Temple honors ballroom with landmark plaques

Friday, 23 March 2012 by Matthew Girard

Chairman of the Temple Historic Marker Committee David Perez-Guerra (left) presents In the Mood Ballroom owners Karen and Rudy Gonzales with one of three historic landmark plaques for the couple’s work in renovating three buildings in downtown Temple last Friday.The Temple Historic Preservation Committee handed out a special "thank you" Friday afternoon for the work Rudy and Karen Gonzales have done to help revitalize downtown.

The Gonzales' have owned and operated In the Mood Ballroom, 13 S. Main St., since 1999 and have spent the past few years not only renovating the ballroom, but also two other adjacent buildings.

Because of their work, the Preservation Committee presented the Gonzales' with three City of Temple Landmark plaques for each building.

"The historic marker program was created to recognize properties in Temple, where the property owners worked hard to maintain the original integrity of either a home or business," said Chairman of the Historic Marker Committee David Perez-Guerra. "Temple has a really rich history that has been impacted by many different cultures and the structures themselves often times tell the stories of people coming to our community."

Karen said she and Rudy were honored to receive the plaques.

"We think that it's a great honor that the city finds it notable to recognize buildings that are of the correct age and have people caring enough to make them to stay viable," Karen said.

Over the years, a variety of businesses have been housed in the buildings, including McClellan's 5 and Dime store, which occupied the buildings from 1927 to the early 1970s.

"This is a great example of what this program is all about," Perez-Guerra said. "It's a celebration of our community, our of town and of our history. What they've done here, since they opened, was create some interest in the downtown area."

In the Mood offers group dances and private lessons, and is also available for holiday parties, weddings and receptions.

"We are so pleased to be in a position to save and restore some of the beauty of the buildings," Karen said. "They don't make them like this anymore."

For more information about In the Mood Ballroom, call (254) 773-7088 or visit www.inthemoodballroom.com.

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