Happy Memorial Day weekend!





grave concerns texas historical commission branded header




May 24, 2024






Historic Cemetery in Big Bend region
Grave Concerns in Texas, May 2024

A publication of the Cemetery Preservation Program

"The Cemetery Preservation Program of the THC supports cemetery preservation efforts in each of the 254 counties across the state. Cemetery Preservation Program staff provides consultation, educational materials, and training to concerned citizens and public officials. In addition, the program offers the Historic Texas Cemetery (HTC) designation and maintains a statewide inventory of cemeteries to record and protect historic burial grounds. Click here to learn more about our work. [ [link removed] ]"

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Handmade sign for Skyview Cemetery, located at the entrance of the historic grounds in Kyle, Texas

Caption: An entry gate with the name Skyview Cemetery overhead and the cemetery visible beyond.

HTC Highlight: Skyview Cemetery

At 125 years old, Skyview Cemetery [ [link removed] ] is finally joining the Historic Texas Cemetery (HTC) club thanks to the efforts of the Hays County Historical Commission and the still thriving Skyview Cemetery Association. Its five-acres of historic grounds are still maintained and beloved by association members, including civil rights icon Mattie Welch, Kyle?s first elected African American City Council member.?

*Read the full story on the THC Blog!* [ [link removed] ]






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Historic Texas Cemetery (HTC) Honor Roll

We?re thrilled to announce that 18 cemeteries have received Historic Texas Cemetery (HTC) designations since January 1st! Congratulations to the following cemeteries:

HTC Honor Roll Certificate

Caption: Campbellton Cemetery, Atascosa County; Hughes Springs Cemetery, Cass County; Olympus-Lonie Cemetery, Childress County; Tell Methodist Cemetery, Childress County; Kelly Cemetery, Collin County; St. Paul Baptist Church Cemetery, Collin County; St. John Cemetery, Denton County; Stroud Cemetery, Freestone County; Magnolia Cemetery (Baytown), Harris County; Pear Orchard Cemetery, Fort Bend County; Noble Family Cemetery, Kaufman County; Long Cemetery, Lamar Cemetery; Sweet Home Colored Cemetery, Lavaca County; Nixon Smith Cemetery, Liberty County; Little Grantham Cemetery, Parker County; Lola Hardin Grave, Parker County; Williams-Glass Cemetery, Titus County; Gray Family Cemetery, Travis County

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Want to designate a historic cemetery you care about? Visit our website [ [link removed] ] to get more information, watch a how-to video, and download the application.
Historic Texas Cemetery medallion logo in copper color

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Preparing for Disasters
Damaged tree in historic cemetery after Hurricane Harvey in 2017

Caption: A large tree snapped in half and is resting on gravestones.

Spring?s severe weather season is already in full force across the state, and experts predict the Gulf Coast will experience a very active hurricane season, which is right around the corner. Is your favorite historic cemetery prepared?

In 2017, in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, cemetery caretakers most commonly reported damage related to trees. This included damage to the trees themselves, but also included the damage that trees inflicted on grave markers, fencing, and other cemetery resources. Dead or diseased limbs broke off in high winds, crushing or toppling nearby objects. Diseased trees became uprooted, dislodging entire grave markers and curbing.

Cemetery caretakers can avoid or minimize this kind of costly damage by developing and carrying out a tree maintenance plan. Be proactive! Consult with an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) [ [link removed] ] certified arborist to assess the health of trees. Work with certified arborists or master gardeners to carry out the recommendations. Remember that some trees within the cemetery are historic themselves--either contributing to the historic character of the cemetery or by serving as memorial plantings. Removal and replacement of these trees should be carefully considered. Once the initial assessment is complete, create a plan for regular, ongoing maintenance to keep trees healthy and better able to withstand storm damage.

