Reference in "The Tommyknockers" to "Blessing, Utah"

[Aim4 the hed 2 kill zomBs]

Hello, I'm nearing the completion of my reading of "The Tommyknockers" and while I have enjoyed it, he makes a reference early in the book that has been gnawing at me. For any that want to check the reference I'm reading the 1987 hard cover version of the book, and it's on page 30.

"...spaces that no history could provide - things like what happened to the people who had colonized Roanoke Island, off the North Carolina coast and then simply disappeared, for example, leaving no mark but the inexplicable word CROATOAN carved on a tree..." ~ I know this reference is true.

"...or the Easter Island monoliths,..." ~ Everyone knows this is true

"...or why the citizens of a little town in Utah called Blessing had all suddenly gone crazy - or so it seemed - on the same day in the summer of 1884." ~ I can't find anything about this anywhere.

Is it something Stephen King made up? Is it a reference to another one of his books? Or did something happen, and if so what was it, or where can I read about it?

[frisbee]

Good question. I thought it was made up but don't know. Ms Mod - do you know?

[Dull Dull Boy]

Dosen't even seem to be real town. Most you can find is someone saying its an old wives tale. So my guess is fake, or a small amount of truth atleast.

[wally wonder]

i looked for an answer, as well....bout all i could come up w/was speculation....maybe something to do w/the donner party, passing through, people comin behind them, making do cause the donner party made a path, but the year is wrong...i can't remember if the word 'blessing' was associated with that, and if it was, i don't think it was a proper name....heh heh....is there such a thing as a 'proper name'?....ah, yes love, that is my proper name....can you see someone talking like that?...looked at the rand mcnally, as well...utah...what can you say?...maybe check the genealogy charts, maybe the name is there.....do-do, do-do, cue the twilight zone soundtrack....but the name is erased.....gaaaaa!.....for some strange reason.....

[Aim4 the hed 2 kill zomBs]

Dosen't even seem to be real town. Most you can find is someone saying its an old wives tale. So my guess is fake, or a small amount of truth atleast.

I ran into the same things, but thanks for the reply. The most I know (unless I'm mistaken) was that there was an armed conflict between Morman's and Fedral forces over religious issues. That doesn't really lend itself well to what King mentioned though. The maddening thing is that he put that reference with absolute verifiable facts. I'm not aware of any reference this holds with any of his other books, so if it's something made up - it's completely out of place. I finished the book and enjoyed it, but that little reference was like a needle dragging across a record playing for me. It's been over a week since I finished it, and I'm still fixated on this thing .

[GNTLGNT]

I think it was simply a bit of fancifulness thrown in by Uncle Stevie to do just what it did...make us go running around like lab rats on Meth trying to find out just what it was he was referencing...while he sits back and chortles.

[Aim4 the hed 2 kill zomBs]

I think it was simply a bit of fancifulness thrown in by Uncle Stevie to do just what it did...make us go running around like lab rats on Meth trying to find out just what it was he was referencing...while he sits back and chortles.

If that's the case then it's evil . Especially since this book was written before we had the inter-webs and such. Most of my reading is fiction, but I'm also a sucker for a good true-like horror yarn, and I'm captivated by the possibility of something out there that I haven't heard and looks to be largely forgotten.

*and to answer "Bluey Lunger" - He's right. I used Google Maps and Map Quest instead of Randal McNally to try to find the town and it doesn't exist now.

[MickySunShine]

The same thing has been driving me up the wall! I just started The Tommyknockers and now all my spare time is trying to find anything about Blessing, Utah. I joined this site to see if I could find anything on here. I saw that you posted this thread almost two years ago. Did you ever find out anything to about it?