Historic Cemetery

Saenz Cemetery

Santa Elena, Texas 78591
Location: Driving Directions:From FM 755, go 4.5 miles east on FM 2295. Cemetery is approx. 350 ft. south (right) of road and approx. 254 ft. southwest of oil well.This cemetery is highly endangered. It is a map feature, but there are no cemetery signs posted, and it is located on private property in a remote area. It is not accessible to the public. The cemetery is very overgrown and neglected, and it is not fenced. Grazing cattle have damaged or displaced many of the cemetery features. Cemetery features include fieldstone and homemade concrete markers, fieldstone curbing, locally cast concrete makers, and remnants of wood markers. Three graves are enclosed by a dilapidated woven wire fence. One of these graves is also surrounded by ornate, concrete columns that are approx. 1 to a 1-1/2 ft. tall A concrete angel statue also adorned this grave, but the statue has fallen and is badly eroded.

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