A curious thing about time is how it connects us to those long gone. Here at the Calloway Cemetery Plaque, we can feel that connection. The Calloway Cemetery Plaque isn’t just a piece of metal. It’s a portal to the past. It commemorates a vital piece of Euless history.
The Calloway Cemetery Plaque tells the story of a family and a community. The land for Calloway Cemetery was donated by the Calloway family in 1886. Richard and Joseph Calloway, two brothers, are among the earliest marked graves. They owned the land in the 1860s. Richard’s widow, Catherine Calloway, formally deeded a portion of the land for use as a public burial ground. The cemetery began as a family plot and grew to include the graves of neighbors and other early settlers.
The Calloway Cemetery started small, just 1.5 acres including existing family and neighbor graves. Today, the Calloway Cemetery occupies 2.5 acres. A board of trustees manages the cemetery. It operates with 501c(13) non-profit status. The cemetery has earned a Historic Cemetery Designation, a Historic Medallion, and a State Historical Marker. This marker, the plaque before us, was placed in 1980. A Historic Texas Cemetery medallion was added later, in 2009.
Originally families cared for the cemetery grounds themselves. Annual gatherings were held to tend the graves and maintain the space. In 1971 a perpetual care fund was established. This ensured ongoing care for the cemetery. The establishment of the fund reflects the community’s enduring respect for its history and those resting here.
The plaque also mentions a wooden tabernacle built in 1908. This simple structure speaks to the community’s faith and its importance in the lives of those buried here. It stands as a testament to the Calloway family’s generosity and the community’s dedication to preserving its history. The Calloway Cemetery and its plaque stand as a quiet reminder of the lives lived and the legacies left behind. They remind us that history isn’t just in books. It’s etched in stone and whispered on the wind, waiting to be rediscovered by those who pause to listen.