New parking lot under construction for city vehicles

DAVID STONE | DOWNTOWN ADVENTURE

Construction is near completion on a new parking lot for city vehicles and trucks on Fifth, Barton and Third streets next to Central Fire Station, according to Assistant City Manager David Olson.

“Right now these vehicles are at City Hall,” Olson said. “The new lot is secured and will allow trucks to be parked over night. These vehicles are used by city employees who work in the field.”

“They may stop at City Hall in the morning but primarily they are at job sites,” he said. “They will drive their personal vehicles to the new lot, then take their work vehicle to wherever they are going.”

Construction on the new $600,000 lot started earlier this year and should be completed by late summer or early fall.

The lot will include 45 to 50 parking spaces. It will free up space at the City Hall lot and provide Downtown parking for businesses in the vicinity.

Sales Tax Holiday is Aug. 8-10

DAVID STONE | DOWNTOWN ADVENTURE

Local shoppers are urged to support Central Texas businesses while saving on money on tax-free purchases of most clothing, school supplies, footwear and backpacks during the annual Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday, which begins Friday, Aug. 8, and goes through midnight Sunday, Aug. 10.

According to Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar, qualifying items can be purchased tax free from a Texas store or from an online or catalog seller doing business in the state.

In most cases, you do not need to give the seller an exemption certificate to buy qualifying items tax free.

Hegar said sales tax exemptions apply only to qualifying items you buy during the sales tax holiday. Items you buy before or after the sales tax holiday do not qualify for exemption, and there is no tax-refund available.

The clothing exemptions include everything from Barrettes and purses to pants, shirts and Scout uniforms.

Book bags, calculators, pens and pencils, protractors, notebooks, lunch boxes and glues are among the many school supplies that will be sold tax free. For a complete list of tax-free school supplies, visit https://tinyurl.com/2ppx2k9u.

Student backpacks selling for less than $100 will be exempt from Tax, and shoppers may purchase up to 10 backpacks without paying tax.

Delivery, shipping, handling and transportation charges by the seller are part of the item’s sales price. Since clothing, backpacks and school supplies have to be less than $100 to qualify, you have to look at the item’s total sales price to determine if you can buy it tax free.

For example, you buy a pair of jeans for $95 with a $10 delivery charge for a total price of $105. Because the jeans’ total price is more than $100, tax is due on the entire $105 price.

During the holiday shoppers can buy qualifying items in-store, online, by telephone, mail, custom order, or any other means. The sale of the item must take place during the specific period. The purchase date is easy to determine when the purchase is made in-store but becomes more complicated with remote purchases.

72 million Americans to hit the road during Fourth of July holiday

DAVID STONE | DOWNTOWN ADVENTURE

AAA Travel says more than 72 million people will travel at least 50 miles or more from home during this year’s Fourth of July holiday period — Saturday, June 28, to Sunday, July 6.

I have tons of clients traveling during those dates, but it is all over the place destination wise," said Julie Ruiz of Love Group Travel in downtown Temple. " Most of my clients take advantage of the extra holiday days off from work. "

" I deal mostly with the luxury niche of clients," she added. "Tthis summer in Europe is hot, Japan is hot, Alaska is hot.".

Doniece Gray of Belton’s Your Travel Agent also has several clients traveling during the summer holiday.

“They booked their travel back in February and March,” Gray said. “Their destinations are Cancun, Canada and Iceland.”

“It’s a very busy summer,” she said. “Most of my bookings are now for September 2025 to May 2026. My summer travelers booked months ago.”

“I always recommend people to book their trips early for the best availability and pricing,” Gray added. “I suggest booking at least six to nine months in advance, but there are instances when that time frame isn’t enough.”

This year’s domestic travel forecast is an increase of 1.7 million travelers compared to last year and 7 million more than in 2019. AAA’s Independence Day forecast includes two weekends instead of one to better reflect the flow of holiday travelers.

“Summertime is one of the busiest travel seasons of the year, and July 4th is one of the most popular times to get away,” said Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel.

“Following Memorial Day’s record forecast, AAA is seeing strong demand for road trips and air travel over Independence Day week,” Barber said.

“With the holiday falling on a Friday, travelers have the option of making it a long weekend or taking the entire week to make memories with family and friends.”

AAA Travel projects 61.6 million people will travel by car, a 2.2 percent increase over last year, and the highest volume on record. This Independence Day holiday period is expected to see an additional 1.3 million road travelers compared to 2024.

AAA recommends getting routine vehicle maintenance ahead of your trip and packing an emergency kit. Last July 4th week, AAA responded to nearly 700,000 emergency roadside assistance calls for issues like dead batteries and flat tires, plus people locking themselves out of their car or running out of gas.

