Lake Polk mostly serves as a water hazard for Sammons Park golfers and as a bird habitat, but the small lake was dug by the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railroad in the mid 1880s to provide water for steam engines and drinking water for the new town. It didn’t take long for early Temple residents to find recreational uses for the lake. By 1900 a park had been built at the site and was named in honor of railroad general manager LJ Polk. The park offered boating, fishing, croquet and tennis. The area eventually became a private club and, later, a city park. David Stone photo

OUR TOWN TEMPLE | June 29, 2022

Happy birthday, Temple. We’re going to need 141 candles to celebrate this year.

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In 1880, Rogers was where the West began. And ended. At least that’s the way it was with the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railroad.

Rogers was the end of the line in the company’s westward expansion — the place where the railroad’s bank account hit zero. It remained the end of the line for more than a year while the Santa Fe solved its financial problems before chugging a few more miles west to build Temple.

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“Going once … the first town lot … going twice, three times … Sold for $620 to Mr. JH Butcher of Galveston.”

The auctioneer slapped his gavel against the platform, and with that bang, Temple was born.

June 29, 1881 — 141 years ago this very day — land surrounding Knob Creek was on its way to becoming a bonafide Texas city.

In typical fatherhood fashion, the Santa Fe passed out free barbecue, beer and cigars to everyone who came to look at town lots that hot day in 1881.

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Temple Junction. That’s what the railroad company called the site in its handbills advertising the great auction. But those who knew the spot the best — the ones who had watched the drunks stumble out of the saloons that already lined the railroad tracks — called it by a more descriptive name: Tanglefoot.

Saloons, construction workers living in shacks and a few “bawdy” women — that’s the way it was in the trackside village of Tanglefoot. These construction workers were charged with finishing the tracks and putting up a few buildings before lots in the new town could be auctioned off.

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Let’s go back to the beginning.

“The rail company was building a new line from Galveston all the way to Fort Worth,” said Craig Ordner, a railroad archivist with The Springer Archive and Temple’s Railroad & Heritage Museum. “It needed a place along the way to provide services for railroad workers and equipment.”

According to Ordner, the Galveston-to-Fort Worth line likely would not have been built if it weren’t for a commercial rivalry between the cities of Galveston and Houston.

“In the late 1860s there was one line between Galveston and Houston,” Ordner said. “Galveston was the richest city in Texas and the port of entry and exit for the entire state.”

Yellow fever epidemics were common back then and breakouts would occur every few years. An especially bad breakout occurred in Galveston in 1867.

“State law gave counties the right to quarantine people and goods traveling from infected areas,” Ordner said. “Houston used this tactic to bar Galvestonians and their freight from passing through.”

“Whenever it was rumored that the fever had reappeared, Houston merchants would promptly have a quarantine declared on all passenger and freight traffic from Galveston,” he said.

Houston’s actions further isolated the island city and prevented Galveston merchants from selling their goods around the state — giving Bayou City merchants a tremendous benefit.

“This treatment caused a great deal of resentment, especially during cotton season,” Ordner said.

Galveston business leaders decided to build their own railroad and bypass Houston to reach the lucrative markets of Fort Worth and beyond. During a meeting in 1873, town leaders invested in a new company called the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railway — named for its point of origin and intended destinations, Ordner said.

Progress was slow, but eventually the line reached the heart of Texas.

The railroad company struck a deal with landowner Jonathan Ewing Moore. Moore sold 181 acres of his farm to the Santa Fe for $27 an acre, Ordner said. That was an astronomical price for land that had little access to water.

Santa Fe had the land, and they had a plan. According to an early edition of The Temple Times, the railroad company founded the town the same day it held the auction to sell lots.

Trains, taking advantage of the new Santa Fe line, departed from various points along the route with cars full of prospective buyers. The passengers had to pay for the tickets, but the cost was refunded if they purchased land in the new town, which by the way was named for Bernard Moore Temple, the Santa Fe supervisor who oversaw construction of the new line.

According to The Temple Times, there was a party complete with spirits prior to the auction.

