Garrison History

Hotel Wiley

First Friday Luncheons

The ladies prepare a “homemade type” of meal that is open to the public. It takes place in the Hotel the first Friday of every month except June, July & August. With the exception of possibly January, the menu is always “Chicken and Dressing, the best candied sweet potatoes you have ever tasted, green beans, cranberry sauce, a roll, homemade pie or cobbler plus a glass of iced tea, water or coffee”. All for the cost of $7.00. The food is prepared from scratch by some of the best cooks ever, and all are especially conscious of cleanliness and safe conditions.

They start serving at 11:00 A.M. and people come from everywhere so it is advisable to be timely—usually by 12:30 or 1:00 the food is gone! Take-out plates are also available and delivery is offered for in town requests.

History

Hotel Wiley is located across the Railroad tracks from the town square. Built in 1886, it was a major stop for the trains and originally housed traveling salesmen and their wares in its Annex. They would spread out their merchandise for viewing and store owners would come by to order or purchase their inventories —much like our modern day trade markets. A family was usually in residence as its operator and the rooms were let out for rent.

In the sixties and seventies the hotel fell upon hard times. In the 70s a local lawyer, Mr. Al Goodson, purchased the hotel and set up his law office. They also held a flea market once a month and booths were set up inside and outside on the lawn. By the time Mr. Goodson moved his office to the square, the hotel had become pretty run down.

In the early 1980s it was sold to an individual and was going to be scraped out and torn down or moved. At that time (1986), a group of concerned citizens got together, formed the Garrison Heritage Society and borrowed money to buy the building; still it was worthless at that point. The ladies decided to start cooking a meal for the public on the 1st Friday of every month—it was held in the Lion’s Club Hall. Slowly the note was maintained. Then it started to excel; the ladies were encouraged; work began to take place on tearing out and cleaning up the building itself. It was very slow work. But today you can view it in much splendor. It has been restored—all but the 3rd floor at this time. And it continues to be debt free and maintained from the efforts of these ladies.

It is actually more like a museum with the 2nd floor bedrooms set up to resemble what they might have looked like in its hay day. All of the walls have been covered with beautiful papers, the woodwork cleaned and painted, the floors re-conditioned, central heat and air throughout, and furnishings that would be representative of its day. It is all available to view and enjoy on the one day of the month—the First Friday of every month, except during the summer.

Perhaps you will schedule your next trip through our area to coincide with that luncheon date, or perhaps you would like to collect a couple of friends and drive in for the day of the luncheon—in the spring of the year it is beautiful, in the fall of the year the weather is so great, and in December it is especially nice when the Hotel is in her Christmas dress.

For groups larger than 4, reservations are recommended. Also reservations can be made for parties and special events.

Our contact person is Mrs. Dena Fay Corley at 936/347-2303.
For take-out meals, you can place your order with Mrs. Sylvia Dobbs
at 936/347-2220.
The Hotel Wiley phone number is 936/347-2185, however, it would be rare to talk with anyone at this number. Possibly on the week of the luncheon on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday mornings you could catch them busy in the kitchen with preparations.

We look forward to hearing from you—see you at the next luncheon!

(All funds are used for the restoration and preservation of the Hotel Wiley—a non-profit organization that is totally manned on a volunteer basis.)

Membership in the Garrison Heritage Society—Dues are $10 per year per person. Anyone can become a member and the membership dues are placed in certificates of deposits or interest bearing accounts to be used for maintenance on the building.