Historic Cemetery

Unknown On Kowierschke Ranch Cemetery

a.k.a. Vasterling

Castell, Texas
Location: CR 103 N from FM 152 1.3 miles north to CR 104. Left (west) on CR 104 2.2 miles to Old Leinigen Lutheran Church. Go left on Kowierschke Ranch private dirt road (opposite church) .5 miles to cemetery on left side of the road in a clump of trees. All that remains on this site is the curbing that once surrounded the graves. No stones remain and it is not sure if this site is actually cemetery.

Source: RIP Fields Table

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.

gravesites