Blessing, Texas, town in Matagorda County. (original) (raw)

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.

Blessing People

	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

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

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