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18-months old
Peach Orchard in Blessing
Click on image to enlarge
Old postcard
courtesy Dan
Whatley Collection |
History in
a Seashell
Blessing 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. |
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Mrs.
A.P. Borden
“We come here for a few months every year because the old place
reminds me of my husband and the old days when I was a young woman
and all the land around here was Pierce and Borden property...”
more
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Hotel Blessing:
"Postcard
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 |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact
us. |
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