The Belton-area is seeing slight increases at the pump — summer gas prices are the lowest they’ve been since 2021. This year, the price of crude oil has kept gas prices on the lower side.

The Israel Iran conflict has driven up the price of oil in recent days but not dramatically. Escalation and duration of the conflict are two factors to watch. Weather is also a wild card. The Atlantic hurricane season is underway, and NOAA predicts a 60 percent chance of an above-normal season. Storms along the Gulf Coast can affect oil refineries and disrupt fuel deliveries, leading to a temporary increase in gas prices.

For travelers who are renting cars, Hertz says Thursday, July 3rd is expected to be the busiest day to pick up vehicles. Hertz says most drivers are looking to rent SUVs and midsize sedans.

The number of people traveling by air is also projected to set a new record. AAA expects 5.84 million travelers will fly to their destinations; that’s 8 percent of all Independence Day travelers. This year’s projection is a 1.4 percent increase over the previous record set last Independence Day week of 5.76 million air travelers.

According to AAA data, which is based on what travelers paid when they booked their July 4th trips, a roundtrip domestic flight is averaging $810, 4 percent more expensive than last year. When booking last-minute flights for summer trips, consider flying on weekdays like Tuesdays or Wednesdays for the best deals.

Travel by other modes is expected to grow by 7.4 percent over last year. AAA projects 4.78 million people will travel by bus, train, or cruise. This year’s number is just shy of the 2019 record of 4.79 million.

Cruising is driving the popularity of this category, particularly this time of year, when Alaska cruise season is in full swing.

Council authorizes Santa Fe Community Market contract change

DAVID STONE | DOWNTOWN ADVENTURE

Temple City Council agreed to a construction contact modification with Temple-based Wright Builders for Santa Fe Community Market in the estimated amount of $134,687.10.

Council’s nod of approval will allow for the construction of improvements to the historic feed store building and an adjacent warehouse at an estimated cost of $225,230, along with sanitary sewer modifications netting a contract cost reduction of more than $90,000.

According to Assistant City Manager Erin Smith, changes include structural and building improvements along with the reskinning and installation of new overhead doors on the small warehouse structure. Modification to the sanitary sewer system includes the addition of a four-inch sanitary sewer tap to the proposed restroom and retail area to allow for a more efficient connection.

This is the fourth contract modification for the Community Market project. With the execution of change order No. 4, the revised value of the construction contract will be $3,799,117.10, a net overall change of 9.7 percent to the contract value.

The change order will add 22 days to the construction contract, which will revise the completion date to December 4, 2025.

The new indoor/outdoor market will be located Downtown near Main Street and Avenue C just north of Jupe Feeds and the BNSF railroad tracks. The city purchased the former Temple Feed & Supply building and surrounding property more than two years ago for $750,000, City Manager Brynn Myers said.

Myers said the purchase includes Temple Feed & Supply’s main retail building, plus several outbuildings on the property that had been used for feed and farm-supply storage.

“This purchase will allow the city to connect the new MLK Festival Grounds with Santa Fe Plaza and all the way to Whistlestop Park & Playground,” Myers said. “Having the uninterrupted flow is a big benefit.”

“The main retail building at Temple Feed & Supply is being repurposed and renovated to fit the needs of the Community Market,” Myers added.

The facility will offer indoor and covered outdoor booths, a new parking lot and a landscaped trail connecting the market with Santa Fe Plaza to the west and the MLK Festival Grounds to the east. There also will be pockets of green space on market property.

Once complete, the facility will be able to host craft and vendor booths, as well as farm-raised produce sales.

A growing number of Texans want to learn more about beekeeping for agricultural tax exemptions, to become hobbyist honey producers or to join a booming honey bee industry. Michael Miller/Texas A&M AgriLife

Backyard beekeeping takes flight

ADAM RUSSELL | TEXAS AGRILIFE

What started as a niche class for Central Texas hobbyists has grown into a statewide movement to support and educate a new generation of beekeepers.

With backyard hives on the rise and a growing need for pollinators, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Beekeeping 101 program is empowering Texans to manage healthy colonies while protecting their investment with science-based practices.

The online course is the gateway to the agency’s Texas Master Beekeeper program where novices can continue their beekeeping education with apprentice, advanced, Master and Master Craftsman certifications.

The momentum behind this growth reflects a strategic investment made by AgriLife Extension with support from the Texas Beekeepers Association and Texas Legislature for the 2024 hire of honey bee specialist Garett Slater, Ph.D., as the agency’s first statewide entomologist dedicated to apiculture and honey bee education.