Barbecue was gobbled up — and so were the lots on the auction block. When all the lots were sold, Mr. Moore and other farmers in the area stepped in and sold more of their private land for up to $300 a lot. Within days, a town sprung from the prairie.

Most jobs in early Temple were railroad jobs, and in the 1880s, that line of work was cornered by men. They worked hard on the railroad all day, and at night it was time to play hard.

There was a string of trackside bars before the town was even born, but once Temple was established more taverns popped up. Within a few months, 100 places like The Ruby and The Alamo filled the business district. Some just offered drinks, others offered a little more. Yep, Temple was a railroad town.

Temple’s streets in the early days became so gooey after a rain the mud would suck boots off a foot. Mix in a little whiskey with those muddy streets and you have Tanglefoot, and that name stuck for a long while. But, it wasn’t the only nickname for the new city. Others called the town Ratsville, because of a rodent infestation.

While the town was being built, people lived in tent neighborhoods and cooked outdoors. Trash disposal was in its infancy, and soon Temple had a vermin problem.

In 1883, a curious thing happened. A second railroad company — the Missouri, Kansas & Texas (the Katy) — built a line through Temple and crossed the Santa Fe tracks, Ordner said.

“Near the present-day Avenue H bridge the crossing railroad lines created a massive ‘X’ and collisions became a concern,” he said.

A control tower — designated as Tower 24 by the Texas Railroad Commission — was built to direct train traffic through the interchange. The tower remained in service for decades but was retired after automatic switches were installed to make the junction safer.

Both lines are still in use, but the names have changed. The Santa Fe line is now operated by Burlington Northern Santa Fe and the Katy is now a Union Pacific route.

In the late 1800s railroads continued to connect Temple to the rest of the state and by 1897 23 trains carrying passengers stopped in Temple.

Temple was changing. The arriving trains brought educated new residents and conveniences of a civilized world — books, china, crystal and kids.

The railroads continued to invest heavily in Temple, building a railroad hospital and helping the city establish a sewer system and a gas plant. An Interurban trolley car system connecting Temple and the Bell County seat of Belton also was built.

Santa Fe dammed Bird Creek to create Lake Polk in what is now Sammons Golf Course. The park provided recreational opportunities, but more importantly it provided drinking water and water for refilling steam engines on passing trains.

Temple’s rail industry is directly related to the city’s other massive industry — health care.

The Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe opened Temple’s first hospital in 1891 for its employees.

The original frame structure was replaced by the present building in 1908. The railroad hospital brought together two surgeons who would revolutionize medicine in Texas and the entire South — Drs. Arthur Carroll Scott of Gainesville and Raleigh R. White of Cameron.

To expand medical care in Central Texas, the two physicians started their own hospital — Temple Sanitarium — in 1904, and the name changed to Scott & White in 1922. Santa Fe Hospital merged with the much larger Scott & White in 1983.

Railroads still play a huge role in Temple today.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe is still a major player in the freight industry and teams with a much smaller rail company to serve the vast industrial areas of West Temple. The Temple & Central Texas Railway operates more than 10 miles of rail line in Central Pointe Rail Park and provides rail-switching services to more than 50 customers over about 5,000 acres. The Temple & Central Texas connects local industrial areas to the BNSF rail yard in Temple.

Amtrak provides passenger service to and from Temple via the Texas Eagle six days a week. South-bound trains stop in Temple on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, while north-bound trains stop on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday.

Note: This article is based on interviews, The Temple Times reports, the official 1981 Temple Centennial program, and conversations with old-timers at V&M Drug Store in the 1970s. Big Frank told great stories, and everyone said they were true. I spent a lot of time there during the summer, and the gents filled my ears with awesome tales of Temple — the railroad town.

Temple Table Tennis Club

Members of the Temple Table Tennis Club warm up during Tuesday morning’s session at Sammons Community Center. About 12 people routinely participate in the Tuesday and Thursday ping-pong sessions, and some have been playing in the group for more than 15 years. Players come from Killeen, Harker Heights, Belton and the surrounding area to participate. David Stone photo

Today’s best bets

• Airport Food Truck Day at Draughon–Miller Central Texas Regional Airport. This month’s food truck is Lula Mae’s Cajun Cuisine and they will be serving up lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Every month through October, a local food truck will be featured. 

