|
|
|
|
The
Concrete Cemetery Gate
TE photo, April 2001 |
The
Community of Concrete no longer exists. It had originally been
called Bethesda, but for some reason, they decided to rename
their town after an 1858 Concrete building that served a variety
of community functions such as church, Masonic lodge and school. Still,
it's a rather unusual naming - even for Texas. Perhaps the word concrete
was the final word in permanence in the 1850s.
The Concrete Cemetery was established in 1856 when Joel
Newton, the brother of rancher James Henry Newton died and James designated
a part of his property as a graveyard.
There had been an earlier burial the previous year, which may have
influenced Mr. Newton's decision. The very first interment was a Maria
Madden Dial.*
The cemetery continues to serve both the communities of New
Berlin and LaVernia
today. It is extremely well kept with not a sign of vandalism. There's
a sign-in book is just inside the gate - placed in an ingeniously
designed "desk" welded of heavy steel. It provides a stable writing
surface and the design makes it weatherproof as well as bulletproof.
Unfortunately our camera's battery failed when we were about to photograph
it. The design would serve any cemetery well and we'll try to return
on our next visit to Guadalupe County.
© John Troesser |
Concrete,
Texas Forum
Corrections:
I am Historian for the Concrete Cemetery in Guadalupe County, Texas.
Joel Newton was the first person buried in Concrete Cemetery, January
16, 1856. Maria Madden Dial (1815 - 1855) has the oldest burial
date in the cemetery but she was disinterred from a cemetery in
Louisiana after the death of her husband, James L. Dial, 8/4/1869
and reinterred in Concrete Cemetery adjacent to him. Many thanks,
Shirley Grammer, September 01, 2003
Anyone wishing to share history or photos of Concrete, Texas,
please contact
us.
Book Your Hotel Here & Save
San
Antonio Hotels
More
Hotels
|
|
|
