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Passing of the Baton
Woodway’s Beau Benson named new artistic director of Temple Symphony Orchestra
DAVID STONE | OUR TOWN TEMPLE
Dr. Beau Benson can add a new job to his lengthy list of credentials: The orchestra director for Midway ISD has been named as the new conductor and artistic director of the Temple Symphony Orchestra.
“It’s been a long process — the anticipation was killing me,” Benson said Saturday. “I’ve been waiting by the phone, and I was so excited to hear that I was selected. I actually found out on the last day of school, so it was a very welcome finish to the school year.”
Dr. Jonathan Gary, executive director of the Temple Symphony Orchestra, said Benson has the “understanding to build on the orchestra’s traditions and guide the organization to explore new artistic horizons.”
Benson was chosen after a 16-month search that began when founding conductor Thomas Fairlie stepped down in May 2022 and a search committee was formed to find a replacement. Four finalists were chosen, and each finalist took a turn “guest conducting” the orchestra during the 2022-23 season. Benson took his turn with the baton on Jan. 28.
“I felt good about the concert,” he said. “We clicked well, I had a good repertoire with the orchestra, and the audience was wonderful. I’ve known some of the TSO musicians for 10 years. I thought that if nothing else, I had a valuable artistic experience.”
Benson’s tenure with the Temple Symphony Orchestra starts immediately, and he will get to work planning his first concert as TSO’s director.
“The first concert is Sept. 16,” he said with a laugh. “Time to get busy. A lot of stuff has to happen before a concert — we have some section openings to fill, so we will be holding some auditions. I don’t think there are many openings, just the normal turnover.”
Benson said he will continue to live in Woodway and serve as director of Midway High School and Midway ISD orchestras. He also will continue to direct the Waco Symphony Youth Orchestra and the Oregon East Symphony Orchestra in Pendleton, Oregon.
In fact, Benson was in Oregon this past weekend.
“We have a dress rehearsal in a few minutes and a concert tonight,” he said via telephone from Pendleton. “I’ll take the red-eye flight from Portland to Texas on Sunday. But I’ll be in Temple this coming week to get started.”
Benson has been conductor of Midway orchestras since 2010.
“I grew up in Richardson, and went to SMU to study musical education and guitar performance,” he said. “After I got my bachelor’s degree, I started teaching Latin in Garland.”
“I decided I wanted to be in music, so I returned to SMU for graduate work in orchestral conducting. I conducted the Texas A&M orchestra for a year, then headed to Michigan State to work on a doctorate degree.”
After receiving his degree, Benson returned to the Dallas area and was directing an upstart opera company when he was offered the Midway job. But that wasn’t the only new job he accepted.
“When I was in Lansing working on my doctorate, I had applied for a conductor’s position in Oregon,” he said. “They were in a three-year process of selecting a new conductor. After I was back in Texas and working at Midway, I was offered the Oregon East job.”
“That was about nine years ago,” he said. “I come to Pendleton several times a year and direct performances. We have an arrangement where I don’t need to be here all the time.”
Benson said the experience gained with the Oregon orchestra has prepared him for the Temple job.
“The Oregon East and Temple orchestras are similar,” he said. “Both are regional and use talent from the area. In Oregon, we share musicians with other orchestras in that state, plus Washington and Idaho. ”
Benson said he is excited about taking over a program close to home.
“Being boots-on-the-ground here in Central Texas is a huge plus,” he said. “I will be part of the community, and I’m looking forward to working with Temple-area schools. So many people in the Temple Symphony Orchestra are my colleagues — I already have a strong connection.”
“One of the things I’d like to do is bring in younger audiences,” he said. “I would want to have my thumb on the pulse of the community.”
“This is such a thrill,” he said. “My wife and family don’t get to travel to Oregon often, so now they will get to watch me conduct. It will be great to conduct in Temple. I look forward to diving in.”
Gary, who took over TSO’s executive director role earlier this month following the retirement of Jan Salzman. He also served as chair of the search committee.
“I look forward to all that Dr. Benson will bring to the Temple community through his work with the Temple Symphony Orchestra. The next chapter of this organization will be exhilarating.”
Here’s a glance at the upcoming 2023-24 TSO concert season:
Sept. 16, 2023 — Masterworks Concert.
Oct. 21, 2023 — Barbara Weiss Probe Endowment Van Cliburn Concert featuring 1997 gold medalist Jon Nakamatsu.