Slater is based in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Entomology and located at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Overton. He is charged with expanding access to beekeeping training and ensuring Texas beekeepers, from hobbyists to commercial producers, have the science-backed tools and education they need to succeed.

“AgriLife Extension has a strong reputation within the industry, and we’re building on that,” Slater said. “We have a lot of Texans who are new to beekeeping, and we want to give them unbiased, scientifically proven information that helps them reach their idea of success.”

With Slater’s hire as a statewide honey bee specialist, Beekeeping 101 has expanded from a single online offering to a three-tiered program designed to meet beekeepers where they are, whether in suburban backyards, on rural acreage seeking ag exemptions or large-scale operations.

Two-hour introductory sessions provide a broad overview and are frequently offered to local clubs.
Four-hour county-level workshops offer deeper dives into bee biology, hive management and pest control, and are also available online.
A 10-week apprentice course delivers 30 hours of instruction across 10 topics to help participants start and maintain healthy bee colonies.

Slater’s grassroots approach includes working closely with AgriLife Extension agents, building a network of mentorship and training that is responsive to local needs. He also frequently connects with stakeholders in the commercial industry and leadership within the Texas Beekeepers Association to keep the program relevant and practical.

Gary Barber, president of the Texas Beekeepers Association and a commercial beekeeper, said the evolution of the program, and Slater’s role itself, has been critical for meeting a growing need across the state.

“Having experts committed to beekeeping has been invaluable as interest in beekeeping continues to grow,” Barber said. “We’re very excited because there are a lot of beekeepers who need help. And for new beekeepers, Beekeeping 101 is helping teach those basics and lets them know experts are there to help them through challenges.”

Phillip Kaufman, Ph.D., head of the Department of Entomology, said the program exemplifies how AgriLife Extension is helping the state meet rising demand for pollinator health and sustainable agriculture.

“Supporting Texas beekeepers is about more than education. It is about strengthening agricultural resilience, environmental health and economic opportunity,” Kaufman said. “As demand for pollinator services grows and beekeeping evolves across the state, we’re committed to meeting that need with science-informed education and strong partnerships with producers and industry.”

Scholarships available for those pursuing healthcare certifications

DOWNTOWN ADVENTURE

Due to the ongoing demand for healthcare professionals in the region, Temple College’s Adult Education and Literacy (AEL) program is offering scholarships for training and certification in a variety of healthcare fields.

Available certifications include Clinical Medical Assistant (CMA), Certified Nurse Aide (CNA), Electrocardiography (EKG) Technician, Medical Coding Technician, Non-Certified Radiologic Technician (NCRT), Patient Care Technician (PCT), and Phlebotomy Technician.

Registration is open now and will remain open until all slots are filled. Select individuals who meet program requirements will receive scholarships covering 100% of tuition and certification testing fees. Graduates will also participate in a job fair with prospective employers.

Clinical Medical Assistant (CMA)
CMAs perform clinical procedures, care for patients, conduct basic lab tests, and administer medications. They work in a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, home health agencies, community health clinics, hospices, and physicians’ offices.

Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)
CNAs assist nurses with patient care tasks such as bathing, grooming, feeding, checking vital signs, and managing medical equipment. They work under the supervision of licensed vocational nurses or registered nurses in many types of healthcare environments. Enhanced telemetry training is also included, providing foundational knowledge in electrocardiography—a growing need among local employers.

Electrocardiography (EKG) Technician
EKG technicians play a key role in cardiovascular care by performing electrocardiograms, preparing patients for tests, maintaining equipment, and reporting findings to physicians. They work in hospitals, clinics, and private practices.

Medical Coding Technician
Also known as medical coders, these professionals convert patient data into standardized codes used for billing and records. They extract information from charts—including diagnoses, procedures, and test results—and assign universal codes for healthcare and insurance purposes.

Non-Certified Radiologic Technician (NCRT)
NCRTs assist in basic radiologic procedures, such as taking X-rays, under physician supervision. They prepare patients, operate imaging equipment, and ensure safety protocols are followed. Depending on jurisdiction, NCRT professionals may need to be listed on a registry.

Patient Care Technician (PCT)
PCTs support patients with daily living tasks, monitor vital signs, and assist healthcare providers with procedures. They also provide emotional support and communicate changes in patient conditions to the care team. Duties may also include basic administrative tasks.

Phlebotomy Technician
Phlebotomists are key members of the clinical lab team. Their responsibilities include drawing blood, preparing specimens for testing, verifying patient records, and interviewing donors. They work in hospitals, labs, and physicians’ offices.

Additional Program Opportunity:

Residential Wiring Technician
Pre-registration is now open for this workforce training course. If enrollment minimums are met, the class will be held. Select individuals who meet eligibility criteria will receive full scholarships covering tuition and certification testing. Graduates will be invited to a job fair upon completion.

