PRESS RELEASE - August 26, 2007

Nevada, Texas - The Texas Historical Commission (THC) has designated The Bear Creek Cemetery as a Historic Texas Cemetery. The Cemetery is located on county road 544 north of FM 6 near Nevada, Collin County, Texas. The Historic Texas Cemetery marker has been erected at the cemetery, and will be unveiled at a dedication ceremony October 20, 2007, at 4:00 pm.

In the late 1800's and early 1900's the cemetery was on the south side of the Bear Creek Methodist Episcopal Church. The church and cemetery were located in what was originally known as the Empire Community. A boarding school and dormitory were built, near where the cemetery is located, by members of the Masonic Lodge. The Masonic Lodge moved to Nevada but kept the Empire name. Now, the cemetery and the Masonic Lodge are the only evidences of the Empire Community. Several Masons and Woodmen of the World and at least one Civil War veteran are buried in the cemetery.

There are approximately 175 known burials in the cemetery. Many are original settlers of the community. Some graves are not marked, some have only field stones or bois d'arc posts and many of the markers have deteriorated or have been damaged over the years. Although the cemetery is still open for new burials, the last known burials were Elizabeth Yeager and Riley A. Turner in 1925.

The designation, reserved for cemeteries that are at least 50 years old and deemed worthy of preservation for their historic associations, means an Affidavit of Designation for Cemetery Purposes has been issued to the Bear Creek Cemetery and it has been recorded in the Collin County Clerk’s office.

“The designation is a tool that will increase public awareness of these important cultural resources. Such awareness and education are among the best ways to guarantee the preservation of a cemetery,” said Larry Oaks, executive director of THC.

Cemeteries hold valuable historical information. They are often the last reminders of early settlements’ historical events, religious beliefs, lifestyles, and genealogy.

“Historic cemeteries serve as directories of early residents and reflect the cultural influences that helped shape our state’s communities,” said Oaks. ”The Historic Texas Cemetery designation program helps bring attention to these community treasures and the importance of their preservation.”

While the Historic Texas Cemetery designation encourages cemetery preservation, this designation cannot guarantee that a historic cemetery will not be destroyed. In some rural areas, historic cemeteries are threatened by the absence of fencing, which allows cattle and other grazing animals to topple and disturb headstones. Urban expansion and vandalism often threaten historic cemeteries. Sometimes these cemeteries gradually disappear, one headstone at a time; others disappear overnight. Bulldozers have plowed over neglected cemeteries to clear land for development projects. Cemeteries have also been the victims of vandalism and long-term deterioration from forces of nature, such as weathering and uncontrolled vegetation.

The Historic Texas Cemetery designation was developed to address the destruction of historic cemeteries and the illegal removal of cemetery fixtures. Any individual or organization is eligible to submit an application for this designation. For more information, or to receive an application for the Historic Texas Cemetery designation, call 512-475-4167.

The Texas Historical Commission is the state agency for historic preservation. The agency administers a variety of programs to preserve the archeological, historical and cultural resources of Texas. See www.thc.state.texas.gov for further information.