PRESERVATION
To provide access to existing cemeteries, cemetery preservation program, and the Texas Historical Marker Program.
EXISTING AFRICAN AMERICAN CEMETERIES IN BRENHAM
Camptown Cemetery
The oldest predominantly African American cemetery in Brenham, with burials dating from the 1860's. It is located near Hog Branch Creek in a once wooded area, one block from Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church. It is associated with the nearby church. It contains an estimated 400 burials, including soldier victims of yellow fever outbreaks in 1866-67 and former slaves. Persons of interest buried in the cemetery include Caroline Seward and Waltman Bynum. The cemetery has undergone a restoration process and was designated a Historic Texas Cemetery in 2009.
Home Improvement Club (H.I.C.) Cemetery
Established in the early 1900s by the United Order of Brothers and Sisters (UOBS), a local lodge. It is located behind Blinn College, has been in existence for more than 100 years, and continues to be an active cemetery today, though apparently at or near full capacity. It is composed of three cemeteries, The Old Cemetery, Precious Memories, and H.I.C., located on the same property, and all three are commonly called H.I.C. Cemetery.
Walker Cemetery
An African American cemetery established in 1895 on Hog Branch Creek, one mile northeast of Blue Bell Road, at the end of Brooks Lane. It has also been known as ("AKA") Brenham Cemetery, New Cemetery, East Alamo Cemetery, East End Cemetery, and Hog Branch Cemetery. Members of Mount Rose MBC are buried there, including former church pastor, Rev. Mose Johnson. Approximately 400 individuals are buried there, including at least 78 former slaves.
Willow Grove
Established in 1915 by the owners of the Washington County Undertaking Company, which later became Hogan Funeral Home. It is located behind Blinn College and continues to be in use, but is presumed to be near capacity.
CEMETERY RESTORATION
TTHEI mission is to assist in helping others to restore cemeteries that have been abandoned and continues to work closely with the Camptown Cemetery Association. Ray Mildren, General Manager and has lead is the caretaker of the cemetery, overseeing the cemetery’s major cleanup and restoration projects. Since 2016, the Association has held several community cleanup days, with over 20 helpers turning out to be of service. Almost all of the graves have been cleaned to some point of identification as a grave. The overgrown lawn has been cut and large trees impacting graves or those fallen or dead have been removed. Not only has the cemetery been cleaned, beautifying projects have also been underway. The Association has received and completed, the planting of roses which were donated, the installation of a new water line, bricks to create a safe walkway, a fence around the premises, and a new riding lawn mower. Plans for 2020 included purchasing more fencing, continue to clear large trees, restoring several grave markers, and plant more roses. These are some pictures of before and after cleaning of several prominent cemetery plots.
Several articles have been published because the interest of this historic cemetery. History is uncovered in Brenham, Texas that gives insight into the significance of education, racial acceptance, and industry. Thus far, approximately 220 graves have been identified, and some information has been generated on about 66% of those residents in the cemetery.
On October 10, 2019, the Camptown Cemetery Association held an Appreciation Ceremony to acknowledge those who were instrumental in assisting the Association by helping them to establish legal ownership, donating their time and resources to the cemetery. Those honored were: John Winkelmann, Attorney, Doug Zwiener, Precinct Judge, Johnny Lacina, Attorney, Hodde & Hodde Surveyors, Brenham Title & Abstract, Reggie Browne, Bob Wishoff, Geologist, Austin, TX, Mark Everett, Geophycist, Texas A&M, Charles Swenson, Wash. Co. Genealogy Society, Dr. Robert Bubb, Dr. Tina Henderson, Ray Mildren, Rolling Thunder & CVMA Motor Cyclist and the Buffalo Soldiers. Below are some pictures of attendees being acknowledge.
CEMETERY RESTORATION
The Texas Historical Commission Marker program is run by the THC and has their own set of rules about historical markers. Below are some accomplishments by the TTHEI team.
Brenham Normal Industrial College (BNIC) and Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Association of Texas. Janel Jefferson, along with the guidance and support from TTHEI members, spearheaded getting a historical marker for the Brenham Normal School, where her great grandfather was on the school’s Board, as well as being a theological student at the school.
