Golden in Wood County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

The Golden Community

Photographed by James Hulse, December 16, 2025

1. The Golden Community Marker

Inscription. Golden began to form as a community in the 1870's when C. W. Tucker built a saw mill. When the Missouri, Kansas, and Texas Railroad was built through the area in 1881 on its way from Greenville to Mineola, Golden was named for railway construction engineer John Golden.

The "Katy" made a roundtrip from Greenville to Mineola each day and carried both passengers and mail. A school called Friendship was established around 1880. By 1885 Golden had been awarded a post office. About 1907 a bank opened and in 1914 the area got a newspaper named the Golden Rule. In 1911 the area voted in the first consolidation in the County to consolidate the Golden, Bellefonte, Cottonwood and Ayers School Districts and to build a consolidated high school which opened in the 1913-14 school year. In 1938 another first for the area, R.E.A. electricity came to the Klondyke Community.

In 1955-56 the "Katy" made her last run and the tracks were removed. In the 1956-57 school year Golden School District voted to consolidate with Alba. Sweet potatoes have long been grown in the area. To celebrate the harvest and the financial benefits it brings to the community, each October the residents put on the Golden Sweet Potato Festival.

Erected by Wood County Historical Commission.

Topics. This historical marker is listed

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in these topic lists: Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1881.

Location. 32° 43.776′ N, 95° 33.703′ W. Marker is in Golden, Texas, in Wood County. It is at the intersection of Farm to Market Road 1799 and Farm to Market Road 779, on the right when traveling north on Road 1799. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 703 FM1799, Golden TX 75444, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and in the Piney Woods.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Harold Clark Simmons (a few steps from this marker); Reuben Leon and Fairess (Clark) Simmons (a few steps from this marker); Sand Springs Cemetery (approx. 3.1 miles away); Mineola Masonic Lodge No. 502, A.F. & A.M. (approx. 4.8 miles away); Wisener Field (approx. 5 miles away); Mineola Schools (approx. 5.3 miles away); Utilities in Mineola (approx. 5½ miles away); Mineola Fire Department (approx. 5.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Golden.

Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, June 4, 2016

2. The Golden Community Marker

I.N. Reneau Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, June 4, 2016

3. I.N. Reneau Building

A ghost sign on the historic landmarked Reneau building welcomes visitors to Golden and reminds them of the upcoming Sweet Potato Festival.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 17, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 19, 2025, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 267 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on December 17, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. 2, 3. submitted on April 19, 2025, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.