Historic Cemetery

Flat Rock Cemetery

a.k.a. Cowen Cemetery

Decatur, Texas 76234
Location: 6 miles N of Decator. Flat Rock Cemetery is located seven miles north of Decatur, on the old Alvord Highway, once known as the Meridian Highway. From Hwy 380 turn north on Fm Rd 730. In about a half mile turn left onto Old Decatur Road. The cemetery is 5.5 miles on the left side of the road.

Source: THC records; Gregg, Rosalie, History of Wise County: A Link With the Past, 1987; Parsons, Kim, Ref. to Texas Cemeteries, 1988; Wise County Historical Commission; Roper, Homer L, Wise County Cemeteries Vol 4; Tombstone Transcription Project; THC recor

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