Merle Harper in 1959.
- 1978: Merle Harper moves the store across Main Street to its current location. He expanded the small pharmacy to a full-line store of more than 18,000 square feet, proving Merle was ahead of his time.
- Present day: Merle’s son has run the store for the past 25+ years. Fred Harper, his wife Debbie, and 40-plus helpful and knowledgeable employees keep the store going as Merle would have wanted.
Serving a Community for Generations
Our family’s history of serving the Round Valley community goes back to the late 19th century. There are pictures of the 1876 Becker Cabin replica inside of our store and a picture of the Becker Store circa 1895 with the notation: “For generations in Round Valley, our family has been purveyors of the unique & practical.”
In the book, “The White Mountains of Apache County,” the same picture of Fred’s great-grandfather’s store is there with the following information:
“The Becker brothers’ farming and mercantile business grew. About 1880, they purchased the store shown above and made improvements throughout the years. Gustav Becker’s sons contributed greatly to the community: Julius operated the store and promoted good roads, Paul ran Valley National Bank, Alvin developed Round Valley Light and Power, and my grandfather (Edward Becker) ran the Becker Motor Co. and Standard Oil distribution business.
Fred’s great-grandfather and great-uncle were recognized for their efforts to establish well-paved roads. A towering mesa in Salt River Canyon was named Becker Butte, and an overlook was created for sightseers. The dedication plaque called Gus Becker, ‘A Father of U.S. Highway 60,’ and states of Gus and Julius, ‘They made our world a better place in which to live.’”
