Temple Hills, Maryland, was named after Edward Temple, who lived in a home beside Henson Creek called Moor Park during the 1860s. Temple Hills developed as a community primarily in the mid-20th century, with most of its residential areas constructed between the 1950s and 1970s. Most kids living there attended schools such as Tempe Hills Elementary, Samuel Chase Elementary, Roger B. Taney Jr High, and Crossland High School. After Crossland opened it gained national attention when then President Johnson dedicated its vocational wing in 1967.
Many Crossland students also claimed the Jr Hot Shoppes in Hillcrest Heights as their hangout, when the restaurant opened in 1966. The restaurant not only was the first ever Jr Hot Shoppes by Marriott, but its location preceded Iverson Mall’s opening by one year. The mall became the DC area’s first all indoor, climate controlled mall. It is still open today, almost 60 years later.
