Eastview Cemetery
Bay City, Matagorda County, Texas
Marker Inscription
This cemetery traces its origin to 1907, when 1.8 acres of land were purchased from D. P. Moore. The first recorded burial was that of Henry Abram in 1912. Known earlier as "The Burying Ground for Negroes," "Cedarvale Eastside," and "The Old Section," this cemetery is adjacent to the Anglo graveyard Cedarvale Cemetery. Over five acres of land was added to this site in 1945 when purchased from E. E. Weller and his wife Ella May Weller. Although the cemetery contains over 780 graves, it is believed that several unmarked graves exist, possibly in the old section. Buried here are veterans of World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Maintained by a cemetery association, many improvements have been made over the years to the grounds. The association had the roads resurfaced, made water accessible to all sections, installed flagpoles, established driveways, and planted several oak trees and numerous plants throughout the site. Closely associated with many of the area's African American churches and community organizations, the Eastview Cemetery continues to serve the vicinity and Matagorda county. (1996)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Eastview Cemetery began in 1907 on 1.8 acres bought from D. P. Moore, with the first recorded burial in 1912, and grew by more than five acres in 1945. Known over the years as "The Burying Ground for Negroes" and the "Old Section," it sits beside the Anglo Cedarvale Cemetery and holds more than 780 graves, among them veterans of both world wars, Korea, and Vietnam. Tied to the area's African American churches and organizations, it is still tended by a cemetery association.
Why it matters
The segregated burial ground stands as a record of Bay City's African American community across the 20th century and of the divided landscape of the Jim Crow South, even in death.
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Related people
- · Henry Abram
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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