I got an email the other day about Descendants of Olivewood, a 501 (c) organization dedicated to the restoration and preservation of the historic Olivewood cemetery, and thought it was worth passing along. From the site:
Nestled against a bend of White Oak Bayou, and surrounded by rich Houston history, lies Olivewood, the city’s first incorporated African American cemetery. It’s been a jungle for years – the headstones have been literally buried under massive carpets of vegetation. Extending over an estimated 8 acres, only the front quarter of the cemetery had been successfully cleared of the seemingly endless tropical abundance including poison ivy and oak. For a long time, only the larger mortuary architecture rising above the undergrowth has hinted at Olivewood’s location.
Descendants of Olivewood, Inc. is dedicated to the reclamation of this cemetery for the benefit of the present and future generations of Houston. We are committed to restoring, preserving and maintaining Olivewood Cemetery as a historic, educational, charitable, religious and cultural site of importance.
Olivewood was incorporated in 1875, so to say the least it’s a vital piece of Houston’s history. There will be a historical marker dedication ceremony this Saturday, and the organization is looking for folks to help with a variety of projects. If you’re interested, drop a note to info@descendantsofolivewood.org. Thanks very much.