2. Blessing, Texas Jose Luna, Tidehaven High School, Shelley Anderson, El Maton, Matagorda County

3. Founder of Blessing, Texas Jonathan Edwards Pierce Gave the Galveston, Harrisburg, and San Antonio Railroad a right-of- way Used railroad to ship his cattle

4. Blessing Railroad & Library Between 1903 & 1905 a library building was attached to the train station St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railway also ran through Blessing

5. Masonic Lodge Established 1874 Originally located in Tres Palacios Originally named Tres Palacios Masonic Lodge

6. Masonic Lodge Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1965 Moved when the town of Blessing was founded

7. Old Hawley Cemetery First known as Deming’s Bridge Cemetery Established in 1854 Located two miles east of Blessing

8. Old Hawley Cemetery Land was donated by Emelius & Norman Savage and Jonathan Pierce Name was changed in 1899

9. Grimes Family Cemetery Established in 1856 Established when infant grandson died Grimes was a famous rancher The first burial there was in 1856 Located off of FM 2853, Blessing, Texas

10. Blessing Hotel Built in 1906 by Jonathan E. Pierce Opened for the traveling public and landseekers

11. Blessing Hotel Abel B. Pierce, Jr., acquired ownership in 1972 Restoration began in 1978

12. Blessing State Bank Built during the boom of 1907 Possibly designed by Victoria architect Jules Leffland

13. Blessing State Bank Operated until 1932 Blessing was without a bank until 1966

14. The A. B. Pierce Home Built in 1909 for A.B. Pierce Gathering place for area civic leaders Father cofounded town of Blessing Veteran of the Spanish-American War

15. St. Peter's Catholic Church Built in 1915 Moved twice in its long history Has been a religious influence to Blessing The church was remolded before 1927 Mission parish attended on occasion by priests

16. The Blessing Community House and Library Association Organized in 1912 Organized in the old elementary Community house was added in July, 1921 Went through some major renovations in 1997

17. Sources http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txmatago/cemetery_hawley.htm http://www3.familyoldphotos.com/photo/texas/41/blessing-texas-train-station- 1900s http://www3.familyoldphotos.com/photo/texas/41/blessing-texas-train-station- 1900s http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txmatago/businesses_blessbank.htm http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txmatago/blessing_photos2.htm http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txmatago/church_bl_st_peters.htm http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txmatago/hmn_blessing_com_house.htm

18. Sources http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txmatago/ce metery_hawley.htm http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txmatago/ce metery_hawley.htm http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txmatago/bu sinesses_blessbank.htm http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txmatago/bu sinesses_blessbank.htm http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txmatago/ch urch_bl_st_peters.htm http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txmatago/ch urch_bl_st_peters.htm http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txmatago/hm n_blessing_com_house.htm http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txmatago/hm n_blessing_com_house.htm