Residential Wiring Technicians work in the residential construction industry. Their duties include installing and distributing electrical power in single- and multi-family homes.

All courses are offered through Temple College’s Workforce and Continuing Education Division. Participants selected for scholarship support will also receive adult basic education contextualized to their career field, along with soft skills and workforce readiness training.

TPD to expand patrol districts soon

DAVID STONE | DOWNTOWN ADVENTURE

The Temple Police Department will increase its number of patrol districts from eight to 10 as early as late summer, according to Assistant City Manager David Olson.

“We are fully staffed, but we do have several officers in training right now,” Olson said. “We likely will begin the transition to 10 patrol districts in August. It will take about six months to make a full transition.”

City Manger Brynn Myers at least one police officer will be on patrol in every district at all times.

“Right now, the west side of Temple is one very large police district,” she said. “When we increase the number of patrol districts, we will have at least three officers on patrol on the west side at any given time.”

Two of the districts on Temple’s west side — Districts 8 and 9 — will stretch from an area near Texas 317 eastward toward Downtown. District 10 will be exclusively in the growing far-west area of the city, mostly west of Texas 317 near Lake Belton.

A couple of districts in the city’s core will be tightened to give officers a smaller district to patrol in higher crime areas.

In addition to adding new patrol districts, TPD will utilize 10-hour shifts.

“Temple police have been working 12-hour shifts,” Myers said. They get tired — the 10-hour shifts will help police stay at their best and brightest.”

The 10-hour shift approach will give Temple three patrol teams every day.

“Each shift will overlap by two hours, so for several hours a day we have two patrols in every district,” Myers said. “We can also use some of this overlap time for training.”

An exhibit on Santa Fe Railroad is shown inside the Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum. The museum in one of more than a dozen Downton attractions that would be located in the proposed Culture District, which is part of the Arts & Culture Master Plan. David Stone photo

Arts & Culture Master Plan goes to Council on July 17

DAVID STONE | DOWNTOWN ADVENTURE

A plan to develop a Cultural District in downtown Temple will be presented to City Council on July 17 and likely will be adopted by Council on Aug. 7, according to Assistant City Manager Erin Smith.

The Arts & Culture Master Plan includes moving the Cultural Activities Center to a location in or near the MLK Festival Grounds, and CAC Executive Director Annette Farmer is OK with such a move.

“I think as the downtown area grows and revitalization continues, a move downtown would make the Cultural Activities Center highly visible,” Farmer said this week.

“The CAC is an aging facility,” she said. “It was built in the ‘70s, and its location makes it not so desirable at times.I think having a downtown Cultural District would keep the community vibrant and it would offer more opportunities to be engaged in the visual and performing arts”

“We could have more concerts and art exhibits, and it would open the door to more tourism,” Farmer said. “Bringing more people to Temple would spur the economy.”

The current CAC is owned by Cultural Activities Center Inc., but the land it sits on is leased from the city.

The consultant who developed the Arts & Culture Master Plan — Ohio-based DesigningLocal — said the current CAC is too far from where a Cultural District should be.

“They say putting the CAC on the Festival Grounds would allow the two venues to work together,” said Smith. “DesigningLocal recommends building a large, permanent stage at the Festival Grounds and it could be used in part by the CAC.”

Smith said one of the city’s goals is to “develop and showcase Temple as a unique place with amazing arts, culture, dining and recreation experiences and amenities.” Developing an A&C Master Plan would advance this goal.

“The master plan likely will be presented to City Council at their July 17 meeting, and it could be adopted in August,” Smith said.

According Smith, work began on the A&C Master Plan began in April 2024.

“We did a lot of research and looked at similar projects in other communities,” she said. “We also hosted community events and focus groups to get feedback. We conducted a community survey and got back more than 700 responses.”

DesigningLocal developed a Master Plan based on four “big ideas.” The first is to create a Cultural District. The district includes most of Downtown south of Adams, plus Temple Public Library and the upcoming Storybook Grove on Barton Avenue just north of the library.

The district includes current cultural amenities such as the MLK Festival Grounds, Santa Fe Plaza, the Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum, the Temple Children’s Museum, Whistlestop Park, City Hall, Temple Public Library, the Arcadia Theatre, Santa Fe Market Trail and the African American Churches Historic District. It also includes Santa Fe Community Market, which is under construction.

The Master Plan recommends moving the CAC to the Festival Grounds. According to Smith, 10 acres would be required for a new 40,000-square-foot CAC facility.

DesigningLocal’s “first idea” also includes creating a continuous walkable area featuring outdoor artwork, sculptures and special lighting. Venues and galleries could be included in this area.

