Historic Cemetery

Smith #2 Cemetery

Texas
Location: Driving Directions:From FM 132/FM 2967 junction in Porter Springs, go 7.1 miles south on FM 132 to CR 3130 (note: FM 132 becomes CR 3120. From FM 132/CR 3120 transition, it is 2.4 miles west on CR 3120 to intersection with CR 3130). At intersection of CR 3120 and CR 3130, go 0.6 mile north on CR 3130. At cattle grate, go 3.6 miles north-west on PR 7105. (Note: continue past houses and turn right just beyond barns.). From Barns it is 3.4 miles. Follow private road north-west. After crossing substantial wooden bridge, the road will go up hill toward second barn complex. Cemetery is located on right shoulder of road in vicinity of lone post oak.The cemetery is highly endangered. The cemetery is a map feature, but it is located on private property in a very remote area. There are no cemetery signs posted. The cemetery is located on a large ranch in a cattle pasture. It is not fenced, and there is no evidence of graves at this location. There is however a slight mound where the cemetery should be. A lone post oak grows at the center of this mound. No grave depressions or markers were observed, and a portion of the cemetery may have been destroyed by the re-alignment of an adjacent ranch road.

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