Pleasant Hill Cemetery
Rusk County, Rusk County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Located on land donated in 1845 by Captain Robert W. Smith (1814-1851), a veteran of the Texas Revolution, this cemetery first served the members of Pleasant Hill Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The earliest marked grave is that of DeWitt Smith, who died in 1850. Also buried here are 112 victims of the March 18, 1937, explosion which destroyed the school at New London (4 mi. NW) and killed 293 students and teachers. Annual Pleasant Hill homecoming activities, including a memorial service and dinner on the grounds, are conducted here each July.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Founded on land donated in 1845 by Texas Revolution veteran Captain Robert W. Smith, this cemetery began serving a Cumberland Presbyterian congregation, with its earliest marked grave dating to 1850. It became forever tied to tragedy in March 1937, when 112 of the 293 victims of the New London school explosion—one of the deadliest school disasters in American history—were laid to rest here. An annual homecoming still gathers the community each July.
Why it matters
The graves here memorialize the New London disaster, a catastrophe so shocking it led Texas to mandate the odorant now added to natural gas nationwide so leaks can be smelled.
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Related people
- · Robert W. Smith
Related events
- · New London School explosion of 1937
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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