Beneath the shadow of the Elder Street Artists Lofts stands a poignant reminder of Houston’s past. This is the Old City Cemetery Plaque. It marks a site where thousands of souls once rested. This was Houston’s second official cemetery. Founded in 1840 it quickly became overcrowded.
Initially divided into sections for different demographics this cemetery held more than just families. Paupers and those who died in duels or by suicide were also buried here. Mass graves for victims of yellow fever epidemics were added later. Masons and members of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows had designated sections as well. Confederate veterans found their final resting place amongst the others.
By 1879 the cemetery reached capacity. A third burial ground was established. This one eventually disappeared in 1944 under Allen Parkway Village. Some remains were moved but many were lost. The Old City Cemetery’s original site was largely abandoned by 1890. It fell into disrepair.
In 1924 a city and county charity hospital was built on top of a part of the cemetery. The Jefferson Davis Hospital was constructed with a raised basement. This was done to avoid disturbing some remains. However many graves were undoubtedly destroyed during construction. The building later became artists’ lofts. The hospital’s name reflects the many Confederate veterans buried here. The Sons and Daughters of the Confederacy insisted on the name.
In 1968 the Houston Fire Department built a maintenance facility and parking lot over more of the cemetery. Unknown Confederate soldiers’ graves were uncovered. These were reburied. A marker notes the resting place of 32 Confederate soldiers. The Old City Cemetery Plaque is a somber testament to a forgotten corner of Houston’s history. It’s a place where the living and the dead exist side by side in a space that speaks of life and loss and the changing landscape of a growing city.