Location: Stonehamville Church Cem., SEE Cemeteries of Grimes County, vols 1-5 John Maxwell, GCHC.AKA Simmons Chapel Cem., sign over arched gate to site. USGS, change of names. Large sloping site, to W, near intersection of CR 304 and SH 105, just E of church building.THC site visit MB 4/20/04. From CR 304 E on CR 357 for 0.3 mile, just past new metal building church. Arched entryway, steel gates, mostly fenced, some recent storm damage on roadway. Sloping hillside to W. Formal site, some scattered marker trees, Cedar and Oak. Formal and informal markers, diversity over time, also locally caste and creative markers. Lilies, Roses, Gardenia marker shrubs, some Pines. Abundant floral and decorative grave materials. Low endangerment: maintained, fenced, nearby associated church, rural farm residences, recent burials. Approx 2.8 acres. GPS 30.20.07.11188N –95.54.15.933303W. Quad 3096-232 Low risk endangerment: fenced, generally maintained, recent burials, associated church.
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.