Historic Cemetery

Bethel Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery

854 U.S. Hwy 96 N, Pineland, Texas 75968
Location: SB-C120 Bethel Missionary Baptist Ch Cem, Pineland NOT AKA Bethel Chapel-New Hope Cem. No details.THC site visit MB 6/07/04: Pineland, Tx, SH 96. N of intersection with FM 184. Just N of Maple St. and large automotive garage and salvage yard. E side of road. Behind Bethel Missionary Bapt Ch, about 30 ft. Formal site, partially fenced with woven screen wire privacy fencing. On two sides cemetery immediately adjacent to two auto salvage yards, no buffer except fence. Formal markers, somewhat uniform, plus two unique markers. No marker trees. Some curbing and gravel. Abundant floral and decorative grave materials. Approx 1.7 acres. GPS 31.15.32.95942N –93.59.10.90192W. Quad 3193-232Medium risk of endangerment, well maintained and fenced but encroachment of auto-salvage yard, no buffer. Maintained by associated church with recent burials, cemetery association. 3193-232 USGS.

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