Post Office/Temple Public Library - Temple Commercial Historic District - Temple, TX
Posted by: 
WalksfarTX
N 31° 05.873 W 097° 20.437
14R E 658263 N 3441634
This two-story-plus-basement Renaissance Revival building at 101 N. Main Street was constructed in 1912 of stone and cement for use as a post office.
Waymark Code: WM105Q6
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 03/03/2019
Views: 1
NRHP Nomination Form"The building operated as the Post Office from 1912 through the 1960s, when a new postal facility opened on N. Main Street. This building was declared surplus and given to the city for use as a library. The architectural firm Rucker & Chamlee remodeled the building in 1964 for approximately $130,000. The renovation was funded from a $100,000 bond issue and funds originally slotted for a Carnegie Library. Fire destroyed Temple's original Carnegie Library in 1918.
After 1918, the library found temporary housing at numerous establishments including the basement of the Municipal Building. The city used the former post office building as its public library from 1964 through the 1980s. In 1974, the second floor was remodeled to make room for the expanding library inventory. Rucker & Chamlee, once again, performed the work.
. In the late 1990s, the City of Temple and Temple College entered into a partnership and used the building for Temple College. It is currently known as the Temple College Downtown Center, which houses the Business Growing Center and the Business Information Center as well as other school offices. Temple College renovated the building and leases it from the city. Freese and Nichols, Inc., served as architect for the renovation and the contractor was WTC Masterbuilders Limited.