Before it was Wellborn Grocery, this little corner was home to something much more than just a general store. Welcome to the former site of Neeley’s Store, a true cornerstone of life in early Wellborn, Texas.
In the 1920s, the building you see here wasn’t just where people bought beans or tobacco—it was where the town gathered, gossiped, and got their mail. Guy Neeley purchased the store in 1923 after the local cotton gin closed. He moved it to this location and ran it as a real-deal general store through the Great Depression, World War II, and into the postwar years. At one point, it even served as the Wellborn Post Office, tucked behind the counter in a barred window room.
Before the store, this site was also the main town. Please see the image below.
During WWII, times were tough. Gasoline was rationed. Electricity didn’t arrive in Wellborn until the late 1930s. Radios were powered by giant C batteries. People came to Neeley’s for oil, kerosene, pinto beans, tobacco, sodas, and maybe most importantly—company. A kid could ride his bike over, grab a root beer, and sit a while.
Locals remember Mr. Neeley always having a White Owl cigar in his mouth—unlit, just chewed. He kept a sharp eye on his inventory, and helped families get through hard times. You didn’t just shop here—you belonged here.
After decades and several changes in ownership, the store closed in the early 2000s, but the building (now Wellborn Grocery) still serves the community. While it may no longer house barrels of beans or a mail slot behind the counter, this spot still holds the spirit of what Wellborn once was: a small, tight-knit place where everyone had a nickname and no one was a stranger.
If you want to learn more about the History of Wellborn, check out a book titled "How We Lived in Wellborn Before Television" by Glenn D. Davis. Its a very nice read, and includes photos just like the ones seen here!
About the Cache
This micro cache was originally hidden in 2017. It was one of my first hides — and despite a rough start, it’s held up all these years thanks to the geocaching community.
The container is homemade, and there's no room for trade items — just a log, so bring your own pen. I’ve since refreshed the log and the page to better reflect the history of the area this cache calls home.
How to Log