The plan includes recommendations for Santa Fe Depot and Santa Fe Plaza. Art that recognizes the depot’s railroad history, and permanent restrooms, dressing rooms and a greenroom at the Plaza are among the recommendations.

The Master Plan recommends painting the grain silos at Jupe Feed with artwork.

“The city doesn’t own the silos, of course, but the consultant thought that would add to the beauty of downtown,” Smith added.

Artsy crosswalks, plus artwork and lights under the Third Street overpass also are included in the plan.

“The Santa Fe Kids Stop that sits underneath the South Third Street overpass and along the Santa Fe Market Trail is a dark, foreboding space encourages vagrancy and discourages most people from using its amenities or passing through to explore Downtown by foot,” Smith said.

“Brightening the space with arts and lights will help make this section of the trail a safe, fun experience for pedestrians and families.”

Under the Master Plan, a series of colorful, light-augmented murals on the bridge posts and beams would help turn the space into a friendly location.

Smith said that designating a Cultural District in downtown Temple would increase tourism, including dining and shopping.

“It would also open the door to special funding that could be used to create the district and pay for new projects,” she added.

The plan’s “second idea” is to create a public art program and to formalize a Temple Public Art Commission. A public art coordinator would be hired by the city.

The “third idea” is to install public art at Temple parks, especially those Downtown, and to make sure there are arts and cultural programing within the District.

“This is something that seems to be a need and something people want,” Smith added. “We have a diverse community with several cultures, and we need a diverse slate of community events such as Juneteenth and Dia de los Muertos.”

“The plan calls for artwork along trails in the area, and adding artwork to the ramps at the skate park.”

The final “big idea” listed in the unapproved plan is the creation of an Arts Council, which would pursue ways to advance the arts in Temple. The council would include CAC staff, as well as local artists and arts organizations. Smith said the CAC would funnel funding for future arts and culture projects to various organizations in Temple.

The Yard rentals allow for parties and more

DAVID STONE | DOWNTOWN ADVENTURE

The Yard, a unique space located on First Street along Santa Fe Market Trail in downtown Temple is available for rent for parties, concerts other events. Originally, the space was used as a food truck plaza.

Rental rates for The Yard, which includes a picnic area, are $300 for less than six hours and $600 for a full day. There also is a $100 deposit. It can be rented from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.

According to Assistant City Manager Erin Smith, the Yard is an open-air space with nine spaces equipped with electrical, water and wastewater connections, along with a lawn area for seating and activities.

It can accommodate up to 500 people.

Storybook Grove will be a special place for kids to play and learn

DAVID STONE | DOWNTOWN ADVENTURE

One of Temple tiniest parks will soon take shape on a small but scenic parcel of land on Barton Boulevard, just across from the Temple Public Library parking lot.

According to Temple City Manager Brynn Myers, design work on Storybook Grove is under way and construction likely will start this year. The park will feature reading areas and statues of famous children’s book characters.

“We have met with a sculpture artist and we’re getting information on what will be included at Storybook Grove,” Assistant City Manager Erin Smith said this week. “We will have to decide which characters will be featured in the park — they haven’t been selected yet. Some will require approval by the illustrator.”

Storybook Grove is part of a $75 million Places & Spaces capital improvement plan that will fund dozens of upgrades at 50 Temple parks between 2023 and 2027, including the creation of new city parks, a new skate park, two dog parks and miles of new trails.

“It’s going to be wonderful,” said Natalie Alvara, director of libraries and museums for the city of Temple. “A few years ago, the city purchased the land just north of the library. It will be a learning park. Kids can interact with the statues, and there will be accessible sidewalks for education, outdoor story times and some of our messier activities.”

“We would like to tie the park in with our seed garden and have kids do some planting. It’s also where we will eventually kickoff our summer reading program. There will be signs on a walking path that tell parts of a story — a family will be able to walk the trail and read a story as they go.”

“I’m ready for this to be here,” Alvara said. “It’s going to be something, and I expect we will see a lot of multigenerational use with parents, grandparents and kids coming out and talking about their favorite stories. We want to create long-lasting memories and share stories of childhood.’

The half-acre park would feature an area where the library can hold outdoor reading sessions. The interactive play area will likely be based on popular children’s books such as “Winnie the Pooh,” “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” “Charlotte’s Web” and “Where the Wild Things Are.”

New recycling, garbage college starts July 7

DOWNTOWN ADVENTURE

The city of Temple is moving from a four-day to a five day garbage and recycling schedule starting Monday, July 7.

The change will make the collection process easier and more efficient for residents and city crews.

With the change, recycling and garbage will now be picked up on the same day each week based on a new assigned collection day.

