Location: Oakland Cemetery #1— AKA Old Oakland Cem.AKA Oakland Cem, white.SEE Cemeteries of Grimes County, vols 1-5 John Maxwell, GCHC.H&P, Grimes Co Hist.: Local hist. map. [No details] Tombstone/Rootsweb: “TxDoT map” GNIS on Navasota map.THC site visit MB 4/20/04 N of SH 105 on Truck Route SH 105, at curve in the roadway. Large site managed by City of Navasota. Distinctions clarified with cem. manager. Includes Old Oakland, white, and to the S area the separately fenced and gated Jewish city cem, and further S along the creek the historically AA cem Rest Haven Cem. Reportedly the black and white distinction of cemetery has been withdrawn, recently taking down the separating fence and allowing areas of mixed race burials. Local respondent said there was no more Rest Haven, although the entranceway stone columns still show the name. Also, the distinction remains visible with earlier gate and fence posts still in place, and in grave and landscape traditions.Oakland is formal site with diversity of formal markers over time. Formal landscaping. Abundant floral grave materials, few decorative items. NW area appears to be either Mexican or Catholic grave embellishments reflecting those traditions. N end appears to be recently annexed, includes mausoleum and work shed. At corner intersecting Old Oakland, Oakland Jewish, and Oakland-Rest Haven there is an area recently set aside just for babies, curbed and landscaped distinctly, reportedly mixed race burials. Formal and sculptural markers are large and small. Abundant floral grave materials. Older areas include traditional formal landscaping including Cedar marker trees, with Arborvitae, Gardenia, Crape Myrtle as marker shrubs. Cedar and Pecan marker trees. US veterans, CSA, WoW, Masonic. A few unique grave materials are used on W side of central cem. Adjacent to pastures and small town residential and industrial uses. US veterans, WoW, Masonic, CSA, American Legion.Approx 24.5 acres. GPS 30.23.25.66405N –96.06.02.88001W Quad 30956-144.Low risk endangerment: maintained by city, fenced, near town, recent burials.
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.