Antonio López Family Cemetery

On 4/25/18, the application was submitted for Historic Texas Cemetery designation for the Antonio López Family Cemetery. Chances seem pretty good for the cemetery to be approved sometime in the next several months, and once it is, we can pursue the more lengthy and rigorous application for a historical marker. Many thanks to everyone who helped provide all the required research, documentation, and time to get this done!

What Next?

Per the Texas Historical Commission (THC):

THC staff reviews the Request for Designation packet. If the packet is complete and the cemetery is deemed eligible for the designation, THC staff will prepare a draft document known as Exhibit A and send it to the applicant for review and approval. This document contains a detailed map and description of the cemetery’s location and boundaries; it also identifies the adjacent landowners.

Once the applicant reviews and approves the draft Exhibit A, THC sends notification of the designation request to the trustee of the cemetery, the owner of land containing the cemetery and/or any landowners who share a common property line with the cemetery. No response is required to this notification. The chair of the local county historical commission is also copied on all correspondence and provided a copy of the application.

Once all adjacent landowners have been notified and any issues regarding the Exhibit A have been resolved, the THC will send a Declaration of Dedication for Cemetery Purposes, including Exhibit A, to the applicant with instructions on how to file it at the county clerk’s office. The cemetery will be officially recognized as a Historic Texas Cemetery when the applicant forwards to THC a copy of the recorded Declaration of Dedication and exhibits which include the filing date and recording data. The completed designation is recognized with a certificate.

According to the THC website, processing times for applications are about three months. Fingers crossed!

If you have questions, please contact Rosi Barrera, who is spearheading this project.