Using the above map as a guide, new collection days are as follows:

Purple: Monday collection.

Red: Tuesday collection.

Green: Wednesday collection.

Blue: Thursday collection.

Yellow: Friday collection.

What’s Changing?

Each household will have both recycling and garbage picked up on the same day each week.
Collection routes will expand from four days to five to improve efficiency.
There is no additional cost to residents.
Recycling and garbage bins should be placed at the curb at least three feet apart from each other.

Brush & Bulk

Brush and bulk collection days will remain the same and additional resources are being utilized to help with delays.
Residents have the option to drop off their brush and bulk items at the solid waste complex, 2611 E Ave H, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Temple City Council OKs pumper fire truck purchase

DAVID STONE | DOWNTOWN ADVENTURE

Temple City Council moved to purchase a Pierce Enforcer pumper fire truck from Denton-based Siddons-Martin Emergency Group during its June 5 meeting.

The fire truck has a base price of $1.1 million and could cost up to $1.2 million fully outfitted.

According to Temple Fire Chief Mitch Randles, the new pumper will improve Temple Fire & Rescue’s front line and reserve fire fleet by moving an older pumper to reserve status.

A 2008 Spartan pumper will be moved to reserve status and a 2004 Spartan pumper will be retired from city use, Randles said in a report to City Council.

The new Pierce Enforcer pumper apparatus includes a 750-gallon water tank and 1,500-gallon-per-minute pump with a base cost of $1,104,413.

Final details of the apparatus will be determined during pre-build meetings in the coming months. Any changes will be negotiated within the estimated amount of $1,2 million.

Council expects the new pumper to be delivered in late summer or early fall of 2026.

Trains stop at the Santa Fe Depot in this archived BNSF photograph.

Temple: A storied BNSF junction

BNSF RAIL TALK

Note: The following story was featured in the latest edition of BNSF Rail Talk.

In its early days, Temple was not exactly the haven its name might suggest. New residents nicknamed the frontier town Mudtown or Tanglefoot because of its muddy conditions and tough reputation.

Founded in 1881, the Central Texas city was named for Bernard Moore Temple, the chief engineer of the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railway, a subsidiary of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe.

As more people and commerce came, tents and shacks were replaced by homes, schools, churches and businesses. By 1884, Temple, located about 65 miles north of Austin, had 3,000 residents, three churches and a school.

By 1897, four rail lines ran through the town, carrying passengers and freight. Two were operated by the Santa Fe, the others by a competitor. By 1908, the town boasted six cotton gins, one of its major industries.

Nearby Army post Fort Hood (now Fort Cavazos) was established in 1941, bringing more economic growth to the area. By 1960, more than 30,000 people lived in Temple. Now, that number is around 100,000 and the local economy today is based largely in medical care, manufacturing, agriculture and rail transportation.

Located at the junction of the Fort Worth, Lampasas and Galveston subdivisions on BNSF’s Red River Division, 30 to 35 trains roll through Temple each day. About 500 BNSF employees work at the yard, in the rip-track shop, at the fuel pad and at the locomotive shop.

The Temple yard sees everything from grain and coal to tanks and other military equipment, with Fort Cavazos just 30 miles away. Temple is also the main supplier for locomotive power on the division. In addition, every train coming through here stops to fuel, then head in all directions: south to Beaumont and Eagle Pass, Texas; north to Fort Worth, Texas; and west toward Amarillo, Texas. Temple terminates, processes, inspects, switches and builds trains for all those outlets.

As the railroad business has grown here, so has the city. When Temple was founded, few medical facilities were available for railroad employees and their families, like many other rail towns in the Old West. Before 1891, workers needed to travel to St. Mary’s Hospital in Galveston, some 200 miles away, for hospital care.

The Santa Fe Hospital was operated by the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Hospital Association, formed by Galveston businessmen who owned the GC&SF. In 1889, three Temple city officials bought 10 acres, and in March 1891 deeded it to the association. Dr. Arthur C. Scott was hired as the chief surgeon in 1892, and three years later, Dr. Raleigh R. White Jr. would join him. They became full partners in 1897.

The hospital eventually became a community medical facility, and today the Scott & White Medical Center and Clinic is Temple’s largest employer.

Beyond the medical center’s newer buildings lies the historic downtown, with local shops and businesses as well as the original Santa Fe Depot, built in 1910 and still next to BNSF’s yard but no longer owned by BNSF.

The lobby of the depot was restored and now welcomes people to the Amtrak station as well as to the Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum.

The museum’s collection of railroad equipment is also displayed on the grounds, including three locomotives, railroad passenger cars and cabooses on static display. From dishes and a chef’s uniform to vintage derail equipment and light signals, the museum covers every aspect of life in an 1880s railroad town.

