Historic Cemetery

Orenduff Cemetery

Melissa, Texas
Location: From McKinney, take SH 5 north to CR 278 on the right (east). Road turns south and changes to CR 338. Cemetery is behind property on 3592 CR 338 on left. There is a 10' easement from CR 338 to the cemetery.
Graves: 69 (1859-1964)

Source: Genealogy Friends of Plano Libraries Inc.; Texas Funeral Service Commission

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.