Historic Cemetery

Mason-Barkley Cemetery

6900 S Dairy Ashford Rd, Houston, Texas 77072
Location: Driving Directions:From Weldon, go 4.0 miles south on FM 230 to entrance of Eastham State Prison Farm. Where FM 230 bends sharply to the left, go southwest on PR 7000, which runs between the prison and prison housing. Follow PR 7000 approx. 1.6 miles south-southwest. Turn left at private, gated, farm road and go approx. 0.5 mile south-southeast across cattle pasture. The cemetery is adjacent to south side of road, on a knoll. An underground pipeline runs immediately east of the cemetery. The cemetery is located in the middle of a pasture and is not fenced. All markers have fallen or are low to the ground.The cemetery is highly endangered. It is a map feature, but it is located on private property in a very remote area. There are no cemetery signs, and the site is not accessible to the public. The cemetery is located in pasture, and it is not fenced. Many of the grave markers are missing, fallen, damaged, or leaning. Several graves are marked with fieldstones or are only recognizable as grave depressions. The cemetery is not maintained, and cattle graze freely on the site. Push piles near several of the markers suggest the cemetery has been disturbed by land clearing/ranching activities. An underground pipeline that runs along the eastern edge of the cemetery may have also disturbed the cemetery. Two fragmented markers lay in a pile very close to the pipeline. This cemetery desperately needs attention before it completely disappears.

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.