“We are so proud of the rich heritage shared by BNSF and the city of Temple, and we are grateful for the partnership that continues today,” said Lindsay Mullins, executive director of public affairs. “Temple plays a vital role in the BNSF network and the national supply chain.”

Future of Downtown annex remains in question

DAVID STONE | OUR TOWN

The current Bell County Annex building in downtown Temple may become part of a future pocket park or a convention center, according to City Manager Brynn Myers.

“Nothing has been determined, but I think the current annex will eventually be torn down,” Myers said. “We may use it temporarily, but I think that property will eventually become part of something else such as a Downtown convention or meeting center.”

Myers emphasized that future use of the annex property has not officially been determined.

“There’s a possibility that the property could be sold to developers,” she said.

Bell County and the city of Temple reached an agreement about three years ago that would give the city ownership of the property at 205 E. Central Ave. for $1 plus the deed to land on the east side of MLK Boulevard on a block bounded by Avenue C on the north, South 10th on the east and Avenue D on the south.

The deal will give the city ownership of the Central Avenue annex building. As part of that deal, Bell County will begin construction of a new Temple annex before Dec. 31, 2025, according to David Olson, one of two Temple assistant city managers.

The new annex should take about 2 years to build, and 90 days after completion the city will purchase the existing annex.

“We anticipate the city will own the current facility no later than Sept. 30, 2026,” Myers said. “It may be sooner.”

While the city hasn’t determined a use for the Annex Building,

Myers said the facility’s parking lot off Central Avenue likely will be converted to green space and maybe a children’s play area.

“There’s another parking lot behind the annex,” she said. “We would consider moving the main entrance to face the police station on Avenue A.”

The existing annex is right in the heart of City Centre, which includes the new parking garage, Central Plaza Apartments, Hawn Plaza and the renovated Arcadia Theater, and several other new businesses.

Several of the larger developments in the area will bring apartment living to Downtown on a large scale, and some of the buildings undergoing renovation also will house retail stores, offices, bars and restaurants.

Utilities in the City Centre strip of Central Avenue have been moved underground and street-scaping projects are in progress.

Grant: Downtown Temple is vibrant but there is still much work to do

DAVID STONE | DOWNTOWN ADVENTURE

More clothing stores and improved sidewalks and roads are on City Council member Zoe Grant’s wishlist for downtown Temple.

Grant serves District 2, which includes the downtown business and entertainment area.

“Downtown Temple has a lot going for it,” Grant said in an exclusive interview with Downtown Adventure. “We have a lot of variety — food, bars, retail. Offices — it’s not one-sided.”

“More retail would be great, especially more clothing retailers,” she added. “I love the fact that we have more and more downtown living.”

“Bringing an arts and culture district downtown would be amazing, and the farmer’s market is opening later this year. There are so many things downtown we didn’t have just three years ago that we now have.”

Grant said the improvements are great, but there is still work to do to make Downtown more attractive to visitors and residents alike.

“We need to work on underground drainage,” she said. “And we have streets and sidewalks that need attention.”

“When sidewalks were put in many years ago, they were not handicapped accessible. We have to make sure everyone can come Downtown — people in wheelchairs are in the streets because some sidewalks aren’t accessible.”

Grant pointed out that some Downtown streets are full of potholes, making for a bumpy ride.

“So much has been accomplished Downtown,” she added. “Every city has a downtown, for years ours was just sitting there looking pitiful. That’s no longer the case — we have businesses, parking, parks — everything a downtown should have. I would like to see more clothing stores.”

“Bringing Downtown back to life is important to bringing people together. The Culture District would help bring more people downtown. The city’s marketing department has done a great job, but we need to get information to people who don’t have the internet.”

Grant said the MLK Festival Grounds could be a great draw to downtown Temple.

“At first it was just for city events, but now it is being rented out,” she said. “I’m really going to miss the Bloomin’Temple festival — it had a good mixture of diversity, something for everyone.”

A WigWag train crossing signal stands on a rainy day at Temple's Railroad & Heritage Museum. WigWag is the nickname given to a type of railroad grade crossing signal once common in Temple and across North America, named for the pendulum-like motion it used to signal the approach of a train. David Stone photo

A signal for change

DAVID STONE | DOWNTOWN ADVENTURE

Temple was founded as a railway work camp and quickly evolved into a major train town, so crossing tracks has always been a part of life here.

In Temple’s early years, crossing gates and signals were not needed, said Justin Lambrecht of the National Train Museum. Trains moved through at a slow pace, and there were no cars competing for junction bragging rights. Trains were loud, and wagon drivers probably weren’t jamming to Van Halen or talking to friends on cellular devices.

