[5] Following the American Civil War, the Houston and Texas Central Railway resumed laying track north from Corsicana and passed through the area in 1872.

By the time Anna was platted in 1883, it had a population of 20, two stores, a steam gristmill, and a Baptist church.

The Houston and Texas Central Railway extended its track in a north–south route several miles east of Mantua in 1872.

Mantua soon declined in favor of the new railroad towns of Van Alstyne (Grayson County) and Anna which developed here in early 1880s.

William Sherley died in 1894 and, his son, Fred bought out his father's share of the store.

Over time they were undertakers as well as purveyors of furniture, farming implements and machinery, wagons, cotton, grain and groceries.

The structure is a fine example of an early Texas commercial building, retaining the original canopy and painted signs.

Minimal Victorian-era detailing includes corbelled brickwork in the parapet and paneled kickplates on storefront display windows.

The tornadoes could be seen from Anna, Van Alstyne, and Melissa, and power was knocked out to several homes in the area.

The Köppen climate classification system describes the weather as humid subtropical, Cfa.