Time slipped away like grains of sand. Westcott Cemetery. Its weathered stones whispered tales of lives lived and lost. Here in this quiet corner of North Houston near Jensen Drive and McDaniel Street lies a treasure. A history almost forgotten.
Westcott Cemetery holds more than just graves. It’s a family legacy. Richard Westcott a pioneer arrived in the 1850s. He acquired 696 acres. After his wife Almira’s passing in 1869 he gifted parts of his land to his children. Jennie Gammon Westcott Kendall inherited the land where the cemetery now stands. She generously dedicated a quarter-acre to the community in 1893.
The Westcott family plot became a community burial ground. Other families joined the Westcotts. These included the McDaniel McDonald Cours Farmer and Schuller families. Their intertwined lives are etched in stone. Their stories told in the weathered headstones.
Sadly vandalism took its toll. Many headstones crumbled or were toppled. The cemetery fell into disrepair. This is until 2013 when the neighborhood rallied. They cleaned and mowed the grounds.
Three descendant siblings saw the potential. They formed the Westcott Cemetery Association in 2018. With the help of the Texas Historical Commission the cemetery gained official recognition in 2021. It was named McDaniel Street Cemetery. It was then designated a Historic Texas Cemetery. The Westcott Cemetery Association became the legal guardian. They are responsible for the cemetery’s upkeep and preservation.
Even in its decay Westcott Cemetery reveals touching details. A small headstone marked Amanda daughter of H and HR Westcott. She lived only a few months. Then Claricia another daughter lived barely longer. Such losses echo across the ages. The names and dates on the headstones speak of brief lives ended too soon.
The oldest legible grave dates back to 1862. A red brick wall and a lichgate were built around the cemetery around 1930. This suggests that the central part was claimed by the Westcott family earlier. The names and dates listed tell the story of families. The Westcott family is the most prominent but others have their space here too.
The cemetery continues its slow revival. The association is working to restore it as a passive greenspace. Their vision is for it to be a source of community pride serenity and learning. The Westcott Cemetery’s history is slowly being pieced together. It’s a story of family loss and community resilience. It’s a legacy that deserves to be remembered. A legacy which we all share in this quiet place. The Westcott Cemetery remains a vibrant testament. It shows the enduring power of family and community. It holds an important part of Houston’s heritage.