Heritage House Museum is sponsoring “A Walk in the Past” tour of historic Evergreen Cemetery on Sunday, April 29, from 2 to 5 p.m. Heritage House Board President Sue Denosowicz said the tour is part of the museum’s mission to preserve and tell the history of Orange County.
People may come at any time during the tour period. The tour will involve walking and the terrain is uneven and includes crawfish holes, and possibly ants. She recommends people wear flat, enclosed shoes.
Docents will be at selected sites to tell the story of the people who are buried there. People will also get a chance to see some of the unusual and elaborate tombstones.
The cemetery dates back to when Robert Jackson bought 35 acres of land in 1835. One of the first burials could have been in 1840.
A Texas Historical Marker at the site says people called it “The Cemetery that Mr. Jackson Bought” or “City Cemetery.” By 1898 or 1899, the graveyard was called “Evergreen.”
The cemetery is off Border Street at the intersection with Jackson Street. Tour goers should park on Jackson Street.
Admission is free to members of Heritage House and memberships will be available. Otherwise, the cost will be $5 for adults, $2 for children and $10 for a family. Donations will also be taken for the Evergreen Cemetery Association’s fund to restore some of the time-damaged markers.
Heritage House Museum has been closed for tours since Tropical Storm Harvey flooded the Administration Building and the Williams Building. Rain caused damage to the main house, the former J.O. Sims residence.
Denosowicz said the Heritage House board has been working with its insurance company and FEMA to restore the museum complex and its collection.
Even after the storm, the museum has held its October Historic Ghost Walk in downtown plus the annual visit with Santa Claus in December. Denosowicz said the museum hopes to make A Walk in the Past cemetery tour another annual event.
Really sounds interesting!
Would love to do this.