Historic Cemetery

Towns Cemetery

a.k.a. Towns at Old Colita

Colita, Texas
Location: Towns Cemetery at Old Colita R. Peebles: “2.5 miles N of Bethel Bapt. Church on FR 350.” Polk Co Tx Cem/website: “Located just north of Old Colita Rd on FM 350N. Only two graves were found in this large chainlink fenced area. 2 graves (Towns family). Index, earliest 1962.” L. Moore: “Hwy 190 W, right on Hwy 350, go 11.5 miles, left in gate.” Towns Cemetery at Old Colita THC site visit MB 3-15-05 Old Colita, Tx area, from US 59, W on FM 350 for 10.3 miles, sandy lane to right, gate open, Towns Cem TxDoT sign on road. Private property, do not enter actual cemetery. Update 8-05-05 per Cannon Pritchard, site has many unmarked graves in wooded area at back of large fenced site. On USGS map shows as single grave on but includes many older and several newer family graves. GPS PENDING 3095-442 or 441Low to moderate risk, on map, fenced, partially maintained, but older area covered in freegrowth pines and shrubs in a wooded area. .

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