Historic Cemetery

Sterling Cemetery

Co Rd 2567, Chester, Texas 75936
Location: Driving Directions:From US 287, go 0.4 miles northeast on FM 1745. Turn right at CR 2590 and go 0.5 miles east to wood bridge crossing Russell Creek. From bridge, walk south following Russell Creek for approx. 0.7 mile. Cemetery is located on ridge between Russell Creek and Clear Creek, just south of the confluence.This cemetery is highly endangered. It is a map feature, but it is located in a remote, heavily wooded area, on private property. The cemetery is overgrown and neglected. It is not fenced, and a fence row cuts through the western portion cemetery. Yucca plants mark the approximate boundaries of the cemetery. Painted rebar crosses mark many of the graves. There may be many unmarked graves as well.

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