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More than 100 are expected for the outdoor event. Gala tickets are $50 each. Jessica Walker and Jana Secrest are co-chairwomen of the home tour and gala. Gala reservations are available by calling Ms. Secrest at (254) 773-9054.
The “Celebrate the Neighborhood” gala begins at 6:30 p.m. It is designed as an early summer outdoor gathering reminiscent of former times when entertaining and neighborhood soirees were the community’s chief form of entertainment.
The league’s Tour of Homes is May 25 and features four elegant north side homes. Both events raise money for the Historic Preservation League, a neighborhood organization dedicated to improving the area. The league sponsors seasonal banners, Easter egg hunts, July 4th parades, Christmas strolls and caroling and an autumn festival. Wade and Linda Knight are co-presidents of the Temple Historic Preservation League.
The Lucks’ home is a fitting site for a nostalgic evening. The Rev. Michael Mar Josip (1884-1950) and his wife, the former Johnnie Reynolds of Moody, built the L-shaped home in 1941. Set back behind an overarching oak, the two-story Charleston-Monroe-style home was designed by Dallas architectural firm Gayden Thompson. Lucille Hundley, Mrs. Mar Josip’s first cousin, recalled that she loved antiques and was intrigued with Charleston architecture. The house is set along the north perimeter of the lot to take advantage of the massive oak tree and garden entrance onto the deep upstairs and downstairs porches.
Mar Josip, pastor of First Presbyterian Church from 1928 to 1950, was born in Uramia, Persia (now Iran). He eventually migrated to the United States, where he graduated from seminary, and began his ministry. After earning a master’s from the University of Texas at Austin, he accepted the Temple pastorate. Under his leadership, the church organized the first Bible classes in Temple and built its current building located at N. First Street and W. French Avenue. He also helped organize the Temple Community Chest, an early version of United Way, and served three terms as chairman of the Bell County War Chest Drive during World War II.
The house has had only two other owners. In 1978, Johnnie Mar Josip sold the house to her cousins, Mrs. Hundley and her husband, Howell. The Lucks purchased the home from the Hundleys in 2001.
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Historic homes tour
The Historic Preservation League’s 2008 Tour of Homes is a chance to walk back in time to view Temple in another time and place. The tour will be 1-5 p.m. May 25.
The self-guided tour includes peeks into four homes of varying vintages and sizes. All have been lovingly renovated and restored by their owners.
Tickets are for $12. On the day of the tour, they will be available at tour houses for $15.
Advance tickets are available at Paperdoodles, 1401 S. 31st St.; Blue Bonnet Café, 705 S. 25th St.; Callie’s House, 1918 W. Ave. H; and Fountain of Beauty, 2001 S. 57 St.
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Gala menu
Fresh from providing catering for Jenna Bush’s rehearsal dinner in Salado, The Range at the Barton House will be providing heavy hors d’oeuvres for the garden partygoers. Desserts will be provided by the Sammons Golf Links.
Here’s a chance to enjoy the same tidbits that delighted the President of the United States for his daughter’s wedding.
Among the items on the menu will be:
- Sesame-ginger salmon on wonton with ponzu sauce, voted the “Best of Show” at the Hill Country Wine & Food Festival at Horseshoe Bay.
- Smoked chicken and citrus salad in Belgium endive spears.
- Pepper-crusted and shaved tenderloin of beef on golden crostini with roasted garlic goat cheese and red pepper coulis.
- Caramelized Texas sweet onions and fresh thyme on flat bread.