Some Victorian Hotels in the Wild West by Jeanmarie Hamilton

Contrary to the ideas some folks have about the old west, there were many towns with fine hotels. Some of the better hotels had restaurants with popular menus for that time. Such as one where my great grandfather, Jim Christie, worked. He married my great grandmother in Houston and in the early 1880s they moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, where he was assistant manager of the St. Charles Hotel. From there they moved to Galveston, Texas, where he was employed at the old Beach Hotel which was later destroyed by fire. In 1885 he was proprietor of a small hotel in Wooten Wells, Texas, which was considered at that time a summer resort for people from Dallas and that area of Texas. Later he became associated with the Vogel Hotel in Dallas, before they moved to El Paso. Following is a menu copied from an original menu handwritten by Jim Christie:
Carson & Lewis House
---:.–~–:.---
~~~Dinner~~~
12 to 2 P.M.
~~~~~~
SOUP.
Okra & Tomato
FISH.
Hot Salmon
BOILED.
Fresh Pork & Cabbage
Tongue Sauce
ROAST.
Beef
Chicken with dressing
ENTREES.
Venison Pie, Corn Bread
Macaroni & Cheese
VEGETABLES.
Irish Sweet Potatoes, Turnips
Onions, Rice, Green Peas
RELISHES.
Pickles, Chow Chow
PASTRY.
Peach Cobbler
Apricot Pie, Blackberry Pie
DESSERT.
Oranges, Apples, Cake, Cheese
Nuts, Raisins
COFFEE. ICED TEA. MILK. BUTTERMILK.
EXTRAS – Fruit and Dessert taken from the table, and Meals sent to rooms will be charged extra.
J. Christie
75 cents