#34 - Hotel Blessing

Day 2, in Blessing, Texas
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​After a night in a stucco teepee, Don and I headed for our second stop of our 3-Day Mini Texas Road Trip! 

Our night at The Blessing, was every bit as interesting as the night at the Teepee Motel.

​Since 1906

​Don and I knew just a bit about our hotel before arriving.  We had learned that rancher, J.E. Pierce built the hotel in 1906, since the area was prospering from 2 new railroads.  

Suddenly there was a new town that needed a name.  Pierce pushed for the town to be named "Thank God",  but not all agreed.  The name Blessing finally stuck.
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Open Doors

​Don and I arrived at noon, parked in front and came through the open front doors. ​

The July morning heat had warmed up the un-air-conditioned entry.  We turned to the left, but found no one at the front desk.

It looked like little had changed since 1906.

The Pink Hall
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​We looked down the hallway and noticed a few hotel rooms with screen doors.

The idea of screen doors inside the hotel made me feel like I had stepped back 5 decades or more. I peered through one screen and saw someone's suitcase resting on the bed and a breeze rustling the curtain.  

Good Smells
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​We headed down the hall towards the 2 wooden doors and a welcoming handcrafted sign. 

We heard a murmur of voices and smelled something delicious  behind the doors! ​

​Cool Room and Hot Food!
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​It was a treat to feel the air-conditioning as we stepped inside.  Next to the wall we found the source of the smells. 

A couple of old stoves were keeping a buffet of comfort foods warm.  Beside the stoves there was a long table that held cold salads and desserts.  We were told to help ourselves and sit anywhere.

Don and I took our overloaded plates to one of the 10 or so community tables.  There were about 6 single men dining when we first sat down and no one spoke. After a bit, one man and then another began to share memories of eating at the hotel when they were children. Until the 1980's you actually went into the kitchen and served yourself.

Finding our Room
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​Don and I took off for a while and returned to check in at 3.   There was still no one in the office.   We finally found Wilhelmina, who said we could call her Mina. 

She apologized for not being at the desk, but she and a handful of high school students were making 200 hamburger patties for a fundraiser the next day.  Mina got us the key and told us we could just pay our $35.00 dollars the next day before we left.  Don and I headed up a creaky set of stairs to another pink hall.

Another Screen Door
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The wide upstairs hall was even stuffier than below. But the screen door to the roof top porch let in a little air and light.  

​The Yellow Room

Our funny little room # 27 did have an a.c. window unit, so we were happy. 

There was a microwave and small fridge and a TV that seemed to have no knobs or remote.  But who needs TV when you've got Blessing to experience? 

​Enjoying the Evening
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​We brought our camp chairs to the roof porch for an evening happy hour.  We watched a couple men in the yard below, enjoying some beer after finishing yard work. 

Across the street we noticed a number of semis parked in front of a tiny bar.  We figured that was an option for evening entertainment, but headed for the local American Legion Hall instead.  Luckily someone tipped us off that they serve great food, because The Blessing Dining Room is only open for breakfast and lunch. 

​Bathing Options in the Morning
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​Don opted for the shower down the hall.  (It was the door right past the fire hose. ) He returned, saying the shower worked well, but the hook-lock allowed the door to open pretty far, which could have been embarrassing since the shower curtain was clear. 

I opted to use the old bathtub in the bathroom attached to our room.  There was another door in our bathroom which connected to another guestroom.  I bathed pretty quickly since I wasn't totally sure the other room was empty.  I do need to mention, the bathroom was spotless. There was even a can of Comet nearby, in case I didn't approve.

Miss Helen

​Don and I ordered breakfast before checking out.  We sat at our own table, this time.  There was only one other large table in use.  It became obvious that the "breakfast regulars" joined up at that special table, near the kitchen.

  Luckily it was pretty peaceful, so I had a chance to chat a good while with Miss Helen who runs the Blessing Restaurant.  She's been coming to the restaurant since she was a child and working at the restaurant since she was a young mother.   I asked if any Pierces still lived in town.  "Sure." She answered.  Mr. Pierce had already been in that morning.

What's Notable?
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​This stay was more like staying at a boarding house than hotel.  I liked that.  We were left alone to explore and figure things out.  We had to search for Mina to pay in the morning, since she was prepping for the big fundraiser. 

But once we found her, she took time to chat and show us a picture of the hotel ghost she'd captured on her cell phone.  I felt like we'd stepped back in time more than any other hotel I've stayed at.  But what will I remember most?  The food! All that comfort food!