The Menger Hotel
San Antonio, Texas
Narrative by D. A. Sharpe
Suzanne and I checked in to the Menger
Hotel this June 12, 2018. We are guests for a week at one of the
finest hotels in America, one cited on the list of historic American
hotels. The Menger is the oldest
continuously operating hotel west of the Mississippi River, opened in 1859 by
German immigrants William and Mary Menger, whoÕd come to America in 1847. Its location is on Alamo Plaza, almost
immediately next door to the famed Alamo Mission Church where
the famous Battle of the Alamo took place. That battle took all the lives of 186
Texans seeking independence from Mexico, at the hands of General Santa
Anna.
My parents had resided in San Antonio 1958-63, and again
about 1970-81. My motherÕs favorite place to dine for a special treat was 
for my father to take her to the Colonial Dining Room at the
Menger Hotel! It was our treat to dine there this evening. Our entrˇe was roasted lamb chops,
served in a most exquisite display of culinary artistry and tasty embellishment
to our palates. Of course, the
pecuniary assignment for this experience was in line with the elegance of the
display! This majestic place of dining is just off the Victorian Lobby.
There is an additional fondness to us for
being at the Menger. Colonel
Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt, in his pre-Presidential endeavors in the military,
established a recruiting station at the Menger Hotel in 1898 to enlist soldiers
to engage in the Cuban based Spanish American War. It was at this place that my
grandfather, Harry Seth Sharpe, was recruited into his Army, becoming a
participant in the famed Battle of San Juan Hill.
We donÕt have much from his experience
there, but he did hand down a telescope he used to my father. He gave it to me, and later it was given
to one of our sons, Todd Wittman Sharpe.
HeÕs a couple of photos of the Papa SharpeÕs telescope:
The occasion for Suzanne and me to lodge
at the Menger was as we served as Delegates to the June 2018 Republican Party
of Texas Biannual Convention. Our
Delegate service to this political activity began in 1988, and we have been
Delegates to 14 of the 16 Conventions since then. One we missed while being on a trip in
Europe and the other was in surgery!
Stories & Recollections Compiled by
805 Derting Road East
Aurora, TX 76078-3712
