Ella Kraft Brown: There is a cemetery called "Kraft Cemetery" which holds the remains of two "First Founders of New Braunfels, Texas" It is located off of #46 on a private ranch which also was the original land grant of the Krafts and on it is the original home built by them which is still lived in today. It is fenced, however I fear that this land may be sold some day by the present owner and a housing development come in and who knows what would happen to it. The Kraft's were my great-great grandparents.
March 1, 2009 8:51AM
rioconcho: MICHAEL SOUTHWICK: I am the owner of a company that performs museum quality restoration of granite, marble and bronz. We have restored many broken up and aged stone and bronze pieces over the years. Please see our web site: 1rioconcho.com
July 28, 2008 4:39AM
Shelley: Just read your post on the cemetery at Washington -on- the- Brazos And know how you feel about the problem of up keeping our cemeteries. I have been to that cemetery many times and taken many pictures and last time there in March of this year even tried to go into the over grown areas and get pictures, but was not completely prepared for how bad it was, so was unable to get back in there as far as i would have liked. I have wondered for years why this cemetery being so close to the park is not kept up like it should be. But have been to many, many cemeteries here in Texas in the last 20 years that are bad and have taken alot of pictures and it seems to me that they should have some type of program to clean up all cemeteries. Thank you for getting the word out.
July 24, 2008 11:47AM
Phyllis Friesner: The fence around the cemetery is a sign of the times. It looks like a prison instead of a cemetery. God bless all who rest there. How sad for the families to see that, but maybe those waiting for repair do not have families any more...those who rest there. They wait for divine intervention. The intervention is going to be people who see and those who report and those who send money and those who can repair. The cemeteries all over the United States are just like this and I have seen some that are worse in Ohio. My home state.
Phyllis
February 11, 2008 1:10AM
Charla Perry: Thank you for this service.
January 5, 2008 10:58PM
LindaLee: I am a Southron poet. Thought you might like this one.
On a Dirt Road in Dixie
1985
The afternoon was waning, the hour was getting late;
when walking down a dusty road, I saw a rusted gate.
The trees had grown 'round the fence, and brambles twined between;
yet roses pushed thru fallen fence, thru tangled ivy green.
I stopped to pick a tiny rose that grew in sunny patch;
and wondered at the brambles that held to rusty latch.
There were no signs to warn me, to tell me, "Must stay out,"
and so I climbed the rusted fence to take a look about.
Far back into the corner, were two tombstones, chipped away,
another lay there on it's side, moss covered in decay.
The granite slab had cracked apart, and ivy reached within;
I pulled the brambles from the stone, while briars pulled my skin.
So strong they held, with mighty grip, they covered up the shame;
each tombstone had the C.S.A.,but none revealed a name.
Forgotten in some planted trees, that grew so much the higher,
to shade the graves of those forgot, that lay beneath the briar.
I knelt and touched the cold, gray stone, where names all should have been;
I offered up a prayer to God, and cried for Southron men.
The stones, so cold and crumbled now, cracked and torn apart;
a monument to unconcern, some mother's broken heart.
Yet ivy knows who lays below, and trees give shade within;
while strangers pass and never see, the rose that covers sin.
For apathy has come this way, another episode,
in caring not for what we've lost, down dusty Southern road.
Linda Lee
October 23, 2007 3:31PM
Sandy Blythe-Smith: Sarah,
First, let me commend you on your attention to our forebearers' resting places. It's incredulous, the neglect that has obviously taken place. In a society where finding your "roots" has become forefront to literaly thousands of people, (just check the membership of the Ancestry network) I'm sure your action and the city's lack of action will show unequivical response soon, if not already. I for one, will make mention on all the websites I visit for research to further spread the word of this disrespectful neglect. Our country was built on the backs of our ancestors and that alone should evoke responsibility in the upkeep of their resting places, however, the decendants are also admonishing their own unless they aren't unaware of their family buriel sites (a complete AND accurate listing available on line). I will be doing further research about getting people to "adopt" these abandoned cemeterys, i.e., the local historical societies. After all, isn't this part of what they do?
Keep up the great work!
Sandy Blythe-Smith
Re-located Texan
October 22, 2007 12:03PM
gingernet: Hi... I think your idea about calling attention to neglected cemeteries is a great one! I'd love to help you. =D
October 21, 2007 10:51AM
|
|