*View Our Free Online Training Series* [ [link removed] ]


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Historic Texas Cemetery Marker Dedications
Outdoor dedication of Texas Historical Marker for Panteon Hidalgo, a historic Mexican cemetery in New Braunfels, Texas

Caption: A color guard stands in front of the cemetery with flags raised while retired Comal County Judge Diana Guerrero speaks into a microphone.

The Comal County Historical Commission unveiled a historical marker for Pante?n Hidalgo [ [link removed] ] on March 27 in New Braunfels. The cemetery was established for members of a local organization, Asociaci?n Mutualista de Beneficencia (Hidalgo Mexican Cemetery Association).?

The layout features an informal design, reminiscent of cemeteries in Mexican villages, and the cemetery has a large collection of unique, handmade concrete grave markers.

The cemetery received an HTC designation in 2022, and it was awarded a marker through the Undertold Marker Program [ [link removed] ].

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Upcoming HTC Marker Dedications:

* June 1, Ross Cemetery, Collin County [ [link removed] ]
* June 1, Orchard Cemetery, Fort Bend County [ [link removed] ]
* June 27, St. Louis Cemetery, Grimes County [ [link removed] ]

"Photo caption: Tradition Mexican concrete crosses embedded with colorful shards of tile in Panteon Hidalgo, New Braunfels, Texas."

Traditional Mexican concrete cross headstones embedded with colorful tiles, located in Panteon Hidalgo in New Braunfels, Texas [ [link removed] ]

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Veteran Grave Sites on Memorial Day
Historic grave of Rose E. Lancaster, WWI veteran

Caption: Grave of Rose E. Lancaster, female World War I veteran buried in St. Mary?s Cemetery in Frio County

Many people will choose to honor veterans on Memorial Day by placing flags on their graves. If that?s something you plan to do, follow these best practices:

* Make contact with the cemetery association or other organization that oversees the cemetery to learn what rules they may have for placing flags.
* Unless you placed it there yourself, never remove objects such as flowers, other flags, coins, or other objects of memorialization from a grave.
* Return to remove flags at the appropriate time. The American Legion, for example, advises their posts to remove the flags as soon as possible after the holiday. Flags can become tattered or blown away from the gravesite, resulting in disrespect to both the deceased and the flag.
* If you have the appropriate permission to clean a veteran?s grave stone, follow these instructions [ [link removed] ] from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration.

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Famous Graves?May Edition

For May, we?re visiting the grave of Texas-born actor Powers Booth (June 1, 1948?May 14, 2017), known for his gravelly voice and memorable villain roles such as outlaw Curly Bill Brocious in "Tombstone "(1993) and the corrupt senator Ethan Roark in "Sin City "(2005).

Perhaps his most famous role was Cy Tolliver, the ruthless saloon owner on HBO's "Deadwood". Booth?s grave is located in the historic Deadwood Cemetery [ [link removed] ] in the community of Deadwood (not South Dakota) in Panola County. His inscription reads: ?A Towering Texas Gentleman and World Class Actor.?

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Promotional photograph of actor Powers Boothe
Headstone of actor Powers Booth

Top photo: Actor Powers Booth with a mustache in an old-fashioned top hat, suit and bow tie. Bottom photo: A close-up photograph of a tall granite headstone inscribed with the names of Powers Allen Boothe and Pamela Ann Booth.

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Historic Texas Cemeteries in the News

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Willis Wood Cemetery in North Houston recognized by Texas Historical Commission [ [link removed] ]?Community Impact

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New Grant Will Help Transform Historic Pioneers Cemetery [ [link removed] ]?Fort Worth Magazine

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Historic Stringtown Cemetery resting place of Burnet County ?Freedom Colony? [ [link removed] ]?Daily Trib

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Key Underground Railroad to Mexico site closer to historic recognition (Jackson Ranch Cemetery) [ [link removed] ]?Axios

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Graphic with contact information for Cemetery Preservation Program

Caption: Headstone shaped graphic with the text reading "Contact Us by phone at 512-475-4506; by email to [email protected]; or by mail at P.O. Box 12276, Austin, TX 78711"








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