Location: Sand Springs Cem.Recorded: WOOD03—Parsons; (location in Co. Hist., Vol. 2, p. 135: located a few yards north of Hwy 69 just 2.5 miles from intersection of Hwy69 and Hwy37 in Mineola. More than 1,000 graves identified but many without markers or identification. In 1970 burials still made here. … Cemetery is white ‘sugar sand’… well-kept by those in charge. Like many older cemeteries this is not platted in rows, survey is in sections … oldest date 1863.” Soon after cem. survey vandals damaged or destroyed many of the markers in older sections. Repair estimates at $5,000.00) Cemetery Index; (THC Atlas directions: “…3.5 miles NW on US69 … set aside in 1860 by Matthew Cartwright set aside 7 acres to Big Spring Baptist Church … grounds enlarged … some unmarked graves … became Sand Springs sometime after 1927. Annual homecoming.”) (Tx Funeral Serv. Com.) Contact at PO Box 704, Mineola, TX 75773THC site visit MB 12/19/03: N of SH 69 at intersection of CR 2332 and CR 2336. Large irregular site. Three arched entryways. Fenced. Formal markers, diversity over time. Some unique markers, some fieldstones. Large Cedar and Oak marker trees. Cem surface is almost entirely white sand. Adjacent associated Sand Springs Church. English and Spanish. Surrounding area pasture, wooded, rural residential. Nnear Loop 564THC subject marker. GPS 32.42.29.60799N –95.30.52.86044W.
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.