Historic Cemetery

Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church Cemetery

Browns College, Texas
Location: MT. Zion A.M.E. Church Cem. No listing, THC observation.THC site visit MB 4/07/04Washington-on-Brazos area Sign for church on FM 2726, about 1 mile N of Brown College Rd. Cem. on S side of church buildings, and church picnic area. Cem adjacent to pastures and FM. Seasonal grass obscures some markers. Recent burials, formal markers, some tin markers. Floral materials. Adjacent to two-story historic structure, previously used as Holy Ghost Hill School. US VeteranApprox 1 acre. GPS 30.15.34.12270N –96.08.04.78446W. Quad 3096-142Moderate risk endangerment, planned nearby subdivision. but partially fenced, adjacent to church, still in use, near road.

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.

gravesites