Historic Cemetery

Abbs Cemetery

Grapeland, Texas
Location: Driving Directions:From US 287 in Grapeland, go approx. 11.6 miles west on FM 227. Turn right at CR 2255 and go 0.9 mile north. Cemetery is in pasture approx. 335 ft. east of road (on right side).The cemetery endangerment level is medium. It is not a map feature, and it is located on private property. There are no cemetery signs posted. In order to visit the cemetery, a caretaker must unlock the pasture gate for access. The cemetery is partly fenced; however, a large portion of the fenced area is cultivated. The graves are located in a small uncultivated corner of the fenced plot. Cemetery features include formal granite markers, metal funeral markers, and a homemade concrete marker. The cemetery is maintained and active.

Source: RIP Fields Table

To address the problem of cemetery destruction and to record as many cemeteries as possible, the Texas Historical Commission offers the Historic Texas Cemetery designation.

The Historic Texas Cemetery designation was developed in 1998 to help protect historic cemeteries by recording cemetery boundaries in county deed records to alert present and future owners of land adjacent to the cemetery of its existence. Every county in Texas has at least one cemetery designated as a Historic Texas Cemetery through this program. The HTC designation is the first step toward preservation of a historic cemetery.

A cemetery is eligible for designation if it is at least 50 years old and is deemed worthy of recognition for its historical associations. The very nature of a cemetery being a landmark of a family’s or community’s presence is considered to validate the criteria of historical associations. Any individual, organization, or agency may submit a request for designation.

gravesites