Historic Cemetery

Hays Spring Cemetery

Grapeland, Texas 75844
Location: Hayes Spring CemeteryAKA Hays Cem; Hayes Cem.USGS1977) Near Grapeland, W of Grapeland on FM 227. From city limit go 3.2 miles, Turn left on a dirt road, drive .3 miles to cemetery on left of road.(USGenWeb) W of Grapeland on FM 227 about 3 mi to CR 2170. Go L, cemetery is well marked and on the L(cemeteries-of-tx.com) photosTHC site visit MB 10-31-04: Grapeland, Tx area. W on FM 287 about 5 miles to intersection with CR 2170. S on CR 2170 about 0.3 miles, on left or E side of road. Square site adjacent to road, about 30 ft. buffer area. Adjacent pastures. Fenced, formal site. Considerable diversity of formal markers over time. Obleisks, curbing, fieldstones, scraped earth, some mounding. Cedar marker trees in older section. Irises. Abundant floral grave materials. US veterans.Approx 1 acre. GPS 31.27.59.29647N –95.31.54.72031WQuad 3195-244Low risk of endangerment, still in use, maintained, fenced, on map.

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.

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