Brenham Normal Industrial College (BNIC)
In 1905, a group of black men approached The Colored Industrial Club and the white Commercial Club to secure eleven acres of land at 1502 Mount Olive Street to realize the dream of establishing Brenham Normal Industrial College. The boarding school was legally established on April 17, 1906. BNIC taught elementary, middle school, and high school level classes. Many students graduated from the Normal School Education classes and became state certified schoolteachers. There were also classes in shorthand, typewriting, bookkeeping, commercial law, business arithmetic, correspondence, agriculture, horticulture, and mechanics. The Domestic Science Department taught sewing, housekeeping, cooking, laundering, food preparation, physiology, piano, organ, and vocal music.
Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Association of Texas (the Association)
A group Christian men called a meeting at Palestine Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas to discuss uniting area churches to form one organization made up of the black churches in the Brazos Valley Area. The objectives, as stated in their Constitution, are “to contribute and execute measures for the spread of the gospel within its limits throughout the world and to consolidate Christian union never to be broken. The first Association was held at Liberty Baptist Church (est. 1886) in Independence, Texas on August 7, 1908. As Association membership grew, the annual meetings were moved to the Campus of BNIC. By action of the Board of Trustees in 1924, the Mount Olive District Missionary Baptist Association of Texas paid off the school’s debt and officially became the landowners. BNIC discontinued its educational operations in 1927 when the State of Texas began public education. The Missionary Baptist Mount Olive Association of Texas held its 111th annual meeting in July 2019. The Campus site remains a vital part of community and Association activities.
Note: The Brenham Normal School received an under told stories marker from the Texas Historical Commission in 2017. This was the first for Washington County. A second historical marker was received for the Mount Olive Association in 2019.
The HIC Cemetery in located in Watrousville near Blinn College and the pursuit for a cemetery historical marker is being spearheaded by Margorie Bigsby. Ms. Bisgby filed for historical marker years ago but the application had errors. She reached out to TTHEI for assistance because now the application needs to be refiled digitally. TTHEI has agreed to assist her.
The Hewett Cemetery is located in Burton. What makes this cemetery historically notable are two brothers named James C. and Thomas Hewett, who were Civil War veterans that served on the Union side and were born in Washington County. They made their way north, then joined and fought in the 54th Massachusetts Regiment in 1863. They settled back in Burton after the war. The brothers had productive and fruitful lives in Burton. James Hewitt is buried in the Hewitt Cemetery, which is named after their enslaver William Hewitt’s family. We currently do not have a sponsor to spearhead this project.
Rev. Willie Taplin Barrow is a Civil Rights Activist who began her activist career when she challenged the segregation of school buses, where in Burton White students road the buses while the Black student walked. Those rules changed with her determination to seek equal treatment. Her activist career has landed her recognition from presidents to other notable activists, not only in this country but around the world. She is the recipient of the 2012 Bill Berry Award, among her many other recognitions. Her great nephew, Kevin Jackson, is determined to acquire her an historical marker for her home.
Other markers and establishments. Since 2004, Reggie Browne and TTHEI have completed a number of historical markers and assisted in establishing 501(c)(3)s.
Historical Markers
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N.A. Banks, Elementary School, Anderson County
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Fred Douglass Elementary School, Anderson County
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G.W. Carver High School, Harris County
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Timothy Smith, Anderson County
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Mount Rose Baptist Church, Washington County
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Camptown Cemetery, Washington County
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William Freeman, Anderson County
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Roy B. Wallace, Anderson County
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New Hope Baptist Church, Anderson County
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Pilgrim Hill Baptist Church, Anderson County
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Brewington Baptist Church, Houston County
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Baytown Mexican School, Harris County
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Francis Heritage House, Smith County
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Price Cemetery, Anderson County
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Mt. Olive Association, Washington County
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Providence Community, Anderson County
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Victoria Walker School, Harris County
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Brenham Normal School, Washington County
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Pickard High School, Brenham, TX (Undertold Story Historical Marker. Est. Installation in spring 2025)
501 (c)(3)s
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T.J. Ford Foundation
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Prairie View Interscholastic League Coaches Association
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Willow Ridge High School Wall of Fame
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NBA Moms, Inc.
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Philia Works of Houston, Texas
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Francis Heritage Home
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Providence Alumni Association
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Camptown Cemetery Association
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Camptown Texas Ten Counties
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Mt. Olive District Association of Churches
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Lincoln/A.M. Story Reunion, Inc.