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Welcome to Temple in Vintage Postcards

Temple in Vintage Postcards

Book Description: Founded in 1881 by the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railway Company, Temple, Texas became a railroad town overnight. The company purchased 181 acres and then auctioned off parcels to prospective buyers interested in providing services for railroad equipment and passengers. Though in its early days Temple had several unfortunate nicknames--"Mudville," "Tanglefoot," and "Ratsville"--the growing town soon shed its image as a muddy, rat-infested land and became a major junction for four railway lines. Temple became a land of opportunity for commerce. The prosperity that rolled in with the railway also brought flattering new nicknames such as Progressive Temple and The Prairie Queen, as well as a chance to be part of the American Dream.

The book chronicles the story of this remarkable Central Texas city, from its founding as a designed community, to its transportation hub and agricultural center, to its ties to Fort Hood and the military, its emergence as a 21st Century medical and bio-research nexus of world-class facilities, and the city's ongoing emphasis on being a people-friendly place to live. Fully illustrated with hundreds of pictures, and fun to read.

Author Bio:

Michael LeFan is a lifelong resident of Temple (well, almost lifelong--having moved there at age four). His father was a local preacher for 40 years. LeFan, a freelance writer, is an avid postcard collector with a discriminating eye toward collecting only the best. Showcasing life in Temple in all its variety, the two hundred black-and-white postcard reproductions featured in this volume pay tribute to a beloved hometown in the heart of Texas.