Reneau Building

Duane's take

The way the official marker tells it, here's the story of the Reneau Building in Golden, Wood County, Texas. In 1913, the trustees of Golden School conveyed this property to a woman named Ella T. Reneau, born Ella Greer.

Now, that transfer alone is worth a pause, because what came next would shape an entire community's commercial and social life for the better part of three decades. E. L.

Foster contracted to build a home for Golden Masonic Lodge number 1093, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and that lodge met right here until it merged with the Mineola Lodge in 1938. So from the very start, this building was doing double duty, holding community together under one roof. Then in 1916, Ella's husband, I.

N. Reneau, opened a general merchandise store on the first floor. One building, a lodge upstairs, a store below.

And it still wasn't finished making itself useful. Around 1925, the post office came to call on the Reneau Building, with I. N.

Reneau serving as Golden's postmaster. Mail, merchandise, and Masonry, all under that cantilevered canopy. I.

N. Reneau held that postmaster role until his death in 1941. Ella died two months later.

Two months. You let that settle for a moment. This two-story brick building, with its arched windows, its expansive storefront glass, and that canopy entry, still stands as a marker of what Golden once was and what two people built together.

The marker calls it important in the commercial and social history of Golden. I'd say that's putting it about right.

What the marker says

In 1913, Golden School trustees conveyed this property to Ella T. (Greer) Reneau. E. L. Foster contracted to build a home for Golden Masonic Lodge #1093, A.F. & A.M., who met here until merging with the Mineola Lodge in 1938. Ella’s husband, I. N. Reneau, opened a general merchandise store on the first floor in 1916. He was also the Golden postmaster, and the post office was housed here from about 1925 until his death in 1941. Ella died two months later. This two-story brick building with arched windows, expansive storefront glass and a cantilevered canopy entry is important in the commercial and social history of Golden.