Ever consider the stories etched in stone? Here, at the Plano Cemetery Plaque, we uncover a slice of Plano’s past. This marker isn’t just a slab of metal. It is a gateway to understanding the lives and times of early Collin County settlers.
The Plano Cemetery Plaque marks a graveyard. This graveyard began as part of Joseph Klepper’s land. Klepper received this land through the Peters Colony land grant. He came to Collin County from Illinois around 1845. He died in 1884.
This burial site holds the remains of five Peters colonists. Their families also rest here. Other early settlers found their final resting place in this ground. Over the years, many prominent Plano citizens were buried here. Both white and black residents were interred here.
Later, the cemetery became the only black burial ground for the community. This detail underscores the evolving social landscape of Plano. The Plano Cemetery has a strong connection to the First Methodist Church. Joseph Klepper deeded land adjacent to the graveyard to the church. The church was next to the graveyard for several years. This further cemented the cemetery’s role in Plano’s community life. The first Methodist Church in Plano was built here on March 31, 1874. The church building is no longer at that location. Yet, the Kleppers continued to sell deeds to cemetery plots even after the church was built.
The Plano Cemetery is located between 11th and 12th Streets. It lies between Avenues H and I in Plano. You will find the historical marker and gate at the end of H Place.
The Douglass Community partly maintains the Plano Cemetery. The Douglass Community Center is located on the west side of Avenue H. A newspaper article once called it the Douglass Community Cemetery.
The Plano Cemetery is divided into sections. The older section is to the north. There are over 100 graves in this part. This older section used to be racially divided. White people were buried on the north side. Black people were buried on the south side. The newer portion of the Plano Cemetery is on the south side of the fence. This section serves as the black cemetery. It remains in use today. The City of Plano mows the cemetery.
The Plano Cemetery Plaque itself was installed in 1980. It stands as a testament to the community’s desire to preserve its heritage. The 18″ x 28″ marker tells a concise story. It speaks of land grants, early settlers, and racial divisions.
So, as you stand before the Plano Cemetery Plaque, remember the lives it commemorates. Remember the stories it whispers. It is more than a historical marker. It is a tangible link to Plano’s past. It reminds us of the people who shaped this community. Their struggles and triumphs are etched in this hallowed ground.