Published in 1939

An Article About the Ranger Building

In 1935, Santa Anna hosted the annual event on what soon became the most common reunion site—a twenty-acre park on the east end of the Santa Anna Mountains. The citizens of Santa Anna raised the funds required to buy the land and erect, with Depression-era National Youth Association labor, a stone structure for a Texas Ranger Memorial Museum, replete with artifacts. It took almost three years to complete the project. The stone was quarried from the Millard place east of town, and T. T. Perry, local stone artist, carved and laid the building cornerstone. The entire complex was dedicated at the August, 1939 reunion, complete with well-known speakers, bands, feasting, and celebration. Ex-Rangers Reunions were held at various places in the ensuing dozen or so years, always returning to Santa Anna. As the old Indian fighters died off, the reunions became less and less well attended. Not having shared the bond of common suffering the old Indian fighters had experienced on the frontier, younger Ex-Rangers lacked interest in the Reunions. The last reunion was held in 1960. Years later, the reunion hall fell into disrepair. In 1975, the reunion hall was purchased by then Sheriff H. F. Fenton, who resurrected it as a motel using jail house labor. 2015 brought new owners Bill & Nancy Massey who totally renovated the premises to preserve its history and grandeur. The property is now owned by Vicki and Todd Virden.