The Uncommon Story: Notable North Carolinians | Caleb Bradham

[upbeat jingle] [jazz music] - [Narrator] In 1893, Caleb Bradham concocted an elixir for stomach ailments at the soda fountain of his pharmacy.

Over 100 years later, his concoction is consumed all around the world.

In 1886, it was quite an accomplishment for anyone from Chinquapin to head off to the University of North Carolina.

But Caleb Bradham wanted to become a doctor.

He made it to medical school but his family went bankrupt, so he had to return home before finally earning a pharmacy degree.

After school, Bradham opened Bradham Pharmacy, a drugstore in New Bern, known for its jukebox tunes and Brad's Drink: the syrupy soft drink he created to aid digestion.

Soon after, he bought the name Pep Cola for $100 from a competitor, changed the name to Pepsi Cola, and got one of the earliest trademarks in history.

Caleb's successful ad campaign featuring women and celebrities pushed a man so high that by 1910, there were over 250 bottlers in 24 states.

Today, Pepsi products are enjoyed by consumers more than 1 billion times per day throughout the world.

And to think, this renowned beverage came from the humble beginnings of a little soda fountain in New Bern.

It makes sense that one of their slogans is "Born in the Carolinas."

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