Susan Chandler, executive director of the Czech Heritage Museum & Genealogy Center, stands with a new exhibit, Moravian Glory: Preserving Our Brilliance. The exhibit is open, and an official reception will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, July 30. The Temple museum houses countless treasures related to the Czech experience in Texas. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. David Stone photo

DAVID STONE | July 20, 2022

A new exhibit, Moravian Glory: Preserving Our Brilliance, is on display at the Czech Heritage Museum & Genealogy Center, 119 W. French in Temple, through Oct. 1.

Susan Chandler, executive director of the museum, said the museum will celebrate the exhibit with an “official opening reception” from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 30.

“This exhibit was created at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library in Cedar Rapids, Iowa,” Chandler said.

“That museum was particularly interested in having Moravian Glory shown in Texas because the largest enclave of Czech immigrant descendants from the Moravia region in the world is down here.”

The exhibit shows life in Moravia as experienced by a great-grandmother, Maryška from Charvátská Nová Ves. With four seasons in the background, the stages of human life take place (childhood, youth, adulthood, and old age), and the exhibit depicts Maryška’s journey through each stage.

The customs and traditions of the season are associated with Maryška’s life story, which are also in many ways typical to many other women in the 20th century. In the stories from her life, viewers will recall some important historical moments, such as world wars. They will also see how the folklore heritage is preserved in Moravia to this day.

“By the end of its Texas tour, Moravian Glory will have been in three geographic locations that are each surrounded by large numbers of historically Czech communities — Temple, La Grange and Dallas,” Chandler said.

“The Czech Republic’s two main regions are Bohemia and Moravia,” she said. “Prague is in Bohemia — Moravia is just two hours north of Vienna, Austria.”

The exhibit features 20 panels complete with photographs, recipes and drawings.

The Czech Heritage Museum & Genealogy Center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $4 for adults, $3 for those 60 or older and $2 for kids 12 and under.

The Temple museum houses countless treasures — visitors make new discoveries with each visit — such as hand-carved marionettes from 1875 to Czech and American military exhibits and an extensive display about family bands and musical groups.

The museum also features vintage farming equipment, colorful dance and celebration attire and home-life displays.

The Czech Heritage Museum contains thousands of items related to the Czech experience in Texas and around the Temple area, including a 1549 Bible with Slavic lettering and a library with 23,000 volumes dating back to 1737.

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NOTE: You won’t want to miss Friday’s issue. It will feature an interview with Rob Hunden, a Chicago-based consultant hired by Temple to make tourism-related recommendations. We talked hotels, music festivals, sports facilities and even a bit of hockey.

Academie Musique recitals are July 26 & 29

Our Town Temple | July 20, 2022

The Academie Musique of Central Texas String Camp faculty will present an evening of chamber music featuring works by Saint Saëns, Walton, Debussy and Mozart at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 26, in the Christ Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 300 N. Main in Temple.

The evening will also include a second consecutive world premiere of a newly commissioned work by Composer in Residence Isaac Villaroya.

Featured in this concert will be Alanna Schubert of Woodway, the winner of the Academie Musique Concerto Competition as a soloist with the orchestra, performing the last movement of the Mozart violin concerto in A major: the “Turkish” concerto.

Additional performers will be students from Temple, Belton and Waco who have been selected to participate in the Advanced Chamber Music and Orchestral Leadership Program, which offers an immersive and intensive musical experience for serious and committed players.

During the week of camp, they will work closely with faculty members to prepare the music for this concert as well as for the Camp Showcase on Friday, July 29.

The end-of-camp student showcase performances will begin on Friday, July 29 at 1:30 pm and will consist of a student orchestra concert, followed by a concert featuring the students selected to this year’s Advanced Chamber Music and Orchestral Leadership Program.  

Admission to both concerts is free. 

The Academie Musique of Central Texas is a 501(c)(3) organization and donations benefiting the student scholarship program of Academie Musique are tax deductible and greatly appreciated. 

For more information, contact Lois Reiter, Director of Strings lreiter@amcentex.org or call the Academie Musique office at (254) 228-0691. 

