Historic Anna Church lost to fire

In the News

Historic Church a Complete Loss to Fire

By Joyce Godwin Photos from First Response Photography

The call came in what most would say is the middle of the night. It was 2 a.m. when the pastor of the United Methodist Church of Anna, Brett Smith, got the call that his church was on fire. And just like that, Smith’s pastorship of three months became one of leading his flock through recovery after heart-breaking loss.

The fire at 100 West Second Street was called in at 12:30 a.m. Dec. 11. A resident across the street from the property just happened to look our the bedroom window and saw the fire, Smith said.

Built in 1934, the structure was more than 80 years old and was fully engulfed by fire in a short time.

“The fire marshal called me and it took us about 30 minutes to get there,” Smith said. “And by then, the educational building had caught fire and it was also gone. Parts of the education building are still standing along with Fellowship Hall which was built in the 1980s.”

Smith said the investigation revealed no criminal intent, and it’s believed the problem was old wiring in a closet. “We are blessed nobody was hurt and that was a huge relief,” Smith said.

Before the fire, Smith said, the congregation was worshipping in Fellowship Hall because they were at the very end of the renovations on the church roof.

For now, the congregation will meet in Van Alstyne in part of the VA Independent School District properties, The plan is to have 9:30 a.m. Sunday School and 10:30 worship.

“The congregation is broken hearted,” Smith said. “But they have been fantastic. We are grieving and working through that. What happened is a shocking event, and because we can’t go back into Fellowship Hall, they didn’t have that place to rest, so when we come together in Van Alstyne, it will be like coming to the shoreline together and we will be able to grieve in a healthy way together.”

The community outpouring of love and grace, prayer, emails, texts and love offerings have been amazing,” Smith said. “Anna has shined for this church. And now we want to continue to be a light for Anna. God not only provides but abundantly provides. He faithfully provides without question.”

There is yet another part of the story of the Anna UMC. This congregation, with a rich history of development, began around 1883 and it’s history is laid out in this magazine in the Anna history section. It’s had ups and downs, and as if he was meant for this moment, Pastor Smith came to lead the congregation after years of struggling with his personal calling he feels he received in 2001.

“God has a sense of humor for sure,” Smith said. “If we continue to follow, He is faithful. I wrestled with it for a long time until I couldn’t any longer.” After he surrendered to the call, Smith said the daily callings stopped and the wrestling stopped.

It seems that Smith Is the man chosen for this hour to lead a church in healing and overcoming tragedy.

First Response Photography, Michael O’Keefe, provided the photos for this story and is dedicated to capturing the images of Americas heroes in action. O’Keefe is a professional photojournalist and commercial photographer working closely with a number of fire departments, medical helicopter programs and local media outlets across the nation. He is commonly referred to as a “fire photographer” as he is either dispatched and/or monitors emergency radio traffic 24/7.

Joyce Godwin/Anna Living Magazine A new car wash on White Street is still under construction and expected to open soon. This is Freedom Flex Carwash and only one of the new businesses for Anna being built.

Anna City Council Approved Bond Election for May 1

By Joyce Godwin

The Anna City Council voted February 9 in its regular council meeting to call a bond election for May 1. Three propositions will be included for a total of $58 million to ask for voter approval. If approved, the average home owner in Anna city limits could see property taxes increase by $8.27 per month.

Proposition A will be to fund $8 million for Anna’s second fire station and necessary equipment.

Anna’s population has grown over the past 20 years by more than 1,000 percent. It is ranked in the top ten fastest-growing cities in North Texas for three consecutive years, and all signs seem to point to a continuation of that trend, according to Joey Grisham, director of Anna’s Economical Development Corporation. Meeting the needs of such growth, the city proposes building its second fire station west of U.S. Highway 75 and north of FM 455 in the Villages of Hurricane Creek Development. The developers are expected to provide the land for this project.

“As you can see by driving around town, several new businesses are under construction including Panda Express, Texas Bank, Deep Roots Montessori School, Freedom Flex Car Wash, and more. The Villages of Hurricane Creek is also gearing up for single-family homes on the west side of U.S. 75,” Grisham wrote in his recent newsletter.

This new bond recommendation is another confirmation the city of Anna is growing at an incredible rate.

Proposition B will be for a long-awaited and long-desired Anna Community Library with a price tag of $22 million.

The library will be located in the northeast corner of the future municipal complex currently under construction on State Highway 5 adjacent to the fire station. The plan was developed with public input and will include multipurpose recreation space as well as meeting and classroom spaces.

Anna resident Alexia Swanepoel has been instrumental in leading an eager and enthusiastic group of residents on a journey for several years to bring the library to fruition.

Swanepoel has started a Facebook page where people may keep up with library progress and news as well as community service information.

