History

Many of the prominent landmarks found within downtown Temple date back to its early history. The following provides an abbreviated timeline and imagery of the early formative elements of the City of Temple.

Notice of Temple town lots for sale.

Santa Fe Hospital

Santa Fe Hospital north and south wing additions 1881-02-18 The first train to arrive at Temple Junction was on 188102-18

1881-06-29, TEMPLE IS FOUNDED “On June 29, 1881, the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railway held a public sale of town lots. Beer and barbecue was served to all. The sale of lots officially recognized Temple as a town and made it possible for settlers to establish permanent businesses and homes. Prior to the official sale of town lots, the railroad allowed a few essential businesses to operate.” (Source: Notes on Bell

County, TX, Vol. 3 by Mike and Nancy Kelsey)

1882, CITY INCORPORATED The City of Temple is incorporated by a vote 61 in favor and 58 against on July 8, 1882

1893-09-24 TEMPLE’S PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM STARTED “On September 24, (1893) the city voted, 114 to 2, to take charge of the schools, forming an independent school district. At an election on December 17, (1893) a special tax was voted, and on the 26th day of December 1883, the building that had just been constructed to house the Temple Academy, was taken over by the city…This building was located on the present site of Central Junior High (located on the corner of Main Street and Downs Avenue).” (Source:

Temple Daily Telegram, 1931-06-26)

1898 In 1898 Central Avenue, running down to the MissouriKansas-Texas (Katy) depot, was the only graded graveled street in the city.

(Source: Looking Backward, 1945-12-25. W. Goodrich Jones Editor)

1908, SANTA FE HOSPITAL The main wing of the Santa Fe Hospital was completed in December 1908. The north wing was built in 1915, and he south wing was built in 1925.

1911, SANTA FE PASSENGER DEPOT The two-story brick Santa Fe passenger depot, designed by Jarvis Hunt, was completed in 1911. Construction started in August 1909. The first floor served as the passenger waiting room, while the second floor contained offices for railroad staff. The waiting room floors were gray marble.

1912, POST OFFICE The two-story stone and concrete Post Office was completed in 1912.

1921, DOERING MOTOR COMPANY “The most ambitious building venture Temple has witnessed in a number of years was made definitely certain yesterday when Frank Doering, the Ford king of Central Texas, awarded to the S. E. Johnson Construction Co. of Waco a contract to build a fire proof, two story building…adjoining the Stegall Hotel on the north corner of 3rd Street and Adams Avenue… it will be used as a sales room. To be completed by 1921-

09-01.” (Source: Temple Daily Telegram, 1921-04-10)

1929, MUNICIPAL BUILDING The Municipal building was constructed in 1929. City offices, an auditorium, library, and civic center occupied the building.

1929, PROFESSIONAL BUILDING The six-story Professional Building, located at 105 (103) E. Central Avenue was built by Louis J. Bryan at a cost of $200.00. It was built by Love Construction Co. The building was completed in 1929. The Slavinik Benevolent Order of the State of Texas (SPJST) purchased the building in 1953 and used it as their state headquarters.

(Source: Temple Public Library Collection, P-0522) Post office building.

Doering Motor Company Building

Doering Hotel Professional Building

1951, MUNICIPAL PARKING LOT Temple’s NEW municipality-owned parking lot is featured on the cover of July issue of American City, a national magazine devoted to municipal government. The city’s metered parking lot is the largest of its kind in Texas. (Source: 1951-06-22 Temple Daily Telegram) The NEW city parking lot is dedicated. It gave Temple 14 blocks of parallel parking on both sides, compressed into one city block in the heart of downtown; It provided the city a steady income of approx. $200.00 a week; It reduced downtown traffic; in 1955 the meters earned

the city $13,589. (Source: 1956-03-21 Temple Daily Telegram)