Anna, Texas

Anna, Texas has its beginnings tied to the whistle of a train. What is today a growing community began as a quiet stop along the Houston & Texas Central Railroad in the 1870s. At that time, there was no town, only wide-open prairie. The arrival of the railroad in 1872 brought the first sparks of settlement, and by 1883 a population of twenty people called this new place home. From that modest start, Anna developed into a community where the past still lingers in historic buildings, preserved landmarks, and the stories of its people.

How Anna Got Its Name

The town is believed to have been named for Anna Elizabeth Quinlan, the daughter of the railroad’s superintendent. Her name was chosen for the new stop along the line, and in that single decision, the town carried forward a personal connection to the railroad company that made its existence possible.

Early Growth and Community Foundations

By the late 19th century, Anna had transformed from a sparse outpost into a functioning town with businesses, churches, and schools. Farmers brought in cotton, grain, and livestock, while merchants supplied everything from groceries to hardware. The establishment of the post office and the steady movement of trains kept the small community connected to larger cities.

In 1894, the Sherley family left an enduring mark with the A. Sherley & Bro. Hardware Store, a two-story brick structure that quickly became more than just a place of business. Over the years, the Sherleys sold everything from wagons and farming tools to furniture and groceries.

They even operated as undertakers, proving that a single building could serve multiple roles in a frontier town. Today, the structure remains beside Sherley Heritage Park, with its original painted signs, Victorian detailing, and canopy still intact—a piece of Texas history preserved in brick and mortar.

The Depot That Refused to Disappear

One of the town’s most important landmarks is the Anna Train Depot. Built in 1885, the depot originally stretched 70 feet in length. It served as a lifeline, with cotton bales and local produce passing through on their way to distant markets. After being shortened in 1937 and later closed in the 1950s, the depot’s future seemed uncertain.

In the early 1960s, it was moved to a farm to serve as hay storage, where it remained for decades. When the land was sold in the 1990s, the depot was once again in danger of being lost. Thanks to the efforts of the Anna Area Historical Preservation Society, founded in 2004, the building was saved, relocated, and restored. By 2018, the depot found a permanent home in Sherley Heritage Park, where it now stands as a symbol of perseverance and preservation.

Mogul 201 – A Steam Giant Returns

Adding to the historic atmosphere of Sherley Heritage Park is the Mogul 201 Steam Locomotive. This engine, built in the early 20th century, once ran on a short-line railroad in the Piney Woods of Texas. By 1929, it was working in interchange service with the very railroad that first brought Anna into existence.

When city leaders began planning the restoration of the depot, they searched for a locomotive to stand alongside it, symbolizing the town’s roots in the railroad era. In 2020, Mogul 201 was brought to Anna, creating the effect of a train “arriving” at the depot once again. Today, the locomotive is more than a display—it’s a reminder of the sound and power that shaped the community’s beginnings.

A Downtown with Character

While the historic downtown district is modest in size, it offers a genuine glimpse into the town’s past. Sherley Heritage Park ties together the hardware store, the depot, and the locomotive into a cohesive historic district. The area is small but full of character, with architectural details, vintage signage, and public history displays that invite visitors to linger.

Life in the Present Day

Though it began as a small railroad town, Anna is now one of the fastest-growing communities in Collin County. Families continue to move in, drawn by its proximity to Dallas and its balance of small-town life with modern convenience. The community hosts events at Sherley Heritage Park, preserving not just buildings but traditions of gathering and storytelling.

At the same time, new schools, businesses, and neighborhoods signal that Anna is a town looking forward while remembering where it came from. The whistle of a train may no longer define daily life, but the legacy of the rails lives on in preserved landmarks and the community’s enduring spirit.

Conclusion

From its founding in 1872 to its transformation into a thriving modern city, Anna has always been a place where history and progress travel side by side. The restored depot, the Mogul 201 locomotive, and the enduring A. Sherley & Bro. Hardware Store stand as testaments to resilience and pride in heritage. As the community continues to grow, its past remains firmly rooted in the story of the railroad that first gave it life.