Extinct Town of Anarene
Landowner Charles E. Graham (1872-1937) in 1908 granted the Wichita Falls and Southern Railroad a route across his property and platted a town at this site. Anarene was named for his wife Annie Lawrence Graham, daughter of pioneer cattleman J. Marion Keen. Graham built a hotel and obtained a post office, cattle pens, dipping vat and other facilities. The town schoolhouse was used for religious services. In 1921 oil was discovered nearby. A refinery was built in 1938. When oil production ceased and the trains stopped running in 1954, Anarene quickly declined. (1976)
***
If you are a fan of "The Last Picture Show" or Larry McMurtry, you recognize the name Anarene as the name of the town depicted in the movie. The actual filming location was Archer City, a few miles north of this spot.
Submitted by Dan Brekke
2023.04.22