South Temple, Pennsylvania

South Temple is a census-designated place^[1] in Muhlenberg Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania. It is located about 4 miles north of the city of Reading. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,424 residents.^[2]

Originally a streetcar suburb of Reading, South Temple retains the look of a 1920s residential community, with decent-sized properties, mature trees, sidewalks, and lots of variation in housing styles. The houses are well-kept and the gardens meticulously groomed. The community was originally serviced by a street-running trolley on Kutztown Road and an interurban trolley stop (the pavilion at 11th & Park is still standing).

Boundaries

The traditionally-accepted boundaries of South Temple are the 5th Street Highway (Business Route 222) on the west, Sharp Ave. on the south, 11th Ave on the east, and Darby Ave. on the north. South Temple lies entirely within the 19560 ZIP code and is served by the "Temple" post office. Residents use "Temple" as their mailing address. The community is served by the Muhlenberg School District.

History

South Temple was started by a local developer by the name of Sharp, as a "Restricted Residential Community" with distinctive custom-built homes targeted at the emerging upper-middle class. The houses that Sharp built are known for their wonderful curb appeal and architectural character. One of his houses along 7th Avenue even won a design award. Most of the houses are modest in size and have a Craftsman Bungalow style to them, which is distinctive of the 1920s. Some houses are more notable, including five U-shaped duplex houses that are almost Mediterranean in style. During World War II, development was halted (a nationwide reality) and Sharp moved on to other projects, leaving many lots still open for development, particularly on the southern end of the town. In the 1950s, a builder by the name of Sheidy finished developing the area. Sheidy's homes are characterized as modest red-brick Cape Cods (see Cape Cod (house). Ironically, it was Sheidy (not Sharp) that built the homes along Sharp Avenue.

Today

South Temple is still regarded as a very desirable and affordable area of Muhlenberg Township. South Temple is home to two churches, both on North Temple Blvd: the Faith Evangelical Congregationalist Church, and Epiphany Lutheran Church. There is a municipal swimming pool (members only) at 4th & Darby named the "South Temple Pool" (its real name is the Muhlenberg Swimming Association, but most know it as the "South Temple Pool"), a favorite summer hangout of many families in the Muhlenberg Township. The town is adjacent to the campus of the Muhlenberg School District, making it within easy walking distance for students. The local elementary school (now the Muhlenberg Elementary Center), was at one time much smaller and named the "South Temple Elementary".

References

1. ↑ http://www.census.gov/2010census/
2. ↑ http://www.census.gov/#

External links

Coordinates: 40°23′53″N 75°55′18″W / 40.39806°N 75.92167°W / 40.39806; -75.92167

• Aerial Photo of South Temple, Bing Maps Link

v t e Municipalities and communities of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States County seat: Reading City Reading Boroughs Adamstown‡ Bally Bechtelsville Bernville Birdsboro Boyertown Centerport Fleetwood Hamburg Kenhorst Kutztown Laureldale Leesport Lenhartsville Lyons Mohnton Mount Penn New Morgan Robesonia St. Lawrence Shillington Shoemakersville Sinking Spring Strausstown Topton Wernersville West Reading Womelsdorf Wyomissing Townships Albany Alsace Amity Bern Bethel Brecknock Caernarvon Centre Colebrookdale Cumru District Douglass Earl Exeter Greenwich Heidelberg Hereford Jefferson Longswamp Lower Alsace Lower Heidelberg Maidencreek Marion Maxatawny Muhlenberg North Heidelberg Oley Ontelaunee Penn Perry Pike Richmond Robeson Rockland Ruscombmanor South Heidelberg Spring Tilden Tulpehocken Union Upper Bern Upper Tulpehocken Washington Windsor CDPs Alleghenyville Alsace Manor Amity Gardens Baumstown Bethel Blandon Bowers Colony Park Dauberville Douglassville Dryville Edenburg Flying Hills Fox Chase Frystown Gibraltar Gouglersville Greenfields Grill Hereford Hyde Park Jacksonwald Kempton Kutztown University Lincoln Park Lorane Mertztown Mohrsville Montrose Manor Morgantown‡ Mount Aetna Muhlenberg Park New Berlinville New Jerusalem New Schaefferstown Oley Pennside Pennwyn Rehrersburg Reiffton Riverview Park Schubert Shartlesville South Temple Spring Ridge Springmont Stony Creek Mills Stouchsburg Temple Virginville Walnuttown West Hamburg West Lawn West Wyomissing Whitfield Unincorporated communities Albany Amityville Barto Basket Beckersville Berne Boyers Junction Breezy Corner Brownsville Cacoosing Chapel‡ Clayton Dale Dreibelbis Eagle Point Eckville Eshbach Evansville Five Points Fredericksville Fritztown Geigertown Greenawald Greenfield Manor Green Hills Grimville Hancock Harlem Henningsville Hinterleiter Host Huffs Church Jalappa Joanna Joanna Heights Kempville Kirbyville Klinesville Knauers Krumsville Kulptown Landis Store Leinbachs Limekiln Lobachsville Longswamp Maiden Creek Manatawny Maple Grove Maxatawny Molltown Montello Monterey Morysville Moselem Moselem Springs New Hensingersville‡ North Heidelberg Pikeville Pine Waters Pleasant Valley Pleasantville Plowville Pricetown Quaker City Rittenhouse Gap Sally Ann Scarlets Mill Seisholtzville State Hill Stony Run Trexler Tuckerton Unionville Vinemont Weavertown Windsor Castle Wintersville Woodchoppertown Wyomissing Hills Yellow House Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties