Thursday, January 16, 2025
In the early days, Gatesville had grocery stores actually located on the courthouse square. As years progressed and the town grew, some of the stores ventured away from the square to areas closer to residential districts. One such store, Bauman Grocery Store, was opened in 1926 by Henry Bauman and his son, Price Bauman. Their first store was located on State School Road near Mill Branch.
It was reported that one year, during the flooding of the Leon River, the store and groceries were washed away. A year later, the store moved to the corner of Lutterloh and Waco Streets. In 1931, Price Bauman bought the store from his father.
Price’s daughter, Phyllis Bauman Dunham, would later write, “During the 1930’s and 40’s, Bauman’s Super Market made five deliveries a day for orders called in by the customers. Many a Saturday night bather scurried for cover when Price knocked on the kitchen door with the grocery order.”
Remembering the early day prices, Dunham wrote, “In 1939, you could get a pound of coffee for 23 cents, a quart of peanut butter for 23 cents, 48 pounds of flour for $1.53, round steak at 29 cents a pound, sliced Dexter bacon for 25 cents a pound, lettuce for four cents a head, No. 2 can of green beans at two for 15 cents, and three pounds of shortening for 49 cents.” Dunham went on to say, “By 1947, bacon had jumped to 63 cents a pound, beans to 14 cents a can, shortening to $1.69 for four pounds, and ten pounds of flour for 87 cents.”
Dunham would also recall stories about the young boys who once worked for her father. She wrote, “Many Gatesville boys worked at sacking groceries after school and during summer vacation. They remember Price as a great jokester, encourager, and Christian friend. Bill Ellis and Dan Edwards used to go out back of the store to wring the necks and pluck the feathers of fresh chickens to be sold.”
Price Bauman also owned grocery stores in Hamilton and Waco for several years but would later dispose of those interests - only keeping the Gatesville store.
He became a prominent leader in Gatesville business, church, and civic circles. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Gatesville for over 50 years, a member of the city council, president of the Chamber of Commerce, member of the Lions Club, as well as being a 32nd degree Mason.
Bauman was in the grocery business for more than 47 years until his retirement in August of 1973. An article appeared in The Gatesville Messenger announcing his retirement: “The veteran business, church, and civic leader recently had a bout with illness that kept him hospitalized for several days. He listed his health, the aggravation of mounting problems in the food store business, and the desire to devote his time to other pursuits as reasons behind his decision to retire.”
Bauman himself explained some of the reasons for his retirement saying, “There are about 25 good reasons in all. There are so many problems and headaches in the food business today – government regulations, price ceilings, food shortages, and so forth – that you have to be a lawyer, auditor, accountant, and secretary to handle things. It’s just not worth the investment and time it takes.” Back when the grocery store first opened in 1926 as Henry Bauman and Son Grocery Store, Price Bauman recalled, “Then you could concentrate on selling groceries.”
Bauman died two years following his retirement at the age of 68 and was buried in Restland Cemetery. Many locals still remember Price Bauman and patronizing his grocery store on Lutterloh Street.