Proposition C will cover $22 million for city parks and recreation improvements. It is intended to fund parks, trails, recreation and sports areas as recommended by the city’s parks and recreation master plan. That master plan includes a skate park, improvements to existing facilities, new parks currently not developed and some indoor recreational facilities.

“We thank all of our neighbors for feedback provided through the council meetings, telephone town halls, and surveys,” Mayor Nate Pike wrote on his Facebook page.

“Development remains strong in Anna,” Pike wrote in another post. “Construction underway on the new Panda Express, located north of Starbucks along U.S. 75.”

JOYCE GODWIN/ANNA LIVING MAGAZINE Panda Express is one of the businesses currently under construction in Anna. This building site is just north of Starbucks.

Firefighter has Rich History of Public Service

By Joyce Godwin

Meet Mike Hundley, firefighter with the Anna Fire Department. He serves the folks of Anna as a firefighter and a member of the honor guard which he was instrumental in beginning.

Hundley has been with the Anna FD for five years, beginning his service tenure as a volunteer. He was hired for full time service three years ago and attended the Fire In Texas Fire Academy in Sulphur Springs, Texas.

“I like being able to serve the community where I’m raising my kids,” Hundley said about his service.

Hundley worked at a cardiology company in McKinney training medical personnel to read EKGs and monitor heart behavior. “That was a skill set Anna fire was. interested in,” he said.

But Hundley started his medical experiences in the U.S. Army where he served in the 101st Airborne Division as a combat medic. He deployed with his group to Iraq as a flight medic in 2005 and 2006.

“I was in Tal Afar (northwestern Iraq west of Mosul and close to the Syrian border) and helping Iraqi civilians more than anything,” Hundley said. “It was my first and only deployment and was an eye opener. It gave me a lot of great experience regarding emergency and trauma-filled cases and dealing with traumatic injuries.”

The city of Anna is benefiting from that military training and his work in the private sector. He serves on the fire department as firefighter and licensed paramedic.

Not content to be just an employee, Hundley contributes in other areas of the Anna fire house. He was instrumental in beginning the department’s honor guard and, most recently, took the initiative to get an association of Anna firefighters started.

“It’s good fellowship for the guys and we have had some pretty good cross communications between us and the police association,” Hundley said of the association meetings. “We are looking to kind of help raise funds to provide for additional training opportunities and help purchase equipment that maybe is outside our budget.”

The membership association also makes it possible for the firefighters to join the international and state association and be members of a professional association for firefighters.

From left are Anna firefighter Mike Hundley, his father Bill Hundley, his sister Kristen Nygard and his step-mother Wendy Hundley with Texas Representavie Van Taylor to recognized the service of Sgt. Major Henry W. Hundley, Mike Hundley’s grandfather Nov. 11, 2019.

From left are Anna firefighter Mike Hundley, his father Bill Hundley, his sister Kristen Nygard and his step-mother Wendy Hundley with Texas Representavie Van Taylor to recognized the service of Sgt. Major Henry W. Hundley, Mike Hundley’s grandfather Nov. 11, 2019.

Community service is a family tradition in the Hundley family. He said his grandfather, Henry Hundley, was a survivor of the Bataan Death March in World War II. His dad, Bill Hundley, attended Texas A&M University in the Corps and was planning on a military career in the intelligence branch. But an accident resulted in a broken back and kept him from going further in the journey. He recently retired from the 911 service in Plano.

In fact, the Hundley family was honored in Plano on Nov. 11, 2019 in a Veterans Day ceremony when Texas Representative Van Taylor recognized the service of Sgt. Major Henry W. Hundley in the U.S. Army from 1940 to 1965. Taylor said Henry Hundley fell captive to the Japanese and spent three years as a prisoner of war until he was released at the end of World War II. “While Sgt. Major Hundley has since passed, I had the privilege of presenting the Bronze Star Award to his son and grandson,” Taylor said. “Sgt. Major Hundley’s story is one of true bravery and I’m humbled as I remember his sacrifices this Veterans Day.”

Hundley says he and his wife have never regretted moving to Anna from McKinney in 2014. He said they didn’t realize at the time that Anna would be the ninth fastest going city in North Texas. “It’s pretty impressive,” he said.

He talked about the fire department and its challenges to keep up with the development of an ever growing community. “We keep trying to expand services making leaps and bounds trying to keep up with the city,” Hundley said.

He added that one of the big traditions of the Anna firefighters is to always remember 911 with a flag-raising ceremony at Slater Creek Park. “It’s on our department patch to never forget,” he said.

Like all the Anna firefighters, Mike Hundley enjoys serving others, They enjoy serving the residents of the city of Anna. They are building a legacy,