Historic Cemetery

Franklin Cemetery

Washington, Texas 77880
Location: Franklin Cemetery—TxGenWeb: Texas Landmark “301451N 0961041W Daniels.” Tombstone-TxDoT map. THC site visit MB 3/31/04. Washington on Brazos, Tx area. High hill. From FM 1155 N on Heinecke Rd, about 0.4 mile to pasture gate cattle guard entrance, then about 0.3 mile across livestock pasture, past old schoolhouse buildings up to hill site. No observable formal entrance to cemetery. Fenced, barbed and field fencing. Freegrowth in fenceline, but no trees in cemetery area other than one marker Cedar tree. Considerable diversity of formal markers, large and small, some locally caste markers. Carnes, obelisks, curbs, grave. Frequent mounding observed. One historic marker. Some floral grave materials. Lilies and Irises, also abundant natural wildflowers and bluebonnets. No maker trees. Some Rose shrubs. Some problems with erosion, tilted stones, grave depressions. Larger site also listed as Texas Landmark. Approx 2.6 acres. GPS 30.14.50.01455N –96.10.44.00518W Quad 3096-113Moderate risk of endangerment, pasture area and natural erosion, but evidence of visitation, maintained, fenced.

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.