Historic Cemetery

Smith-Mason-Deas Cemetery

Milam, Texas 75959
Location: SB-C046 Smith-Deas-Mason Cemetery.AKA Deas-Mason-SmithUSGS point3193-322 Smith-Deas-Mason CemeterySabine Co Hist Commission with Kay Parker McCary, Weldon McDaniel, and M. Doer website, Rootsweb. AKA Mason-Deas-Smith Cem., Hyden Road.Recorded: SABI01—Parsons, Kim. 1988. References to Texas Cemeteries; Sabine Co Hist Commission with Kay Parker McCary, Weldon McDaniel, and M. Doer website, Rootsweb: “On Sandy Creek near Scrappin’ Valley on old Sabintetown-Brookeland Road.” Tx Funeral Serv. lists as Mason Cem., in Hamilton. THC site visit MB 8/07/04, Scrapping Valleyt, Tx area. East of US 96 several miles on FM 201at intersection with FM 2343 turn S or right for 0.5 mile to Hyden Rd, aka Plantation Rd ?? Sign to Smith-Mason Cem., left for 0.1 mile, stay left at Y to Plantation Rd, at 2nd Y stay left, 1.3 mile, stay right at driveway, two lane sandy rd continues 1.5 miles to picnic tables, then 120 ft. gradual rise to cemetery. Large fenced site. Formal markers and specific traditions, considerable diversity over time. Distinctive mounding, both concrete and white sand, obelisks, white sand, unique earthworks over graves. Some iron fencing. Abundant floral, religious and decorative grave materials. Embellishment of stone. Some fieldstones and petrified wood. Some modern markers. Marker trees of White Oak, Beech, Magnolia. Smith-Deas-Mason Cemetery. Approx 1.02 acres. SB-C046. Scrapping Valley, Tx area. GPS 31.10.00.66105N –93.49.48.68456W. Quad 3193-224. © RIP Survey, Texas Historical Commission.Low risk of endangerment. Fenced, maintained, still in use, frequent visitation, on map, cem. assoc. 3193-322 Local history notes USGS as Smith.

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