Longview Cemetery is one of the many forgotten cemeteries of Austin and Travis County. This news article will explain the history behind Longview Cemetery. Today Longview Cemetery is regarded as a historic cemetery and a lost cemetery.
Longview Cemetery was establish in 1837 on 5 acres of land. Longview Cemetery was originally on land owned by the Plumley family. The Plumley's had their own family plot in Longview Cemetery. A high number of unknown persons are buried at this cemetery. There are said to be more than 10 graves and burial sites. (Ref: http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~plumleysofcentraltx/genealogy/Longview%20Cemetery.htm)
Longview Cemetery became a public cemetery for public use on August 8, 1874. E. S. Berry and S. A. Berry, owners of the tract, conveyed it in trust for the public to John Bargsley and W. R. Davis to be used as the site for a church and school building. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36859788/longview-cemetery-history/)
1923 was the year Longview Cemetery became abandoned. This was because a tornado destroyed everything in the Longview community a year prior. (Ref: Austin Weekly Statesman, May 6, 1922)
Granberry and E. Juul wanted to use the cemetery property to graze sheep, goats, and cattle on in 1941. This was their intended use for this land.
However members of the Plumley family sued to stop Howard Granberry and E. Juul from using the cemetery property to graze sheep, goats, and cattle on in 1942. They claimed to have been damaged $52,500, relatives of persons buried in Longview Cemetery. The plaintiffs also petitioned the court for exemplary damages in the same amount as the actual damages they claimed to have suffered. (Ref: Austin American, Kin Sue To Stop Cemetery's Use as Pasture for Cattle, Page 2, September 9, 1942)
“Kin Sue To Stop Cemetery's Use as Pasture for Cattle Claiming they have been damaged $52,500, relatives of persons buried in Longview cemetery, a five-acre tract located southwest of Austin near the Manchaca Road, Tuesday asked the 126th district other natural resources; and reaffirmed Texas' traditional policy of states' rights.”
Yet it was Judge S. J. Isaacks that sided with Howard Granberry and E. Juul. 1944 was the year Longview Cemetery was deeded to Travis County after a short but lengthy court trial over land rights issues. (Ref: Austin American, Longview Cemetery Title Goes to County, Page 18, Sunday, May 14, 1944)
“Title to the five-acre Longview Cemetery lying near Brodie Lane was formally conveyed by deed to Travis County and accepted Saturday by the county commissioners court. The cemetery tract was deeded to the county by Howard Cranberry. Simultaneously, the court granted Granberry's petition close an unused road through his place leading to the cemetery from the Austin-Manchaca Road. The request was acquiesced in by relatives of Travis County pioneers who are buried in the cemetery plat. Agreeing to the closing of the road were: Mrs. Jodie Bargsley Huebetter, Mrs. Mary Ross, W. E. Bargsley, Oscar J. Huebetter and G. A. Grimes.”
The Travis County Commissioners Court approved of giving a contract to E. Juul for the right to graze sheep and goats on the Longview Cemetery tract and on the site of the old Longview School for a period of 2 years. The properties of Longview Cemetery and Longview School were owned by Travis County at that time before being annexed to the City of Austin. (Ref: Austin American, Page 7, Sunday, April 23, 1944)
“Travis County Commissioners court Saturday approved a contract giving E. Juul of Austin the right to graze sheep and goats on the Longview Cemetery tract, owned by the county, on the site of the old Longview School for a period of two years. Under the contract Juul is to erect a sheep and goat fence to enclose the graves in the one-half acre part of the tract in the northeast corner and to keep the animals from entering that section. The fence and several gates are to become the property of the county after the two-year contract has expired.”
Longview Cemetery was donated to the City of Austin in 1985 from Travis County. Longview Cemetery became City of Austin property.
Longview Cemetery has seen its fair share of vandalism. This cemetery has been vandalized multiple times over the course of several years. USGW Archives states that Longview Cemetery has been extremely damaged and vandalized. (Ref: files.usgwarchives.net/tx/travis/cemeteries/longview.txt)
One the date of March 12, 2014, Bob Ward and May Schmidt of Save Austin Cemeteries uncovered foundations of the long lost old Longview School building where Longview School was one located. Longview School was located inside the perimeter of Longview Cemetery.
Cleanup was performed at the 5 acre cemetery and park on Saturday, March 29, 2014. There are remains of old sections of fencing that were uncovered along with the remains of the Longview School. (Ref: https://mixerrreviews.blogspot.com/2018/06/bob-ward-and-may-schmidt-of-save-austin.html)
A 10 foot tall chain-link fence was erected around this cemetery in 2015. This chain-link fence was erected as an attempt to decrease vandalism of this cemetery. This was the City of Austin’s attempt to curve vandalism. The cemetery is now locked by a gate. The old fence line was removed and a new fence line was posted, erected, and established. Work was completed once the new fence line was establish.
Save Austin Cemeteries is currently involved in a project to document, protect and preserve Longview Cemetery located inside Longview Park located in southwest Austin, Texas.The project began with a request from Save Austin’s Cemeteries very own Dale Flatt to the city to secure and define the cemetery portion of the site and develop a long term preservation plan. (Ref: https://mixerrreviews.blogspot.com/2018/11/bob-ward-and-may-schmidt-of-save-austin.html)
The reasons why Longview Cemetery has not been protected enough is because the City of Austin Parks and Recreation lacks funding and the crew to address these issues. There is not enough funding for cemetery protection. The City of Austin Parks and Recreation lacks the staff to make up a crew.
Longview Cemetery was donated to the city years ago and have been part of the city park system for many years now. The cemetery portion was never adequately defined and today the boundaries were encroached upon by trails near a basketball court. The concern was inadequate protection and definition. Yet some of the old cedar posts and wire fence lines remain untouched. Some cedar posts have been moved. Some of the wire fence lines have been changed out.
Today Longview Cemetery is one Austin’s forgotten cemeteries and is still one of Austin’s many forgotten cemeteries. The City of Austin Parks and Recreation department oversees this historic cemetery. Some of the old cedar posts and wire fence lines still remain.
Longview Cemetery is located at 7609 Longview Road, Austin, Texas, US 78745.
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