Within a few years, however, the number of tracks cutting through Temple became more numerous and trains began to run faster. Horse-drawn wagons started to give way to a new kind of chariot, and these engine-powered beasts came with blaring music machines. The age of road distractions had arrived.

It wasn’t long before speeding cars and fast trains collided and the results were often catastrophic. About 7,800 Americans are hurt and more than 800 killed in an average year while crossing train tracks, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

“It became obvious that safety warning signs and signals should be set up to protect those wanting to cross the tracks,” Lambrecht said.

In Temple, signs were posted at crossings, and at busier junctions at busy times a watchman stood guard to warn drivers and pedestrians of approaching trains.

Craig Ordner, a railroad archivist with Temple’s Railroad & Heritage Museum, said the watchmen served roles similar to today’s school crossing guards.

“Basically they held signs that warned motorists and pedestrians that a train was coming,” he said.

The duties of the Temple railroad guard would change, however, because a mechanical device soon arrived in the new but bustling city — the railroad crossing gate.

According to Lambrecht, the first US patent for a crossing gate dates back to 1867 in Boston but was slow to arrive in the expanding West. These gates were hand-operated, which meant they had to be cranked up and down. Crank stations were built next to junctions and the gates were lowered or raised by chains running through underground piping from the crank station to each gate at the crossing.

The cost of manning every railroad crossing was expensive, and by the early 1900s the use of “cross buck” signs — the common “X” warning sign still in use today — became very common. This design was improved in the 1920s as vehicles became equipped with lights and night driving was common. Sign makers began using reflectors called Cataphones or “cat eyes” on cross bucks to make them more visible, Lambrecht said.

Cataphone reflectors were replaced with reflective buttons in the 1940s, and automatic railroad gates arrived at some Temple crossings in the 1950s. The automatic gates not only raised and lowered without a human cranker, they also were fitted with bells to provide an audio alert.

As Temple traffic increased, a passing train meant long lines of waiting cars. To speed things up a bit, viaducts were built on major thoroughfares to bypass the tracks. In some cities, underpasses were built to take roads — and vehicles — under the tracks. Temple opted for overpasses on roads like 31st Street, Adams, Third Street, Avenue H and Central.

Study to include Railroad & Heritage Museum changes

DAVID STONE | DOWNTOWN ADVENTURE

Big changes likely are coming to Temple’s Railroad & Heritage Museum, perhaps as early as this fall, according to Assistant City Manager Erin Smith.

The city has hired CambridgeSeven, a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based architectural firm that specializes in museum design and master planning to develop a vision for the Temple museum housed in and around Santa Fe Depot. Smith said CambridgeSeven is no stranger to Temple — the firm has worked on projects for the local Children’s Museum in the past.

“Consultants with CambridgeSeven came to town earlier this spring and toured the city,” Smith said. “We held some focus group meetings with the Temple arts community — it was a full day.”

Smith said the consultants will be looking at possible transformations for the museum, and the focus group meetings were held to give them insight on what Temple needs and wants in a major museum. She said Cambridge could go as far as recommending a city museum district.

“They will be considering a wide array of things for our museum,” she said. “They will give recommendations on exhibits and improvements. They could recommend a complete transformation — it could include a medical museum, not just railroad.”

“Cambridge will look at different parts of Temple’s history, and medicine has played a big role in the city’s development,” Smith added.

While the Museum Master Plan will primarily include the Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum, other local museums such as the Czech Heritage Museum & Genealogy Center and the Temple Children’s Museum could be mentioned if a museum district is recommended.

“The consultants hope to identify potential museum exhibits that are of interest to our community,” Smith said. “The city owns land adjacent to the Railroad & Heritage Museum, so an expansion could be possible.”

“CambridgeSeven will work up some concept plans that will identify the direction we want to go. They will give us some nice designs and renderings highlighting their recommendations. They got started in late March, and it should take them about seven months to complete the plan.”

Market project should be finished by late October

DAVID STONE | OUR TOWN

The $3.5 million Santa Fe Community Market project likely will be completed by the end of October, according to Assistant City Manger Erin Smith.

“We’re hoping there are no delays associated with building materials or weather,” Smith said. “Those factors could delay project completion.”

Myers said the purchase includes Temple Feed & Supply’s main retail building, plus several outbuildings on the property that had been used for feed and farm-supply storage.

“The main retail building at Temple Feed & Supply is being repurposed and renovated to fit the needs of the Community Market,” Myers added.

Once complete, the facility will be able to host craft and vendor booths, as well as farm-raised produce sales.

Temple residents with inquiries about the project can contact the city’s Construction Services Department at (254) 298-5249.