In 1883, Warner helped open doors for future Temple businesswomen

DAVID STONE | July 21, 2022

Like many women in the 1800s, Mrs. WW Warner kept her first name out of the public eye and went by her husband’s name. But, she was one of very few women active in the 1883 Temple business scene.

Mrs. Warner is credited with being the city’s first sales woman — she sold dry goods at Hodges & Zeit. At first, farm families would give her a double-take when she tried to help them during their weekly Saturday trip to town. But, she was helpful and quickly developed many friendships with her customers.

The Warner family moved to Temple in early 1883 and WW Warner was an engineer with Santa Fe Railroad.  He was gone for long periods of time, and she decided she wanted to keep busy and make money as well.

Saturday was shopping day for working families and farm families in the surrounding area. Back in the 1880s, Saturday’s were circus-like in atmosphere and attracted street vendors, farmers selling produce and street performers.

People from the surrounding area flocked to Temple with cash in hand, and sales of $80 or more were common experiences for Mrs. Warner.

Although her salary was small, she had the satisfaction of being one of the few business women in the city’s early days. One woman kept a hotel and another ran a millinery store. But, most kept busy at home.

Years later, Mrs. Warner took her skills to a new hospital — Scott & White — and ran the surgical supply room.

On this day in 1821, the flag of Spain was lowered for the last time in San Antonio, ending three centuries of Spanish involvement in Texas. The successful independence movement in Mexico, led by Agustín de Iturbide and Vicente Guerrero, resulted in a treaty that brought Texas under the newly independent nation. The Mexican War of Independence marked the end of an era in which the Franciscan padres had founded and refounded missions at approximately forty different sites in Texas. Ten presidios had extended from Central Texas eastward to the site of present Robeline, Louisiana, and southward to Chambers Country. Municipalities ranged from Laredo to San Antonio and Nacogdoches. Ranches and farms dotted the landscape. The majority of the population was probably mestizo. After Mexican independence, Hispanics in Texas were soon outstripped in numbers by Americans. Modern Texas, however, reflects its Spanish origins in many ways.

¡Pleibol! In the Barrios and the Big Leagues

“Pleibol! In the Barrios and the Big Leagues” will be on exhibit at Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum from July 9 until Oct. 8.

Thursday, July 21

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

• Karaoke at Bo’s Barn. 8:30 p.m.

• Bell County Singles Meet & Greet 55+ at Corky’s. 4-6 p.m. RSVP to Linda Atkins at AtkinsFromTexas@yahoo.com.

• 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.

• Pizza & Beer Pairings at FoxDog. Our friends at Bahler Street Pizza are taking over our taproom! Pizza by the slice paired with beer from our taps. The pairing will take place between 6-7 pm and will be ticketed. Then we'll open to the public from 7-9 pm and pizza will be available for purchase until sellout.

• Country Nights at El Puerto de Jalisco. Live music and great food and drinks. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

• Toddler Story Time (12-36 months) at Temple Public Library. 10:15 a.m.

• PreSchool Story Time (ages 3-5) at Temple Public Library. 11:15 a.m.

• Dungeons & Dragons at Temple Public Library. 5 p.m.

Friday, July 22

• Dumpling Night Workshop at Cha Community, 7 N. Main in Downtown Temple. Due to popular demand, we are hosting a second dumpling night workshop this summer! You will learn to fold, cook and eat dumplings (pork or veggie options available — no gluten-free), side dishes and take a copy of our own recipe. Fun discussion about community/food, and enjoy our drinks! 6:30 to 8 p.m. $48 per person or $90 for parties of two. Order tickets online at: https://tinyurl.com/templedumplingnight

• A new Parkinson's support group is forming for Bell County area residents. The first BAPS meeting will be in the Wilson Room at the Sammons Community Center. We focus on learning from one another. On Thursday, July 28, you can join in a Webinar from the meeting room at Garden Estates of Temple from 2:30 until 5:00 PM. We'll join with the large Georgetown GAPS support group to learn about physical, occupational, and speech therapies for those with Parkinson's. Call or text Gayle Shull at 254.718.4197 for more information.

