Historic Cemetery

Unknown Cemetery Oseph Lopez Rd -Sal Colorad Ranch (La Gloria)

Texas
Location: Driving Directions:From FM 755 in La Gloria, go 1.4 miles west on FM 1017 W. Turn right at Joseph Lopez Rd. and go 1.8 miles north. Turn right at entrance to Sal Colorada Ranch and go 0.5 mile to Ranch house. Continue through locked gate and follow road, behind house, for approx. 0.5 mile north and then west. Cemetery is on north side of road. The cemetery is highly endangered. It is a map feature, but it is located in a very remote area on private property. It is fully fenced, but not maintained. There are no cemetery signs posted. Cemetery features include: ceramic photographs, unique statuary, grave slabs, formal granite and marble markers, locally cast and homemade concrete markers, ornate hand-wrought steel markers, metal funeral markers, and wooden markers. Some older grave markers are fallen or leaning. Many of the grave plots, including individual and family, are enclosed with chain link, ornamental cast iron, or woven wire fences.

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