Dec. 16, 2023 — Holiday Concert.
Jan. 27, 2024 — Pops Concert.
April 13, 2024 — Masterworks Concert.
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‘It’s been a good run’
After a combined 66 years of service, Expo leaders announce retirements
DAVID STONE | OUR TOWN TEMPLE
On his way to his new job, John Dungan could see his future shimmering like gold on the horizon. The year was 1987, and Bell County was opening the premier venue between Austin and the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex.
Six years later, Tim Stephens also saw the shimmer as he drove in from Abilene to become The Expo’s executive director. After 30 years of working together, it’s only fitting that the two friends and co-workers leave in the same year. Both are retiring — John in September, Tim at the end of 2023.
The men are all smiles when asked about accomplishments at the landmark venue along I-35 on Belton’s south side.
“The Expo has added to the quality of life for Bell County residents, and it’s had a substantial impact on the local economy,” Stephens said. “We have seen thousands of events and millions of people walk through the doors.”
“We’ve really seen it all — 10 years of ice hockey, indoor football, too many concerts to count, animal shows and lots of conventions,” he said. “In the past 10 years we’ve had Alan Jackson twice, ZZ Top, Willie Newson, Casting Crowns, Jon Pardi and so many more. ZZ has been here four times, I believe, and one of the biggest shows we’ve ever had was ZZ Top with Lynyrd Skynyrd. That was huge.”
Dungan can add a few more names to that impressive list — he’s been at the Expo since Day 1. Actually, before it even opened.
“I was hired as the operations manager three months before the Expo Center opened,” he said. “I started in February, and it opened in May … there was a lot to do.”
“We had a huge opening month,” he said. “The first concert was May 21, 1987, and it was Marie Osmond and the Osmond Family. Two days later we had George Strait.”
But, for Dungan, the biggest event in his opinion is the annual Central Texas State Fair.
“Biggest has several metrics — attendance, financial impact, duration, physical footprint, etc.,” he said. “The Fair has all of that. It started at the urging of County Judge John Garth as a small festival for the county. Now, in its 36th year, the Central Texas State Fair is a four-day event and it uses the entire campus. It is produced entirely in-house by Expo staff, and last year’s attendance was more than 30,000.”
Stephens said the Expo complex was built primarily to serve as a new home for the Bell County Youth Fair & Livestock Show, which had outgrown the aging Sheriff’s Posse Arena near Temple High. Local architect Charlie Voelter sold Garth and Bell County commissioners on the unique dome-shaped design, and the facility opened with the main arena — now called Garth Arena — Assembly Hall, and the Exposition Building intact.
“We’ve done a lot of improving since then,” Stephens said. “We added the Equestrian Livestock Complex in 2018.”
Dungan said the facility quickly became home to Expo clients who continue to call the big dome home. The Belton Fourth of July Rodeo, the National Cutting Horse Association and the Youth Fair quickly jumped on board. In 1988, local high schools and colleges began using the arena for graduation ceremonies.
“We just finished with graduations,” Stephens said. “This year I think we had 15 graduation ceremonies.”
In addition to football, hockey and rodeos, the Expo is home to Expo Explosion, which is the second largest indoor pole vaulting competition in the world.
“It’s a big event,” Stephens said. “We’ve seen world records fall right here. We are also home to Mother Earth News fairs, Comic Con, the Central Texas State Fair, lawn and garden shows … it’s so much. If you try to make a list, something big will be left out.”
One big event in the early days of the Expo was a regional Box-Off. The US Olympic team at the time was determined by a national tournament and Box-Offs were regional rounds. A 1988 Box-Off was held at the Expo, and that fighting legacy continues today.
“We’ve started teaming with Legacy Fighting Alliance to bring mixed martial arts fights to Bell County,” Stephens said. “We have one set for July 21. It’s a big deal — it will be televised nationally on FightPass, and that gives our venue big recognition.”
Both Stephens and Dungan say they are proud of their accomplishments in bringing top entertainment and conventions to the Bell County Expo.
“Last year, we held 262 events, and many of those were multi-day events,” Stephens said. “It adds up to more than 600 event days during the year. You come out on the weekends, and sometimes we might have four or five events going on at the same time. This is a busy place.”
“We host a large number of conventions and conferences as well, and those bring big money into Bell County,” he said. Stephens pointed out that many of the conventions bring in folks from outside the immediate area who stay in hotels and eat in restaurants.
