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History of Temple
1800s Foundation
Temple was founded on June 29, 1881 by the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railroad Company. The Santa Fe needed a town at a major junction point to provide services for railroad equipment and passengers. Railroad trains were brought from five cities in Texas with prospective buyers. Those passengers who bought land were refunded their passenger ticket price. There was a party, barbecue and auction of town lots, and fun for all. Temple was named for Mr. Bernard Moore Temple, the chief engineer who built the tracks through Bell County. [Read More…]
History of Salado
The Village of Salado was founded at the Old Military Road crossing of Salado Creek on October 8, 1859 coincident with the founding of Salado College. Many of the leaders of Bell County had felt the need for the establishment of a fine school and very quickly Salado became a viable settlement. It developed both as an industrial and agricultural center with a gristmill within the town limits and 7 other mills within 9 miles on Salado Creek. The first Grange in Texas was organized here in 1873, and Salado ranked second in size and importance in the County until the early 1880s. Salado College attracted residents of education and refinement and gave prestige to the village. It operated until 1885 with only the tuition of the students for support. From 1890 to 1913, a fine private school, Thomas Arnold High School, occupied the old stone college building.
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History of Belton
A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
Lena Armstrong, the City Librarian for 54 years and the unofficial historian of Belton wrote the following synopsis of Belton’s history. She penned a longer version of Belton history, which is included in the two-volume edition of “The Story of Bell County” published in 1988 by the Bell County Historical Commission. Lena retired from the City in December of 1998, and subsequently passed away in January of 1999. She is fondly remembered and sorely missed. In August 1850, the new pioneer town of Belton (first named Nolandville that was changed to Belton in 1851) was laid out in blocks, streets, and lots with the courthouse public square the center. It was designated County seat for the newly organized Bell County. Incorporated in’1852, it was the only town in the County and was the last place of civilization seen by the pioneers heading West by horseback or wagon train. Within a month after lots were sold, a post office was established and mail was arriving by horseback. [Read More…]
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