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Temple City History

Walter P. Temple was born on June 7, 1869. Temple was the son of Pliny Fisk Temple, who settled in Pueblo de Los Angeles in 1841. Pliny married Antonia Marquerita Workman, daughter of William Workman, a prominent settler in the San Gabriel Valley.

In 1850, Pliny was granted the La Merced Rancho 12 miles east of Los Angeles, where he made his home. The site was near the original San Gabriel Mission founded by the Franciscan Fathers. During the years at La Merced, 11 children were born to Pliny and his wife. Their 10th child was Walter.

In the 1870s, due to drought conditions and other family financial failures, Lucky Baldwin foreclosed on a loan and took back the land!

On November 28, 1903, Walter Temple married Laurenza Gonzalez, a descendant of early Spanish- Californian familes. Walter purchased 400 acres four miles east of San Gabriel, which had been part of Lucky Baldwin’s vast Rancho Santa Anita. The site became known as the Town of Temple soon thereafter.

Envisioning a community where people of medium income could afford to live and own their own homes, Walter Temple divided the area into lots and laid out the park facing Las Tunas Drive. Realizing that the Town of Temple would not grow unless it had means of communication with the rest of the valley, Temple successfully petitioned the Pacific Electric Railway Company to extend its Los Angeles to Alhambra San Gabriel line to the depot adjacent to Temple City Park. Residents and merchants attributed the steady growth of the city to the extension of the”Red Car” to the community.

Temple was also instrumental in development of the Montebello oilfields and construction of many buildings in Los Angeles and San Gabriel. Walter Temple died on November 13, 1938.

In 1936, the town was officially designated as Temple City by the post office, but remained a city in name only until after the post-World War II population explosion and incorporation of the community on May 25, 1960.

Your museum is open most Sundays, 12:30-3:30 p.m., 5954 Kauffman Avenue, Temple City, CA 91780, 626-451-0833

Help “Preserve Our Past” — join the Historical Society of Temple City!

The Chamber of Commerce became a chartered organization on March 1, 1924. For meeting purposes, members used a building at the southeast corner of Las Tunas Drive and Temple City Boulevard. A local newspaper reported: “Activities of the Chamber will be confined to creating a civic spirit and obtaining those things for the community which can only be obtained through united efforts.”

Business owners were against incorporating the town and wished “to maintain a clean, rural community unattached to any big city government.” The Chamber supported this point of view, although it did encourage such undertakings as obtaining foot-service mail delivery and bus service. It opposed parking meters and a name change of Las Tunas Drive to Arrow Highway. The Chamber sponsored the first Camellia Festival (and all those since).

After years of working with the county and the state, Chamber members reconsidered their former opposition to incorporation. Without incorporation, the Chamber found itself fulfilling many of the functions normally furnished by local government, and additionally, there was the possibility of an increase in county taxes without an increase in services or representation. Therefore, after a 13-year struggle, Temple City was incorporated.

The Temple City Chamber of Commerce remains active in the interests of the business community, participating in redevelopment efforts and supporting and sponsoring many events and charities.

In 1944, the Women’s Club of Temple City held a contest to choose a flower and slogan for the community. Mrs. Ralph Saunders submitted the winning entry: “Temple City, Home of the Camellias.” The following year, Sharon Ray Pearson, only eight months old, was crowned “queen” and rode in an open car down Las Tunas Drive as Camp Fire Girls handed out Camellia flowers to spectators.

The Chamber of Commerce began promoting the slogan in 1946. Local youth groups totaling approximately 150 members formed a parade. A “queen” and two “princesses” were honored and drum and bugles corps entertained the crowd. With this success, greater plans were made for the next year. In 1947, the Chamber of Commerce chose to use the festival to promote the growth of local youth groups. More elaborate entertainment was provided, and merchants donated gifts to children.

In 1948, a theme was chosen—“Jewels of Temple City”—and youth groups made a variety of floats. Also added was a carnival and coronation pageant. All profits were used to create a Temple City Youth Center.

As the years have gone by, the festival has grown in size and popularity. Over 4,000 children come to participate in the annual parade. A public art show for middle school and high school students was added in 1969 and still remains a prominent part of the festival. Entertainment and prizes abound, and service clubs and organizations are proud to be a part of such a venerable and important event. The Camellia Festival takes place every year, and remains a long-standing tradition celebrating and supporting the community’s youth.

Contact Information

The Historical Society of Temple City
5954 Kauffman Avenue
Temple City, CA 91780
Phone: 626-451-0833

Temple City Camellia Festival
9701 Las Tunas Drive
Temple City, CA 91780
Phone: 626-285-2171

Temple City Chamber of Commerce
9050 Las Tunas Drive
Temple City, CA 91780-1834
Phone: 626-286-3101
Fax: 626-286-2590
E-mail: info@templecitychamber.org
www.templecitychamber.org