• 4-Hour Temple Brew Trail Tour with Tour Temple. 6-10 p.m.

• Karaoke at Corky’s Beer & Wine. 8-11 p.m. Sing your heart out!

• Chess Club at Temple Public Library. 4-6 p.m.

• Ghost Hunting Class at Wilson Recreation Center. Do you have an interest in the paranormal? Ever wonder what it's like to be a real ghost hunter? Try our Paranormal Studies class with paranormal investigator JohnJohn from Dark Explorers paranormal and learn all there is about becoming a paranormal investigator. Join us for this introductory class. 5:30 p.m. to. 7 p.m. $35 per person.

• Summer Sounds Free Concert at Santa Fe Plaza. Hair Metal Giants. 7:30 p.m

• Martian Folk live at Barrow Brewing Co. 8 p.m.

• Dementia/Alzheimer's Caregiver Support Group: Occurs weekly on Fridays. This group allows your loved ones to join us.  Loved ones will be doing activities while the group of caregivers are joining together to better understand and learn tips and tricks for daily life. 

• Notoriously PG-13 Backyard Comedy Show at FoxDog. 8 p.m. Join us for a fun night of comedy in the beer garden at FoxDog! Host Alex Cunningham and features Tania Morales, James Garibay, Justin Moreno, and Connor King II are guaranteed to make you laugh. You won't want to miss it! This is a free, outdoor event.

Saturday, July 23

• Brandon Rhyder live and acoustic at Cyclone Corral BBQ. $10.

• Temple Historic Homes Tour with Tour Temple. 2-4 p.m.

• 4-Hour Temple Wine Trail Tour with Tour Temple. 3-7 p.m.

• Retro Party Name That Tune Bingo at Fire Base Brewing. 7:30 p.m. We're rewinding it back to the 80s, 90s & 00s! Lets see your best 80s & 90s outfits that you kept in your closet all these years! Special props to those who are feeling the vibes. $2 gets you started at 4 chances at drinks, prizes & brewery swag! Family friendly! Seats are first come first served so get here early.

• Comedy Showcase at Corky’s Beer & Wine. 8-10 p.m. Turn2 Entertainment's "Laredo Takeover" Comedy Showcase starts at 8pm! Grab your tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/377373673817

• Salado Legends, Tablerock Theatre. Salado Legends, is an outdoor musical written by Salado resident playwright Jackie Mills. It was chosen by the Library of Congress to serve as a record of life in America during the 1850’s and “to preserve our nation’s diverse cultural traditions for generations of Americans, present, and future. Meal: 7:15. Show, 8:15. Tickets: centraltexastickets.org

• Christmas in July at FoxDog Beer Garden. Because December shouldn’t have all the fun! 11 a.m.

• Maxx Carter live at Barrow Brewing. 8 p.m.

• Sip & Shop at Ras Kitchen. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Historic Tour of Homes sponsored by Corky's and Tour Temple. Details and tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/306466829537

Sunday, July 24

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

Monday, July 25

• 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. Knowledge of basic crochet stitch is encouraged. A size K crochet hook is recommended. For more information, call 254.298.5403. 

Tuesday, July 26

• O’Pen Mic Night at O’Briens Irish Pub. 8 to midnight. O'Briens Open Mic Is Back! Every Tuesday 8 p.m. This is an acoustic open mic. will be using our in house sound system! Come on out and let's have fun!

• Tai Chi at Sammons Community Center. 3 p.m. This ancient Chinese exercise and martial art promote vitality, balance, strength, and longevity. 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.

• Academie Musique of Central Texas String Faculty Recital fundraiser, 7 p.m., Christ Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 300 N. Main in Temple.

Wednesday, July 27

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

• Through My Eyes art exhibit at The Loft. 6-8 p.m. Paintings, sculptures, poems, photos that focus on a person in the Temple/Belton area and it reflects their true beauty and worth. Presented by Feed My Sheep.

• Lunch at the Airport! The popular Flexin’ Texan food truck will be at Draughon-Miller Central Texas Regional Airport from 11 am. To 2 p.m.