Historic Cemetery

Greenvine Baptist Church Cemetery

Greenvine, Texas
Location: Greenvine Baptist Cemetery—TxGenWeb300649N 963312W Baptist Church Greenvine.” Cem Recs of Washington Co (1974): “[same] small cem behind the Baptist Church at Greenvine. Approx 12 burials, earliest about 1940s. Index.” THC Atlas: “Ebenezer German Baptist Church was organized in 1861 following a revival preached by Frank Kiefer (1833-1909), a German immigrant and convert to the Baptist faith. Commonly known as Greenvine Baptist Church, the congregation first met in a log cabin owned by Michael Moller. The Rev. F. J. Gleiss (1826-1912), a former Methodist minister and fellow German immigrant, succeeded Kiefer as pastor in 1868. This site was purchased in 1870, and a sanctuary was built in 1879. Services were conducted in the German language until replaced by English in 1947. LOCATION: On FM 2502 at the intersection of CR 2, Greenvine”THC site visit MB 7/08/03: Greenvine, Tx. Behind Baptist Church and parsonage. Fenced formal site. Diversity of markers over time. Oaks, decorative concrete table and benches. Abundant floral grave materials. US veterans.Approx 0.52 acre GPS 30.06.48.71106N –96.33.30.05607QuadLow risk of endangerement, associated church, still in use, fenced, maintained, on map. THC marker.

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.