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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."
TE Photo |
Driving Directions:
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.
Direction Update:
["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]
Restoration
of Brenham Masonic Cemetery - Update |
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.
TE photo |
| Brenham
Masonic Cemetery Marker |
Brenham
Masonic Cemetery Marker:
"Numerous gravestones dating from the early 1840s... Brenham's
citizens buried many loved ones here in the latter part of 1867 as
an epidemic swept through the area; the site has been commonly known
as the Yellow Fever Cemetery ever since. Laid to rest here are: pioneers,
veterans of the War of 1812, the Texas revolution and the Civil war..." |
An overturned
monument.
TE photo |
| 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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UPDATE
Progress on Restoration of
Brenham
Masonic cemetery
March
08, 2016
The cemetery committee of Graham Lodge No. 20 ( the local Masonic
Lodge) has been making slow but steady progress on the cemetery.
After roughly 20 man hours of work, the headstone of Patrick
Lusk has been re-installed on its original marble base. We had
to dig down 18" to get under the base so we could level it. That
was an all day chore, but it's now level and the headstone is back
in place.
Mr. Patrick Lusk was a member of the Mier
Expedition and was a survivor of the infamous black bean incident.
So, it was appropriate that his was the first stone repaired and
replaced.
We continue
to have work parties on weekends.
- Kirby Simmons, Secretary,
Graham Lodge No. 20,
Cemetery Committee Seeking Help
The local Masonic Lodge in Brenham, Graham Lodge No. 20, has formed
a committee to oversee the repair and renovation of the Yellow Fever
Cemetery in Brenham. The committee was formed in July 2015 and consists
of Dr. Robert Stark, Glen Grantom, John Fuller and Kirby Simmons.
The committee is developing a preliminary report of the condition
of the cemetery and what needs to be done to improve the condition
and rehab many of the headstones which are broken. The committee
is also interested in obtaining any information from relatives of
the people interred.
Contact information:
Mr. Kirby Simmons
Secretary-Graham Lodge No. 20 A.F.& A.M.
kirbyms@yahoo.com
October 8, 2015
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A German language
shard.
TE photo |
A rescued stone
leans against the base of another.
TE photo |
A Czech stone
from the 1920s
TE photo |
A damaged obelisk
TE photo |
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:
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... I do hope some one can take the time
to go in there and fix the remaining headstone... - Dawna Carlton,
January 15, 2006
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
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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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