Historic Cemetery

Salem Lutheran Cemetery

Navasota, Texas 77868
Location: Salem Lutheran Church Cem, Whitehall, Tx..—1910, Recorded GRIM11—Parson. H&P, Grimes Co Hist.: Local hist. map. SEE ALSO Old Salem Lutheran Cem.-Yarboro. p. 724-5, “Purchased in 1910, adjoins church on FM 2988, near Whitehall. [below] [Some Lutheran Burials in McAlpine Cem. before Lutherans had own cem. Index.” p. 119, “1907 est. present church site. Current [1980s] cem. adjacent to new church on 6.9 acres purchased from Holderby & Mims families in 1910. Two subsequent church sites, 1924 and 1949. Because of anti-German feeling of WWII, school closed.” TxGenWeb: “Whitehall area. In 1910, Salem Lutheran Church purchased the land that this cemetery is located on. The cemetery is near the church on FM2988 near Whitehall in southeast Grimes County. Two sections, New and Old Part. New Addition to Old Salem Lutheran Ch. Cem. est. 1986. Total burials approx. 150. Earliest about 1910. Index.”SEE Cemeteries of Grimes County, vols 1-5 John Maxwell, GCHC.THC site visit MB 4/19/04, near Whitehall, Tx at 2373 FM 2988, about 0.4 mile W of FM 362. Adjacent to church, rectory, church hall, school and playground. Cemetery has iron br fencing separating it from the traditional Lutheran arrangment near playground. Formal markers with diversity over time, some obelisks. German language on older stones. A few large Cedar marker trees, also Lillies, Irises, Roses, grave gardens, child area, seashell embellished crubing. Abundant floral grave materials, a few with decorative items. Hilltop location with vista to SW. Low endangerment: maintained, fenced, near church, recent burials. Approx 1.2 acres.GPS 30.18.09.38527N -95.58.39.73806WLow endangerment: maintained, fenced, near residences, church, recent burials. USGS 3095-232.

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.