Historic Cemetery

Goss-Kirkwood Cemetery

Co Rd 2900, Colmesneil, Texas 75938
Location: Driving Directions:From intersection of US 69 and R 255, go 0.4 mile north. Turn left at CR 2900 and go 0.6 mile west. Cemetery is located on right (north) side of road. A wooden ramp and walk-through gate mark the cemetery entrance.The cemetery is highly endangered. It is a map feature, but has no sign and is not fenced. There is only one inscribed headstone, and it reads: Sarah Kirkwood5-10-18377-17-1904Wonderful MotherSarah's grave is partially enclosed by a strand of barbed wire.There is a second grave marked with a petrified wood headstone. This grave is not fenced. The graves are located in a pasture and are threatened by grazing animals. The cemetery does not appear to be maintained.

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