But, as they say, all great things must come to an end. And, at the end of 2023, the Expo will be without the two familiar faces at the helm.
“It’s time to do something else,” Stephens said with a smile. “I’ve been at the Expo 30 years and in this business for 35-plus years, and I’m ready to slow down. This business never stops — we finish one show and get ready for the next in several venues.”
“This has been a great experience, but I plan on spending more time with our kids and grandkids,” he said. “Beverly, my wife, retired a couple years ago, and she wants to travel. I also want to focus more on my hobbies — golf, tennis and fishing. I’m trying to get into fly fishing.”
Like Stephens, Dungan plans on spending quality time with family, especially his 10-month-old grandchild.
“My father retired at a reasonable age and was a big influence on my oldest son,” Dungan said. “I want to pay that back and spoil this kid — spoil in a good way.”
“I can’t really imagine myself not working, but right now I’m not sure what that might look like,” he said. “Maybe I stay in the event business, maybe I try something totally new.”
The process to replace the top two positions at The Expo is under way, and Stephens said he is helping facilitate the process.
“We have a board of directors who will be finding our replacements,” he said. “The job has been announced, but I will be here until December.”
“You know, change can be a good thing,” Stephens added. “Bringing in fresh faces with fresh ideas can be positive, and I’m sure great things will continue at The Expo. It’s a good building and a good location right off I-35 in the heart of Texas. It will be busy and successful for years to come.”
“It has been a good run, and we’ve accomplished many things over the last 30 years,” Stephens said. “I have enjoyed working
with Bell County, the Expo staff, and its board of directors. There have been thousands of events over that time, from concerts to horse shows and everything in between. I have enjoyed working with all the
people associated with those events and have so many great memories. No doubt, my career in venue management has been fast moving and never a dull moment. It has been fun, challenging and rewarding.”
Dungan said he was blessed to work with an executive director such as Tim for 30 years.
“We worked hard and became friends, and we really enjoyed working together,” he said. “I think that’s a definite bonus.”
Champion with a Secret
Former Olympic medalist, world record holder to speak at Child Advocacy Center gala in Temple
DAVID STONE | OUR TOWN TEMPLE
Margaret Hoelzer knows a thing or two about being a champion. She’s a three-time Olympic medalist and a former champion and world-record holder in the backstroke, but after the Beijing games, Margaret dropped a bombshell: She had been sexually abused by a friend’s father at the age of 5.
After rising to the top of the swimming world, Margaret continues to excel as an internationally recognized motivational speaker and an advocate for sexually abused children.
She will bring her message to Temple on July 22 as a special guest at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Central Texas’ Devine Desserts Gala. The event will be from 6:30 to 11 p.m. at the Mayborn Center, and ticket information can be found at CentralTexasTickets.com.
“The abuse started when I was 5 and continued until I was 7,” she said, “but I didn’t tell anyone until I was 11. I grew up in Huntsville, Ala., the home of the Children’s Advocacy Center. They were recommended as a place where my family could get help.”
“When I started speaking, it was easy for me to talk about the work they do at the center because it is a huge part of my own story. I really didn’t mean to become an advocate for kids who have experienced similar situations, but I’m glad I did.”
“After I revealed to the world that I had been sexually abused as a child, I agreed to tell my story to a journalist with the Associated Press,” she said. “The story was picked up nationally, and soon my phone began to ring. Groups and organizations were asking for me to come tell my story at their banquets and events. One thing led to another, and I agreed to represent the Children’s Advocacy Center. That was an easy decision.”
“I strive to tell young victims that they are not alone,” Hoelzer added. “There is light at the end of the tunnel. Being sexually abused is a huge road bump, but you can still reach your goal and I am proof of that.”
When Margaret was 5 — the same year she was sexually abused — she began competitive swimming.
“I started in a summer league program, just learning the strokes and the basics of competing,” she said. “Then when I was 7, I started in a summer league where we actually raced. I was tall for my age, and I was a strong swimmer. As I grew older, I had to make some changes, but I did and remained fast.”
“I was hooked on swimming — I knew that I wanted to keep going,” she said. “You know, I think all kids say they want to go to the Olympics, but they don’t fully understand all the hard work and dedication it takes. I know I didn't.”
In 2002, Margaret was the top-ranked American in the 200-meter backstroke after winning gold at the Pan Pacific Championships. She earned silver in the 200-meters at the 2003 and 2005 world championships, and made her first Olympic team in 2004. She placed fifth at the Athens games in the 200-meter backstroke.
