Heavenly Healing Hills

Heavenly Healing Hills. Boerne: A West Texas welcome for weary wayfarers. , The moderate climate, plentiful sunshine, higher elevations and lower humidity compared to other regions of Texas and the gulf coast made for a powerful promotional prescription that few could resist. To accommodate those health seekers pursuing the curative climate and mineral waters of "West Texas", numerous sanitariums/hospitals, hotels, baths and camps were provided by communties along the route of the SA&AP. One of the region's most famous resorts was the Hot Wells Hotel and Bath House, constructed cross the San Antonio River from Mission San Jose in 1886. A short railroad spur of the main line of the SA&AP provided red carpet access to the resort, allowing visiting movie stars, politicians and business moguls to park their private coaches near the front entrance to the healing sulplar baths. - Excerpt taken from tor February 1904 "SA&AP" timetable., A Beautiful Side Trip to the Mountain Resorts... , People are rapidly learning that the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway penetrates The Finest Health Country in America., Crossing the Colorado River near Eagle Lake marks the entrance into healthy West Texas- a gradual rise in the elevation until San Antonio (650 feet) is reached thence a more rapid rise to Boerne, Camp Reliance, Comfort and Kerrville - 1650 feet., Thousands who have tried other places, testify that the Kerrville Branch of the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway is by far the most natural sanatorium of the world. This fact is recognized by persons afflicted with Lung Trouble, Asthma, Brouchitis, Catarrh, etc. It ought to be of great comfort to the health seeker to know that here is hope for him in West Texas., The country along the Kerrville Branch is picturesque and at times beautiful. Every town and hamlet along this line is noted for its natural curative properties - Boerne, Waring, Welfare, Camp Reliance, Comfort, Ganahl, and Kerrville will afford you a pleasant and beneficial stay. Particular mention is made of "Camp Reliance" near Comfort. Around this beautiful natural spot, the air is so pure that animal flesh may hang out in the open air for weeks without decomposition. The same cannot be said of the other places., Dr. C.H. Wilkinson, an eminent physician from Galveston, was about the first who established an out door camping systems at "Camp Reliance" for the cure of Pulmonary trouble. He reports most wonderful success., According to George Vaughn, a tuberculosis patient, Boerne was nicknamed "Dr. Herff's Death Camp". During this period, there more patients sullering from tuberculosis and other life threatening diseases, residing in Boerne than there were healthy citizens with in the community. Over the years there were at least thirteen hotel and health-related facilities located in Boerne to cater to the desires of the health seeker and weary traveler. Many more accommodations for the infirm wayfarer were available further along the rail line in Waring, Camp Reliance, Comfort, Center Point, Legion and Kerrville. At Legion, a veterans and tuberculosis tent camp was created that later evolved into the Soldiers Tubercular Sanitarium, eventually becoming the Veterans Administration Hospital of Kerrville., A poem by Carl Beseler lauds the resplendent and rejuvenating respite of Boerne:, Adieu Boerne , My village, I bid farewell to thee! , The time that I remain, , My health improved amazingly, , And wondrous strength I gained., Thy site has all the good combined , That nature can afford; , Thou art by Providence designed , To be a health resort., The healthiest in the state, , Thy hills and vales and scenery , Are picturesque and great., Thy fishpond and thy waterfall, , Thy fern-grown river shore, , Thy tree-lined street, thy park and all , Thy people I adore., The sick, the frail, who go astray, , And know not where to wend, , I want them to come here and stay , To show them how they may mend., My strength is now herculean, , I feel that I must roam; , But when I fall, I come again , And make it then my home.