a.k.a. St. Matthew Church Cemetery at Hidalgo Bluffs
Washington-on-the-Brazos, Texas
Location: St. Matthew Baptist Church Cem. at Hidalgo BluffsUSGS point, NW of Washington-on-Brazos. Itentified area S of Brazos River, off CR 96 and Bluff Rd. ToTHC site visit MB 2/MJM 4/01/04: Washington, Tx area. N of SH 105 on Lone Star Rd to interesection with Bluff Rd. Right about 1 mile to St. Matthew Lane, a small paved road to left or N. Cemetery and church at end of road. Hilltop location with small rock outcropping, dramatic vista to E. 0.3 mile on Matthew Lane N from FM 1935. Large church, well maintained, rebuilt 1965 by cornerstone. Adjacent picnic gathering area to W and cemetery to E. Church and cemetery fenced w/ barbed wire and field fencing, cattle guard. Posted, no trespassing. Adjoining area in crop cultivation and pasture, scattered rural residences neaby. Diversity of markers markers formal over time, some floral materials. Some problems with erosion and shifting of , two sunken gravesites. One fenced family plot, chain link. Grave slabs, crosses, carnes, metal markers. Lillies, Irises, Rosebushes. Some very large Oak trees central to cem. area, ambiguous if are marker trees. Approx 1.74 acres.GPS 30.21.40.66310N –96.13.29.59741W Quad 3096-142Low risk endangerment, associated church, maintained, fenced, still in use.
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.