• Sweatin’ With The Oldies at Sammons Community Center. 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Join Kathy Patterson as she leads these extremely popular exercise sessions designed especially for those with mobility issues or who have difficulty standing while exercising. Slow stretches and comfortable balance exercises, while seated or in contact with a chair, will help tone and strengthen muscles to increase mobility and flexibility. Gradual use of hand weights and stretch bands is also incorporated. Easily adaptable for those with physical limitations. Two convenient session times to choose from. For more information, call 254.298.5403.

• Open Mic Night at Fire Base Brewing featuring Maxx Carter.

• Comedy Open Mic Night at Corky’s. Sign up at 7:30, show at 8.

• Temple Coyotes FC soccer at Woodson Field. Fun starts at 6, game starts at 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, June 30

• Poetry & Music Open Mic Night at Corky’s with Nate Biddy. Sign up 6:30, show at 7.

• Pre Fourth of July Cornhole Tournament at FoxDog Beer Garden. 5-8 p.m.

• Texas Red’s Taproom Trivia at Fire Base Brewing. 7 p.m.

• Karaoke at Bo’s Barn. 8:30 p.m.

• Trivia Night at Fire Street Pizza in Belton. There will be 6 rounds of themed trivia to test your knowledge of all things trivia! Other categories will include Movies, Sports, music, and more! Play from your phone! FREE to play! Join anytime. Winners walk away with FSP swag, free pizzas and bragging rights! 6 p.m.

Friday, July 1

• Sweatin’ With The Oldies at Sammons Community Center. 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Join Kathy Patterson as she leads these extremely popular exercise sessions designed especially for those with mobility issues or who have difficulty standing while exercising. Slow stretches and comfortable balance exercises, while seated or in contact with a chair, will help tone and strengthen muscles to increase mobility and flexibility. Gradual use of hand weights and stretch bands is also incorporated. Easily adaptable for those with physical limitations. Two convenient session times to choose from. For more information, call 254.298.5403.

• Fourth of July PRCA Rodeo at Bell County Expo Center. 

• Kenny Orts & No Chance live at Bo’s Barn. 8 p.m. Tickets: bosbarndancehall.com

• Wes Perryman live at 8 p.m. at Barrow Brewing Co.

• Fourth of July PRCA Rodeo at the Bell County Expo Center. 7 p.m.

• First Friday in Downtown Temple. 5-9 p.m. Join us downtown for First Friday, on July 1st for amazing drinks, food, and specials. The #FirstFriday Downtown Temple turns into a party! Check out our full list of happenings. bit.ly/3vAXira 

• Savor Latin Night at Ras Kitchen. 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Join us to learn the foundation and basic Latin dance moves of salsa and bachata. Then take what you've learn for a night of social dancing.

Saturday, July 2

• Holly Tucker live at Cyclone Corral. 7 p.m.

• Jade Nickol live at Barrow Brewing. 7:30 p.m. Farmers Market, 9-1.

• All-Star Family Day at Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Experience the fun of baseball and learn about baseball history. Come enjoy sports-themed crafts and activities for the whole family. 

• Fourth of July PRCA Rodeo at the Bell County Expo Center. 7 p.m.

• Jade Nickol live at Barrow Brewing Co. 8 p.m.

• Indie pop group Amber Dreams live at Treno Pizzeria & Taproom. 6-8 p.m.. "We will play our album, some covers, and preview our new singles."

• People’s Choice live at Bo’s Barn. 9 p.m. Tickets: bosbarndancehall.com

• Real Gun Show at the Bell County Expo Center’s Assembly Hall. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday, July 3

• SummerFest Celebration at Morgan’s Point Resort. 3 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Kleypas Park, 51 Morgan’s Point Blvd. Come join us and the Morgan's Point Resort Community to celebrate and honor America with a day full of fun, food & Fireworks! Live music by The Billy Holt Band. Food Trucks, Vendors, Bouncy House & inflatable obstacle course for the kiddos! 

