Temple to the Brave
A Brief History
The Temple to the Brave started as
a project of the Colonel George Moffett Chapter,
NSDAR in 1931, when construction began. The
chapter formed a committee and called on the
entire City of Beaumont for help. Money to build
the Temple came from individual citizens,
business firms, and school children. Enough
money was raised in spite of the terrible
economic times the country was going through in
the Great Depression.
Located in Pipkin Park in Beaumont,
Texas, the Temple was dedicated in 1932, during
the term of past regent, Lelia Tatum Pipkin, as
a memorial to Texas soldiers of World War I. It
was built of granite stone from Colorado and
civic groups donated the stained glass windows.
From its dedication on October 19, 1932, until
the early 1980s, the Temple was opened on
patriotic holidays. In 1988, the Temple was
opened as a museum under the direction of the
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Benefit Association
and the Jefferson County Historical Commission.
Displays included relics, artifacts, paintings,
and uniforms of past wars in which Texas
soldiers served.
On May 10, 2003, a DAR marker,
identifying the Temple as a DAR Historical
Monument, was placed during the term of past
regent, Carleen Reese Faucett to “honor the
edifice, built to pay tribute to all Texans who
have served in all wars.”
The passage of time and Hurricane
Rita were not kind to the Temple. Noticing the
deteriorating condition of the Temple, the
chapter voted to make the restoration of the
Temple a Centennial project during the term of
past regent, Betty Terrell Owens. With the hard
work of the committee chaired by Ida McFaddin
Pyle and the cooperation of the City of Beaumont
and Major Dennis White, the volunteer caretaker
for many years, the restoration was completed
in 2007. Committee members, Linda Cansler, Kate
Jabbia, Betty Owens, Ware Petznick, June Poole,
and Ninette Teel, and the entire chapter can be
proud of this project. A seventy-fifth anniversary
rededication of the Temple was held November 11,
2007, to rededicate it as a memorial to American
military from all of America’s wars.
Colonel George Moffett Chapter
continues to maintain the Temple (with the City
of Beaumont) and opens it on patriotic holidays.
Compiled from chapter archives and papers in the
Temple to the Brave by past chapter regent,
Linda Cheryl Cansler.
|