| |
 |
History in
a SeashellBlessing
was established on property belonging to Jonathan Edwards Pierce. Pierce gave
the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railroad a right-of-way but no one had
yet named the town. Pierce was so relieved to get a town to ship his cattle that
he had suggested the name "Thank God," but postal authorities considered that
somewhat blasphemous. Blessing was suggested and the postal authorities gave theirs.
The post office opened in 1903.
Between 1903 and 1905 a library building
was attached to the train station. In 1905 the St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico
Railway also built through Blessing. D. A. Wheeler's hotel soon followed.
On
September 1, 1907, residents platted the townsite, and the townsite company made
provisions for school and church sites. In 1909 P. Ansley established a local
newspaper. By 1914 Blessing had 500 inhabitants, two churches, a bank, a hotel,
a telephone connection, and a weekly newspaper, the Blessing News.
In
1925 Blessing's population was still recorded at 500. In 1931 the town had a population
of 450 and twenty-two businesses.
During the 1937-38 school year, nine
teachers instructed 251 white students in eleven grades, and two teachers instructed
thirty-eight black students in seven grades. By 1949 the Blessing district had
been consolidated with the Tidehaven Independent School District.
In
1945 Blessing's population had risen to 600, served by thirteen businesses. Though
in 1966 the population was reported as 1,250; in 1968 it had dropped to 405. |
 |
Blessing TX Postcards:
One is of the old Hotel Blessing. It looks like it hasn't changed a bit structurely
in 100 years! A salesman came by today and told me of a great place to eat in
Blessing Texas and the old Hotel was the place. He said they had some of the best
"Home Style Cooked" lunches he's ever had. I'd heard years ago they served great
lunches. - William
Beauchamp, August 2009 |
Matagorda
County 1920s Map showing Blessing W of Bay City
(Above
"M" in "MATAGORDA") |
| Courtesy
Texas General Land Office |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories, and vintage/historic
photos, please contact
us. | |
| Book Hotel Here
- Expedia
Affiliate Network | |
