Historic Cemetery

John Bodin Sr. Cemetery

Bland Lake, Texas
Location: Bodine, John Sr. Cemetery Local history, SEE McXie W. Martin, Cemeteries of San Augustine Co, Vols 1-3. THC site visit Mb 5-12-05 w/ K Skillern. Bland Lake, Tx area. N of San Augustine, from intersection of SH 147 and FM 353, continue N on SH 147 for 4.1 miles to intersection with FM 1279, aka Bland Lake Rd. W on FM 1279 approx 1.2 miles to 237 Bland Lake Rd, at PR 5040. Driveway to Bodine-Rule family andowner residence, but immediately turn into grassy lane down hill and around sharp curve, approx 1,700 ft. along grassy lane, with sharp bend to left to old Bodine homeplace, then approx 100 ft. SW to fenced cemetery, which would have been behind the house . Formal site, some diversity of formal markers. Holly, some Cedar marker trees. Seasonally maintained. US veterans. Area of pastures and woodlands. Huge Magnolia tree in front of old homeplace. Bodine, John Sr. Cemetery Approx 0.10 acre. SA-C145. Bland Lake, Tx area. GPS 31.34.59.31673N –94.0623.48792W. USGS 3194-411. © RIP Survey, Texas Historical Commission.Moderate risk, not on map, remote, small, but on family land, seasonally maintained.

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