Historic Cemetery

East Chapel Cemetery

County Road 8385, Woodville, Texas 75979
Location: Driving Directions:From Hillister (US 69), go 6.7 miles east on FM 1013. Turn left at CR 4387 (East Chapel Road) and go 0.4 mile north to fork in road. Take left fork and continue for 0.2 mile. At this point turn right onto narrow, private road and go approx. 781 ft. north to locked gate. From gate, walk approx. 848 ft. north. Cemetery is located on hilltop, on right side of private rd. The cemetery is not fenced, and it is heavily overgrown. Only three concrete headstones are visible.This is a highly endangered cemetery. It is not a map feature and is located on private property in a remote area. In order to access the cemetery, one must go through a locked gate and walk approx. 848 ft.. Several "No trespassing" signs are posted. The cemetery is not fenced and is heavily overgrown. The cemetery is located on a hilltop, in a grove of trees between two old logging roads. Three concrete headstones and one displaced metal funeral marker were observed.

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