Hoelzer captured the world championship in her sport in 2007, setting the stage for a big run in Beijing.
“In the 2008 Olympic trials, I broke the world record,” she said. “Being in the actual Olympics was a remarkable experience, but I’d have to say the highlight of my career was breaking that record.”
In the 2008 Beijing games, Margaret captured the hearts of American viewers as she dramatically won silver in the 200-meter backstroke and the 4x100 medley relay. She added a bronze medal in the 100-meter back.
Hoelzer also was a 22-time All-American and a six-time national champion at Auburn University.
Today, in addition to her role as a spokesperson for the Children’s Advocacy Center, Margaret is in high demand as a motivational speaker. She also teaches private swimming lessons to young Americans with golden dreams.
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Wade Bowden is one of four musical acts that will perform at this year’s Central Texas State Fair, which will run Aug. 31 through Sept. 3 at the Bell County Expo Center in Belton. Courtesy photo
Boot-scootin’ lineup announced for CTSF
DAVID STONE | OUR TOWN TEMPLE
The 2023 Central Texas State Fair will begin its four-day run at the Bell County Expo Center on Aug. 31, and this year’s event will feature four popular country bands to go with midway thrills, bull riding, mutton busting and more.
Opening night will feature Charlie Robison, a Houston-born singer/songwriter who grew up on a ranch near Bandera. Robison is known for his humor and dark, often tragic musical storytelling.
Kevin Fowler returns to the CTSF stage on Sept. 1, and the always-popular entertainer from Amarillo will bring a mix of music with a flavor for everyone. Fowler is former lead guitarist for Austin rock band Dangerous Toys, but left the rock world in 1998 to pursue a career in Texas country music.
The Read Southall Band will provide the dancing groove on Sept. 2, and the Oklahoma band features a blend of country, rock and Southern rock that evokes comparisons to Waylon Jennings and Joe Walsh.
The final night of the Fair will feature a familiar face as Wade Bowen returns to Bell County.
Other Fair highlights will include $1 carnival rides on Thursday, the Twisted Metal Mayhem Demolition Derby on Friday, the Professional Bull Riders Challengers series on Saturday and Sunday, and many special events.
These special events include a comedy hypnotist, a bicycle stunt team, shopping, livestock shows, and the comedy and juggling of Bruce Manners.
Fair tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. July 7 and will include admission to the nightly concerts. Online tickets will be $10 for adults, and the gate price will be $15. Kids 12 and under will be admitted free as long as they are accompanied by a paid adult.
Demolition derby and bull-riding reserved tickets are $25 for adults online and $30 at the gate. Kids 12 and under tickets are $15 and $20. General admission tickets are also available at a lower price. Family four-packs for these events are $110 for reserved seats and $72 for general admission.
A special deal is available for music fans — the music mega pass is $30 online and $40 at the gate, and it is good for all four shows. Carnival wristbands will be $25 online and $35 at the gate.
A Salute to Corn
Holland’s big festival kicks off Friday night
DAVID STONE | OUR TOWN TEMPLE
Get ready for some boot stompin’, kernel spittin’ fun — the 49th annual Holland Corn Festival is less than one week away.
The annual salute to all things corn takes place Friday and Saturday in Holland, and will feature a 5K run, a corn parade, corn hole, corn shucking, corn eating, corn bobbing, corn seed spitting, corn cob throwing and a chicken flying contest. Wow! That’s a lot of corn-fed fun!
In addition, there will be a barbecue cookoff, live music and dancing, a carnival and the crowning of the Corn Festival Queen and Duchess.
“This year’s festival will feature all of your favorites,” said Jill Marwitz, Corn Fest chairperson. “It’s good fun for everyone, and we raise money for the community. We use Corn Fest revenue to provide scholarships to seniors and for youth projects. Some of the money also goes to city improvements.”
“We’re going to have two really good bands this year,” Marwitz continued. “Treaty Oak Revival will be on stage Friday night, and Keith Braxton will entertain on Saturday.”
Treaty Oak Revival — based in College Station — blends Texas red-dirt country music with good ol’ rock ’n’ roll and is a crowd favorite wherever they perform. Braxton is an up-and-coming country artist out of San Angelo that touts a new sound.
Tickets for both concerts are $15.
The corny fun starts at 8:30 p.m. Friday with the Treaty Oak Revival concert and dance. An opening act — Backroads — will get the crowd revved up for a good time.
