Arabia Temple in Houston – History 1941-1965
Houston Shriners From WWII Until Their Golden Anniversary
May 11, 2009
When America entered the war, Houston’s Arabia Temple had recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. The early years of its history had established it as a significant presence in the civic life of the Bayou City. The annual Shrine Circus had become a tradition and the Crippled Children’s Ball consistently earned funds for the care of disabled children in the area.
Houston’s Arabia Temple During World War II
Arabia Temple collected guns, ammunition, field glasses, stop watches and other items for the war effort, invested in War Bonds and asked its ladies to knit sweaters for servicemen and women. All Temple and Unit activities continued throughout the war even though some of them were scaled back. Gas rationing prevented many Nobles and ladies from attending local events, the bowling alley was converted into a hospital room for the Office of Civilian Defense, and many units donated time and funds to the war effort.
Post-War Houston and Arabia Temple
The end of World War II ushered in a prosperous decade for Arabia Temple, and membership increased to more than 7,000 Shriners by 1950. The annual Crippled Children’s Ball and the Shrine Circus grew enormously and were joined by other annual events, such as Shrine Day at the Prison Rodeo in Huntsville and an annual parade. New Shrine clubs were organized in surrounding cities including Conroe, Crockett, Wharton, Pasadena and Cleveland.
In 1946, the Temple launched a drive to raise $500,000 for construction of a new Crippled Children’s Clinic in Houston’s new Texas Medical Center. In less than ten days, $541,092 was raised and an architect was hired to plan the hospital building. It was another three years before ground was broken for the facility, and the doors finally opened early in 1952 as a $1.2 million success story. Unfortunately, yet another war was brewing, this one in Korea.
The 1950s and the Arabia Temple in Houston
More than eighty garden clubs in the Houston area participated in beautifying the grounds of the new Crippled Children’s Clinic on Outer Belt Drive. Two camels were donated to the Houston Zoo after appearing in the annual Shrine Circus. Membership grew steadily and the decade ended with a roll of about 8,000 individuals. The Temple purchased a tract of land at the foot of Kirby Drive at Braeswood with intent to build a new, much-needed mosque. Construction was delayed until the property on Main Street could be sold. Further delays occurred and the construction was not actually started until 1968.
Arabia Temple Celebrates Fifty Years in 1965
The first half of the turbulent 1960s brought growth and change to Houston’s Arabia Temple. The Crippled Children’s charity events and the Shrine Circus reached milestones and brought in more funds than ever before in the history of the Temple. Television stars from the Bonanza series, Sky King and Penny, and a Wild West Show all contributed to this success. Ground was broken for a new Shriner’s Burn Institute in Galveston, and many more civic projects were successfully completed. The Golden Anniversary celebration was ushered in by an Inaugural Ball in the Grand Ballroom of the Rice Hotel, followed by year-long parties and fund-raisers.
From its beginnings just before World War I through its 50th anniversary, the Arabia Temple served Houston well. It continues to uphold the ideals of community service and philanthropy in a most excellent manner.
References:
A.A.O.N.M.S. Arabia Temple History Book and Directory, Houston, Texas 1977
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