La Grange City Cemetery, Fayette County, Texas. (original) (raw)
Bluebonnets
Highway 71 east and west of La Grange was named "One of the five best wildflower viewing routes in Texas" by Texas Highways Magazine. Best time is March and April.
The chamber has a brochure on "La Grange and Fayette County Cemetery Tours" that guides you north to Rutersville and south to Schulenburg and Flatonia.
La Grange City Cemetery yellow fever gravesites
Photo Courtesy Kathy Carter / Fayette Heritage Museum
"Ghosts and Gravestones" Cemetery TourBy The Fayette Heritage Museum, 2002
The increasingly popular La Grange "Ghosts and Gravestones" Cemetery tour is sponsored this year by the Anchor Club of La Grange and the Friends of the Library. The tours will be conducted on the evenings of November 2nd and November 7th, at the Old La Grange City Cemetery.
The early history of
La Grange comes alive as Anchor Club members share informative and entertaining details about the lives and deaths of 19 prominent citizens of Fayette County buried at sites selected for this year's tour. Twelve new graves or headstones will join seven popular sites that have been featured before, and the nineteen will be offered in two separate tours. This guarantees the sharing of new stories for those who have attended previously.
This year you will be introduced to politicians, postmasters and even a candidate for Governor. You will meet doctors, druggists, lawyers, ministers and farmers. Businessmen and women, debutantes, teachers and writers will share their lives. You will hear the tales of pioneer Czech & German immigrants, and of soldiers and survivors of the Prussian, Mexican and Civil Wars. The first white child born in
La Grange will tell you about her life and you will hear the tragic story of her husband's death. Yellow Fever will be on hand to tell of its part in the worst tragedy to ever befall La Grange. And little Nellie Mann will tear at your heart with her sorrowful story.
Little Nellie Mann tombstone
Photo Courtesy Kathy Carter / Fayette Heritage Museum
All activities for this "haunting" evening will begin under the tents located just inside the cemetery gates at the College Street entrance. The purchase of a $10.00 tour ticket will include a tour plus a box supper that will most certainly include dessert. In addition, a "mini" exhibit from the Fayette Heritage Museum about Fayette County cemeteries will be located alongside the dining area.
Each tour group is limited to 10 people plus a tour guide and is scheduled on the quarter hour beginning at 6:15 p.m November 2nd and November 7th. Supper can be enjoyed ahead of the tour or after its completion. The last tour will begin at 7:45 p.m.
Due to the uniqueness of this year's tour format, it is important that those wishing to attend to purchase tickets in advance. Tickets are available at the Fayette Public Library in La Grange during regular hours. Purchase your tickets early and you will be able to pick your preferred tour and time. Call Kathy at 979-969-3765 for information.
Funds raised from the event will benefit Anchor Club programs and the Capital Campaign Fund for Library, Museum & Archives Expansion. Anchor Club is the youth project of the Pilot Club of La Grange and is a service organization made up of La Grange High School students who wish to make a difference through community service. The Friends of the Library support and promote the interest and welfare of the Library, Museum & Archives as a cultural and educational asset to the community.
- The Fayette Heritage Museum
November, 2002
One of the La Grange Cemetery gravesites
Photo Courtesy Kathy Carter / Fayette Heritage Museum
Editor's Recommendation:
For readers looking for an entertaining evening with strong (but painless) historical undercurrents - try taking the La Grange cemetery tour. We don't normally announce events in Texas Escapes, but cemetery tours, especially when they're done in cooperation with knowledgeable historic advisors, are what we'd like to see spread around the state. They can raise money and they can be fun, but among the many benefits of these tours, we see the best coming from student participation and involvement. There's no shortage of poignant graveyard stories - and let's face it - the stories of the dead are frequently more interesting than the lives of your co-workers. Your town does has a cemetery, doesn't it? Come to La Grange and see how it's done properly. They won't mind if you take notes. - Editor
