Historic Cemetery

Old La Reforma Cemetery

Texas
Location: Driving Directions:From FM 1017 in La Reforma, go 0.7 mile south-west on Delmita Road. At wire gate on right side of road, go north approx. 0.2 mile (1,267 ft.), following old road. Cemetery is located to right (east) of old road in wooded area. The cemetery is highly endangered. It is a map feature, but it is located in a remote area on private property. The original cemetery road has all but disappeared. There is no direct access from a public highway, and there are no cemetery signs posted. The cemetery is fully fenced, but it is not maintained and is very overgrown. Many of the grave markers are fallen, missing, or damaged, which is most likely due to grazing livestock. Cemetery features include marker plants, locally cast concrete markers, homemade wooden cross markers, concrete grave slabs, and one fenced, individual plot.

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