Here stands the Harrisburg-Jackson Cemetery Plaque. A simple marker yet it speaks volumes. It commemorates two intertwined cemeteries Harrisburg and Jackson. Both served the Black community for decades. Harrisburg Cemetery possibly started around 1883. Jackson Cemetery followed around 1900. They lie so close together they’re practically one. The plaque’s presence is a testament to the rich history buried beneath. A history often overlooked. A history of resilience and perseverance.
The Harrisburg-Jackson cemeteries weren’t just burial grounds. They were community anchors. Former enslaved people found rest here. Veterans from the Civil War World War I and World War II are also buried here. Their stories woven into the very earth. Imagine the lives lived the struggles endured. The hopes and dreams held close. All resting in this quiet corner of Houston’s past.
Sadly both cemeteries were abandoned by 1967. The passage of time has taken its toll. The wrought iron fence surrounding the original PRIOR family plot in Harrisburg Cemetery is long gone. The remains of a church once standing on land now part of the cemetery is reduced to a mere concrete slab. The neglect is palpable. Yet the plaque stands strong. It refuses to let their stories fade.
This Harrisburg-Jackson Cemetery Plaque serves as a poignant reminder. A reminder of those who came before us. Their contributions to this community often unacknowledged. Their lives etched in the fading headstones. It is a call for remembrance. A reminder that even in the quietest of places history whispers. Let us listen. Let us learn. Let us honor those buried here at the Harrisburg-Jackson Cemetery. Their stories are worth preserving. Their memories are worth cherishing.