Also Friday, the carnival midway will be open for games and attractions. The carnival will be open Thursday night, Friday night and Saturday, and wristbands are $20 each day for unlimited rides. A three-day wristband can be purchased for $55.
The big day for this year’s Corn Fest is Saturday, and activities start bright and early with the 5K Run. Winners will be announced at 9:45 a.m., followed by the annual parade.
The 5K will be held at Holland City Park, and proceeds will go toward Holland High School scholarships. Entry is $25 through June 16
Here’s a look at the rest of Saturday’s events:
11 a.m. — Flag Raising Ceremony; crowning of Corn Fest royalty.
11:15 a.m. — Sign up for Corn Hole Tournament.
11:30 a.m. — Sign up for all contests during the day.
Noon — Corn Hole Tournament and Corn-Eating Contest.
12:30 p.m. — Corn Shucking Contest.
1 p.m. — Corn Bobbing.
1:30 p.m. — Junior Corn Seed Spitting Contest.
1:45 p.m. — Women’s Corn Seed Spitting Contest.
2 p.m. — Men’s Corn Seed Spitting Contest.
2:30 p.m. — Junior World Championship Corn Cob Throwing.
3 p.m. — Women’s World Championship Corn Cob Throwing.
3:30 p.m. — Senior Division World Championship Corn Cob Throwing.
4 p.m. — Corn Cob Relay.
4:30 p.m. — Chicken Flying Contest.
5 p.m. — Announce Corn Hole Tournament and barbecue cookoff winners.
8:30 p.m. — Concert and dance featuring Braxton Keith. West Travis will be the opening band.
Arbor of Hope East to initially serve up to 170 people at Temple facility
DAVID STONE | OUR TOWN TEMPLE
A location has been selected for a new transformational community in Temple that will serve up to 170 people after the initial phase opens. The Village, known as Arbor of Hope East, will be located on city-owned property at 4056 Little Flock Road, and construction could start by early 2024.
“This property is about 30 acres and is very scenic,” said Nancy Glover, Temple’s director of Housing & Community Development and one of the organizers behind a countywide homelessness initiative to help get people off the streets. “There were a couple of other options — one was on Hope for the Hungry property in Belton, the other was to go to the open market and see what was available.”
The future community will be served by a nearby The Hop bus stop, plus a new micro-transit system Temple will implement next year.
A second Arbor of Home community will be built in Killeen, but a firm location has not been set, Glover said.
“KPA Engineers are working on a design draft that will be presented in a few weeks,” she said. “That will give us a probable cost to take into the budget. KPA is donating their time for this project.”
Glover said the next step is to establish an independent non profit, also called Arbor of Hope. The non-profit will be administered by a board of directors, which will include representatives from Bell County, the cities of Temple and Killeen, Central Texas Council of Governments and other entities.
“The goal is to have the non-profit operational by the end of the year so an executive director can be hired in the fall,” Glover said. “The executive director will hire a finance and development director, who will immediately begin raising money for the project, and a director of social work to develop treatment plans for clients suffering from mental health and/or addiction issues.”
“If everything goes well, we will have funding to start initial construction in the first quarter of 2024,” she said. “There will need to be some utility work done at the site before actual construction can begin.”
“Cities and partner agencies are already working on initiatives so they will be ready to go when construction is complete,” Glover said. “Cities are starting a scholarship program for people needing help with substance disorders. We already have five people in our program — they are being treated at CenTex Alcohol Recovery Center — and we will be helping these people attain housing.”
According to Glover, Phase 1 of Arbor of Hope East will include an intake building, which is a place for people to be processed and checked for weapons and contraband when they enter the premises. There also will be separate dorm-style shelters — one for men, one for women — and each will hold 50 clients.
“There will be substance abuse housing that will consist of 10 beds for men and 10 for women,” Glover said. “And, we will have space for 50 temporary homes.”
These homes will be transitional housing that bridges the gap between a tent shelter and a permanent home. They are often referred to as pallet homes because some are constructed using wooden shipping pallets.
“Our pallet homes will include a bed and a place to store clothes, and they will have air conditioning and heat. Those assigned to these homes will be able to keep their pet with them. Those staying in the dorm-style housing can bring their pets, but the animals will stay at an on-site pet shelter.”
In addition to housing, the community will include meal services, laundry facilities, showers and restrooms, office space, a community center and a computer lab where clients can work on paperwork and look for jobs.
