Hello and welcome to our website. Pond Springs Historical Cemetery Association Inc. is a grass-roots effort to clean up our beloved acre, also known as “God’s Garden”. If you have the need to be a hero, God’s Garden needs you !
Pond Springs Cemetery is an award-winning historical cemetery located in Northwest Austin, Texas. The first known burial on the land was that of 6-month-old Jacob Leonce Glenn. He died of a rattlesnake bite in October 1860, inflicted while his mother was distracted hanging laundry, (can you imagine?). Jacob was buried in the Walden Section of Pond Springs Cemetery. In 1862, Asenath Stewart was the first known burial in Pond Springs “proper”. She died of a childbirth-related illness while her husband (Andrew Jackson (“AJ” or “Jack”) STEWART was a Private in Company D, 1st Texas Cavalry (Yager’s), CSA. He died in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 4 days after Lee surrendered to Grant. The 1st Texas Cavalry was organized in New Orleans Louisiana on 6 November 1862, 4 days before his wife died. Asenath likely kissed him good-bye and went into labor while he was en route. AJ wasn’t there for her death, or for the birth of his son. It’s unclear that he ever saw his son. The orphaned baby lived, by the way, and was raised by his Stewart grandparents.
There are dozens of stories like this one. God’s Garden needs heroes to help tell the stories.
There are over 230 known/assumed graves, and there are perhaps 300 or more total, as there are numerous graves without markers, and death certificates without corresponding graves. Research is ongoing.
As is the case with so many old cemeteries in Texas, this one was doing a very good job at re-foresting. There was damage from roaming cattle, from the elements, from downright vandalism, and from neglect. Many people have worked on this cemetery through the decades. By 2005, there wasn’t much left, and we have had to put the place back together like a gigantic puzzle. It’ll probably be a lifelong project. The county, the city, and the state are all “hiding” behind the wording in the original 1872 deed, which donated the land “to the community”, and will not claim responsibility for upkeep. No one takes care of it but us few volunteers. Those interred here were good people, and they deserve better. Please consider joining our grass-roots effort. God’s Garden needs heroes.
In 2011, a few heroic descendants allied to form our Association. Here is our meeting schedule:
Meetings held USUALLY on the Second Sunday at 10 am unless otherwise noted:
January at Whataburger across the street, Second Sunday at 10 am
April (Clean-Up Daze Second Sunday AND Second Saturday at cemetery)
July at Whataburger across the street, Second Sunday at 10 am
October (Clean-Up Daze Second Sunday AND Second Saturday at cemetery)
You do not have to be a member to attend a meeting OR to help clean up. You don’t need permission to be an “Anonymous Angel” and clean up the place a little, just be careful and please don’t touch the stones in any way; that’s all we ask.
Now surrounded by the growth of Austin and Cedar Park, stepping into this cemetery is like stepping back in time, and stepping away from the hectic pace of modern-day life. It’s a good place to “reconnect” and clear your head. We absolutely adore this place, warts and all, and invite everyone to join our grass-roots effort.
Visitors, please:
In the spirit of a Benjamin Franklin quote,
“One can tell the morals of their culture by the way they treat their dead”:
1 BE CAREFUL. No climbing on the stones, they may topple, stay clear of them. There are also holes in the ground. Pond Springs Historical Cemetery Association, Inc., is in no way responsible or liable for any injuries obtained on the property.
2 Respect the headstones and foot stones. They are historical documentation, and for a lot of people buried there, they are the only proof that they were ever born.
3 Respect the flora, fauna, and wildlife on the property.
4 No camping.
5 No trespassing after dark.
6 No open flames. This includes, but is not limited to, candles and cigarettes.
7 No alcohol. Whether it is in an open container or not.
8 Whatever it is, “If you brought it in, you take it out”.
9 No chalking, foaming, rubbing of the stones. Or any other means of capturing its info and charm, other than photography. Photography only.
10 Legaleeze: In the State of Texas, all cemeteries are protected under Criminal Mischief, Penal Code 28.03, which states:
“An offense under this section is a state jail felony if the damage or destruction is inflicted on a place of worship or human burial, a public monument, or a community center that provides medical, social, or educational programs and the amount of the pecuniary loss to real property or to tangible personal property is less than $20,000.” (visit http://www.thc.state.tx.us/cemeteries/cemWord/CemeteryDesecretionWhitePaper.doc). And we will find a way to prosecute.
If you are a descendant of anyone buried here, we’d love to hear from you. Please leave a comment, a memory of your relative, a photo of them, anything, it would truly be a treasure !
It costs lots of money to keep up this level of care. If you’d like to join our Association, the dues are only $25 annually. Or, if you simply wish to donate, you can. We take anything that’s green paper ! We also take fire ant killer, agricultural vinegar for weed killer, weed eater string, a gallon or two of water for the water barrel, etc. Just leave it at the base of the historical marker and give us a call to pick it up (737.781.0629). We also LOVE good neighbors who call 911 if they see anything amiss. To name the major things, we use the money primarily to file state taxes, pay registration fees for Thunder’s Trailer, gas money for the mowers, mower maintenance and repair, weed wacker string, paint & related supplies, agricultural vinegar, fire ant killer, tree services, just a few office supplies, to replace/repair markers, and one or two “improvements” if there’s enough left over.
We are recognized by the IRS and the State of Texas. To mail in a check, visit our link “How to Donate: Membership Fees and Other Ways to Help” (on the menu to the right of this page). Or, click the “Donate” button at the top of the page, which will direct you to (secure) PayPal. We thank you in advance. Take care and thanks for reading us.
– Suzanne Tucker Borum, President
– Pond Springs Historical Cemetery Association Inc.
– 737.781.0629
I would like to dedicate this blog to my awesomely wonderful Dad, 1923-2007, who STILL encourages me every day. Fish on Daddy, your “Motor-Mouth” will always love you !
Pond Springs Cemetery Blog 