Oakhurst Center Hill Church and Cemetery
Oakhurst, San Jacinto County, Texas
Marker Inscription
In area settled by 1830s, five successive buildings -- the first a log cabin, Hibbetts Church -- have stood here as community worship centers. Since all faiths used early building, it came to be called "Union Center," then "Center Hill." Site was actually privately owned until Sept. 3, 1882, when Russell Roark deeded 5-acre cemetery and church site to Center Hill community. In the 1890s, a Baptist group assumed care of cemetery and church. In 1938, Annual Homecoming (fourth Sunday in June) was instituted.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Settled by the 1830s, this East Texas site has held five successive houses of worship, beginning with a log cabin called Hibbetts Church. Because congregations of all faiths shared the early building, it became known as 'Union Center' and then 'Center Hill.' Russell Roark formally deeded the five-acre church and cemetery to the community in 1882, and a Baptist group later took up their care, sustained by an annual June homecoming begun in 1938.
Why it matters
The church and cemetery trace a pioneer community's spiritual life from a shared frontier log cabin to an enduring place of memory.
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Related people
- · Russell Roark
Themes & tags
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