Historic Cemetery

Hardin Cemetery

Old Cemetery Rd, Kountze, Texas 77625
Location: Driving Directions:From US 287, go 1.1 miles east on FM 228. Turn left at CR 1880 and go 0.5 mile north and east to overhead powerline. Follow powerline approx. 0.75 mile north. Cemetery is on west side of powerline, between powerline and underground pipeline, just south of deep valley.This cemetery is highly endangered. It is not a map feature, and it is located in a remote area on private property. No cemetery signs are posted, and the cemetery is not accessible to the public. The cemetery is not fenced or maintained. Only three features were observed during this survey: an ornamental cast iron fence enclosing a family plot, a broken, displaced headstone, and a fieldstone that may be a grave marker. Cattle graze freely in the cemetery and an overhead powerline and gas pipeline encroach upon the site. The construction of the gas pipeline may have destroyed part the cemetery. There may be many unmarked graves.

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