• Lilly Milford live at Barrow Brewing. 4 p.m. Summer Lecture Series at 2 p.m.

• Fourth of July PRCA Rodeo at the Bell County Expo Center. 7 p.m.

• Real Gun Show at the Bell County Expo Center’s Assembly Hall. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Independence Day Scooter Scavenger Hunt sponsored by Corky's and Tour Temple. 

• Summer Lecture Series, 2 p.m. at Barrow Brewing Co. Live music TBD

• Martian Folk live at Fire Street Pizza in Belton. Noon.

Fourth of July

• Fourth of July Parade. Historic Preservation League of Temple. 9th Street from French to Nugent. 9 a.m.

• Belton Fourth of July Parade in downtown Belton. 10 a.m. 

• Independence Day Service at Christ Episcopal Church. You’re invited to join Christ Episcopal Church at 6 p.m. for an Independence Day service to celebrate the character of this nation that sustains us. Love of God. Love of Country. Love for each other. The Rev. Keith Pozzuto, Rector, will lead the service. Christ Episcopal Church is located at 300 N. Main in Downtown Temple.

• Hot Dog Eating Contest at High Noon, Yettie Polk Park. Sponsored by High 5 Hot Dogs. Divisions for adults and kids, plus big raffle. Visit https://business.beltonchamber.com/events/details/2022-4th-of-july-parade-16507

• Sweatin’ With The Oldies at Sammons Community Center. 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Join Kathy Patterson as she leads these extremely popular exercise sessions designed especially for those with mobility issues or who have difficulty standing while exercising. Slow stretches and comfortable balance exercises, while seated or in contact with a chair, will help tone and strengthen muscles to increase mobility and flexibility. Gradual use of hand weights and stretch bands is also incorporated. Easily adaptable for those with physical limitations. Two convenient session times to choose from. For more information, call 254.298.5403.

• Trash to Treasure Totes, Sammons Community Center. 1 p.m. Go green and create a unique tote bag from plastic bags! Becca Bash will be teaching this fun and creative way to recycle and reuse those endless plastic grocery bags that get stashed away to create a beautiful, one-of-a-kind bag that could have a variety of uses. Watch that bag evolve into your own creation. Knowledge of basic crochet stitch is encouraged. A size K crochet hook is recommended. For more information, call 254.298.5403. 

Tuesday, July 5

• Tai Chi at Sammons Community Center. 3 p.m. This ancient Chinese exercise and martial art promote vitality, balance, strength, and longevity. Using special breathing techniques and slow, precise physical movements, Tai Chi can help curtail arthritis, respiratory disease, and high blood pressure. Regular practice of this “Moving Meditation” also provides health benefits of stress reduction, mental alertness, and increased energy. This on-going course is adaptable for all levels of mobility. Led by Christopher Dow, who has practiced this and related Chi Kung exercise forms for 42 years. For more information, call 254.298.5403.

When Temple was born, the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railroad held an auction for city lots. How many people attended the auction? ANSWER AT END OF TODAY’S ISSUE

On this day in 1949, the residents of Dalworthington Gardens petitioned to have their community incorporated as a town. Dalworthington Gardens, one of the most unusual communities in Texas, is about twelve miles southeast of Fort Worth. It was established during the Great Depression as a subsistence homestead project under the authority of the National Industrial Recovery Act. The homestead program, administered by the Department of the Interior, was intended to help families through a combination of part-time industrial employment and subsistence agriculture. The idea was to locate homestead projects near large industrial centers where city workers could live, grow gardens, and raise farm animals to supplement their regular food supplies. Dalworthington Gardens (the name is an admixture of the names of the three interested cities, Dallas, Fort Worth, and Arlington) was one of five such projects located in Texas and the only one still in existence today. The population of the community grew from 267 in 1950 to 2,186 in 2000.

TODAY’S TEMPLE TRIVIA ANSWER: Various reports had the crowd at the Temple city lot auction at between 3,000 and 3,500 people.