| In 1911, the land that is now Temple Terrace was acquired
by the famous Potter Palmer family of Chicago as a portion of their 6,000-acre winter
hunting preserve. After Mrs. Palmer’s death in 1918, the family sold its holdings to
three developers who formed two development corporations—Temple Terrace Estates,
Inc., who developed the golf course and residential areas; and Temple Terraces, Inc., who
developed 5,000 acres of orange groves that originally surrounded the City, the largest
orange grove in the world in 1922.
Named after the hybrid "Temple" oranges and the surrounding
"Terraced" terrain, Temple Terrace was incorporated on May 28, 1925. The new
development was originally targeted to be a golf course community for the wealthy elite of
the North. Each homeowner would have a winter villa and citrus grove tract to occupy their
time and provide extra income. The architecture of the community was developed in the
Mediterranean Revival theme, as the Florida sunshine and climate reminded many of exotic
locales such as Spain and the Mediterranean area, and developers sought to capture this
mystique in the architecture of the community. Red barrel tiles from Cuba and Spain
certified to be over 100 years old were imported for the roofs of over 80 homes that were
built in this style during the early 1920s. Many of these homes have been lovingly
restored and can be seen along side the modern architecture of homes today. |
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