Location: La Bahia Cemetery—TxGenWeb: “300832N 963805 about 3 miles ESE of Carmine.” --Recorded WASH01—Parsons. Cem Recs of Washington Co (1974): “[same] well-kept cem approx 3 miles ESE of Carmin, S of F.A.S. Rd 237. Approx 400 burials, earliest about 1870s. Index.” Tombstone, La Bahia-TxDoT map. TexasEscapes, website: “photos La Bahia is a former village that today consists of a large white building, a cemetery (on Boundary School Road just off Hwy 237) and scattered residences. “ THC Atlas: “One of the first overland routes used by European explorers of Texas, La Bahia Road was originally an east-west Indian trail in southeastern Texas and Louisiana. Earlier it may have been an animal trail. Although not as famous, or long, as El Camino Real (the San Antonio Road), La Bahia is probably older and it figured quite importantly in the movement of explorers, soldiers, traders, and settlers across Texas. Possibly the first European to set foot on the road was La Salle, who explored for France in this area during 1685-87. Almost certainly it was traveled by the Spaniard Alonso De Leon, who searched for the French intruders in 1689. From 1812 on, the trail and its westernmost town, La Bahia (now Goliad), served agents of both war and peace. The Gutierrez-Magee Expedition, part of Mexico's revolt against Spain, used the road in 1812-13. In 1821 the first Anglo-American colonists in Texas, the vanguard of the "Old 300", came down La Bahia into this area. During the 1836 Texas Revolution, the road found use by troops of the Texan army; Col. James Fannin and his 400 men were massacred near the road--in Goliad. In the 20th century, La Bahia's route helped surveyors map modern Texas highways. La Bahia Rd Marker LOCATION At the intersection of SH 36 and FM 390, 7 mi. N of Brenham.” Cemetery on Wickel Lane, off Hwy 237, S of Hwy 290, near West Fork Mill Creek. Topo Zone map in file.] THC site visit MB 708/03, Greenvine, Tx area. On Wickel Lane, off Hwy 237, S of Hwy 290, near West Fork Mill Creek. At SH 237 intersection called Boundary School Rd., becoming Wickel Lane further S. THC marker for cemetery. Large formal site, newer and older areas. Central older area has considerable diversity with very large Live Oak marker trees, large and small formal monuments, benches, curbing, obelisks. Larger site and newer sections formal markers, more uniformity. Fenced on three sides, open with formal masonry entryways. Name on arch.Approx 4.41 acres. GPS 30.08.30.97513N –96.38.05.52671WQuad 3096-213Low risk of endangerment, still in use, maintained, THC marker, on map, fenced, adjacent to road.
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.