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THE YELLOW
FEVER CEMETERY
Brenham,
Texas
Washington County
aka
The Masonic
Cemetery or the Wilderness Cemetery
Text and photos
by John Troesser
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| "Brenham's
citizens buried many loved ones here in the latter part of 1867 as
an epidemic swept through the area." |
On
the north side of Brenham
off Highway 36 N (aka as Loop 283), the cemetery is on the unpaved
Old Masonic Road, just behind a housing project and not far (NW) of
the Brenham High School. A new gate and a historical
marker were set in place in 2002.
["They have closed part of the Old Masonic Road... Better
directions should be take Highway 36 north turn on Dupree Drive take
first left which will be Old Masonic Drive and cemetery is just to
the right." - Dawna Carlton, January 15, 2006] |
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A
few tombstones indicate the cause of death - as on this twin headstone
for a father and son who died four days apart in 1867. |
| Perhaps
due to its location, the cemetery (which once held 122 graves) has
been heavily vandalized. Many of the graves are now unmarked or have
had the tombstones pushed from their original locations. |
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A
rescued stone leans against the base of another. |
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L-
A Czech stone from the 1920s
R- A damaged obelisk |
Brenham's citizens
buried many loved ones here in the latter part of 1867 as an epidemic
swept through the area... Laid to rest here are pioneers, veterans
of the War of 1812, Texas revolution and the Civil war..." Full
Text
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Yellow Fever
Cemetery Forum
Subject:
Brenham's Yellow Fever Cemetery
Dear TE, Glad to find your magazine. We did not think anyone knew
of or cared about the Old Yellow Fever Cemetery in Brenham.
My great grandfather’s (Bolling Eldridge) first wife, Kate Hurley
Eldridge, is buried there along with a few other Eldridges and Hurleys.
We first found the cemetery in 2005 on our honeymoon. We cleaned
up our area, and even cleaned the tombstones to read the beautiful
inscriptions/dedications on them. They had such an eloquence and
respect in speech back then.
If anyone has relatives buried there and would like to somehow get
a plan together to keep the cemetery kept up, PLEASE let us know.
(mbusch55@sbcglobal.net) It would be a shame to let it deteriate
any further. I was informed by Mrs. Stavena that the Masons were
going to help keep the cemetery up. They have a clean-up day I think
the weekend of April 14, 07. Thanks again for posting info on the
cemetery on Texas Escapes. - Mark and Dawn Buschardt, Dallas,
Texas, February 10, 2007
Subject:
Old Masonic/Yellow Fever Cemetery
Dear TE: I have emails out to 4 or 5 places for directions [to Brenham's
Old Masonic/Yellow Fever Cemetery] without any answers so far. I
never thought I would find directions on TexasEscapes. My sincere
thanks for having it on your website.
We have obtained an upright VA marble marker for Col. Owings
and it is already in Brenham awaiting erection. We also raised about
$1,500 for the largest size Texas aluminum historical marker and
it is being cast now. Date for the dedication of both is tentatively
scheduled for Nov. 11th, 2006." - W.T. Block, Nederland,
Texas
Subject:
Yellow Fever Cemetery
My husband and I have worked very hard to get this cemetery into
the shape it is now in. No one has helped us. The City of Brenham,
The County of Brenham and the Masons have not helped us. I do have
cousins in Louise Texas who have come to Brenham and repaired the
tombstones of Thomas and Veronica Janica. They are planning to repair
the tombstones of other members of our ancestors who are buried
in this cemetery. We are not destroying what is left of the headstones.
At some time in the past cattle were allowed to graze in this cemetery
and did most of the damage. Not much has been done since the placement
of the historical marker other than what my husband and I have done.
Thank you. - Olene Stavena, March 16, 2006
Subject:
Yellow Fever Cemetery Brenham, Texas
We made a trip to Yellow Fever Cemetery in Brenham Texas this morning
using the directions on the web site, the directions need to be
changed some, they have closed part of the Old Masonic Road off
that goes behind the new housing area that has been built next to
the cemetery.
Better directions should be take Highway 36 north turn on Dupree
Drive take first left which will be Old Masonic Drive and cemetery
is just to the right.
I must say the cemetery was in horrible shape they have started
cleaning a small part of it but I think they may be just destroying
what is left of the headstones. I do hope some one can take the
time to go in there and fix the remaining headstone without causing
more damage. - Dawna Carlton, January 15, 2006
Anyone wishing to add photos or information about the Yellow Fever
Cemetery, please contact
us.
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© John Troesser
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