“We are moving forward with this project and there really is a sense of urgency,” Glover said. “People are suffering, and they need us to help get them off the streets.”
According to the National Center on Homelessness & Poverty, nearly 554,000 people in the US are homeless on any given night. More than 300 of those live in Bell County, according to the 2023 Point-in-Time Count conducted earlier this year.
A large trash bin has been placed outside the main entrance into the old Katy Depot so workers can clean out the building and discard unwanted items. The city is preparing the building for tours by prospective developers and will accept redevelopment proposals through July 11. David Stone photo
City preparing Katy Depot for developer proposals
DAVID STONE | OUR TOWN TEMPLE
The historic but long vacant Katy Depot could be headed toward new life. City crews are preparing the historic structure for tours by developers who may have interest in the project.
“Right now, we’re organizing,” said Temple City Manager Brynn Myers “We have a bunch of stuff stored in there, and as we prepare to receive requests for redevelopment proposals, we need to get stuff out that doesn’t belong.”
The old depot — located on Central Avenue along the Union Pacific railroad tracks across from Kerley’s Meat Market — has been vacant for years and has been home to junked desks and file cabinets, boxes of supplies and other unwanted items.
“Staff is clearing items from the building,” said Erin Smith, assistant city manager. “I went in the other day, and I didn’t realize how much was in there. It was very full, and some of the stuff had value, so we had city departments see if there was anything they needed.”
Smith said a pre-proposal meeting has been scheduled for next week to allow developers a look inside the building.
“Proposals will be submitted by July 11, and then we will review and score the proposals before presenting recommendations to the Temple Revitalization Corporation,” she said. “Last year, the city transferred ownership of The Katy to the TRC.”
Smith said the city is also looking to rezone the property from light industrial to central area district.
“Light industrial doesn’t meet our vision for the old depot,” she said. “Central area district is the zoning district we have in place downtown. It allows for multiple uses, including retail, offices and restaurants.”
The future of the once-majestic Katy has been the subject of multiple studies, including the city’s Love Where You Live plan, and consultants have suggested converting the old depot into a brewpub or ice cream parlor. Temple residents also have ideas for the building’s future such as converting the depot into a tea room or a transfer-station for The Hop bus service.
The upcoming request for redevelopment proposals is a step in determining interest in restoring the 1913 structure.
Myers said the city also has had preliminary talks with BJ’s Tasting Room about expanding their current facility on Central Avenue into the Katy.
“BJ’s has made no commitment, but they could be interested if it were to be redeveloped and leased out,” she said. “They have indicated that they would be open to discussing it.”
Erin Smith, Temple’s assistant city manager, has said the city has options when it comes to redeveloping the Katy.
“We’ve been looking at some possibilities,” Smith said. “We could turn it over to private investors or the city could renovate the building then lease it out.”
The historic structure — built by the Missouri, Kansas & Texas (The Katy) Railroad in 1913 — has greatly deteriorated over the years and would require an extensive overhaul, according to Craig Ordner, archivist for the Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum and the Springer Railroad Archives.
“The old building is a project, no doubt,” Ordner said. “It has lead paint and asbestos, and the electrical system needs replacing. There’s no central heat or air, and there’s a half-basement that floods after a heavy rain. Still, it would be a very cool destination for Downtown Temple.”
Just two years after Temple was founded by the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railway, a second line was built through Temple. The new line connected Houston with Fort Worth, and the railroad built its first depot between Adams and Central, right where the Katy Depot stands today. That depot was later torn down and the current structure was built in 1912, according to Ordner.
In its day, the depot was bustling. The Katy would run 14 passenger trains a day through Temple, including the immensely popular Texas Special, which left Temple at 3:15 every afternoon and pulled into Chicago at 8:30 the following morning.
The Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad was purchased by Union Pacific in 1988, and the use of the Temple station diminished. The UP was about to advertise for demolition bids when the city stepped forward.
“UP donated the building to the city for use as a railroad archive and research facility,” Ordner said. “The Springer Archive moved into the building but only stayed about a year. It wasn’t in good shape. The city installed a window unit that had been at the Santa Fe Depot, and they put an electric heater on the ceiling, but that wasn’t enough. It got very hot and very cold.”
“A renovated Katy should be something the people of Temple can enjoy,’ Ordner continued. “A restaurant, a bar, a recreation center — something people can use.”