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"Directional
signs begin on Washington Avenue near Heights Blvd."
TE photo, February 2011 |
Long
forgotten, this seven-acre piece of ground is the final resting place
of some of Houston’s most prominent
Black citizens from the 1870s through the 1930s.
For decades, the site
has been hidden behind the warehouses of a large grocery distributor
just south of Interstate 10,. The stone
markers and tombstones have been covered in unruly privet, and
entangled by wild vines while gravesite borders have been split by
the sprouting seeds and roots of Hackberry and Chinaberry trees.
The settling of Houston’s notorious
"gumbo" soil and vigorous root growth has wrecked the original
cement curbing along the
cemetery’s promenade and dislodged some monuments while vandals
(no doubt) contributed to the toppling of other stones.
Statuary is limited to a pair of angels and two stone lions (both
guarding the same angel), and what few iron fences remain are broken
and bent from fallen tree branches by unnamed storms. It is possible
that other iron fences were removed for scrap drives of World
War II.
Proclaimed a Historic Cemetery in 2006, Olivewood
has remained mostly cloaked in vegetation until recent months. A visit
in the summer of 2010 showed only about 25% of the gravesites visible,
facing impenetrable walls of brush and undergrowth on the eastern
and northern edges.
Volunteers have been coming to the
site on the 2nd Saturday of each month to slowly make progress
on this once Herculean task. It’s now estimated that 80% of the graves
are now visible although many other unmarked interments will never
be revealed. |
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Unlike ceremonial
photos of projects just getting underway with shiny tools, this one
of three NCCC workers is unposed. Supervisor Katie (green shirt) spoke
for the whole team when she said: “I don’t know what a clean shovel
looks like.”
TE photo, February 2011 |
Our visit on
February 12th 2011 had two volunteer groups present. One was a local
Scout Troop helping one of their own complete his Eagle Scout project,
while the other was a group of NCCC volunteers based out of Denver,
doing yeoman’s work of clearing brush and timber as they earn credit
toward college tuition.
Both groups remained at their tasks throughout our visit, but were
kind enough pause at their labors to pose for the group photos shown
here. |
Volunteers from
Troop 1020 of the Sam Houston Area Council with TE mascot and ambassador
of goodwill, “Rip”
TE photo, February 2011 |
The National
Civilian Community Corps Team -
Patrick McMullen from Michigan, Jennifer Lombardo from New York, Robert
McLaughlin from Ohio, Corwin Mays from Ohio. Aliesha Kearse from Maryland,
Lynea Dempsey from Missouri, Sheila Smith from Illinios, Ben Good
from Kansas, Ryan Jordan From Massachusetts, and Katie Hanchuruck
from Connecticut. The team is part of Americorps NCCC a national community
service organization, see americorps.gov
TE photo, February 2011 |
Soon-to-be Eagle
Scout Nicholas Start standing over the “Mirror Grave” of one W.A.
Harris. Nicholas stated that shards of a mirror that “corrected” the
reversed tile nameplate were found scattered beneath the headstone.
(See last paragraph of Historical
Marker)
TE photo, February 2011 |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and vintage/historic photos, please contact
us. |
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