Hornsby Cemetery road
Donation protected
The Hornsby Cemetery Board of Governors is the board that cares for our cemetery and we're the ones trying to rise the funds. We will be extremely grateful for any help given us to do so. Please note that the Hornsby Cemetery Board of Governors is a 501(c)(13) organization and donations are tax deductible.
The Hornsby Cemetery is the oldest continually used cemetery in Travis County. It is on FM 969 and the road to the cemetery is about a half mile west of the FM 969-FM 973 intersection. There is a bit of history about it below the photos and we'll be most happy to answer any questions.
It is our road that is the problem. It is approximately 1750'-1800' long, one lane and dirt for the most part. For about the first 1400', it slopes gently but is getting deeply rutted with grass and weeds that grow in the middle of the ruts scraping the bottom of the cars. Then one comes to a place where it begins to slope more drastically for a distance and then it drops down to the level of the cemetery.
It is this last 350' or so that is the immediate problem. This area is caliche and continually washes out after our rains leaving trenches. These can be seen in the photos below after one such washout. We have to continually pay to have the area filled which only lasts for a short time. We want to make a permanently fix the problem.
It will take an estimated $30,000 to chip seal the whole road. But the first $4,600 raised will immediately be used to fix this area.
We frequently have calls asking for directions from visitors in the Austin area. We sincerely do not want visitors nor family members bringing flowers to lay on a loved ones' gravesite to have to call a tow truck.
This coming April 2019 is our Reuben Hornsby Chapter DRT's 100th anniversary. We are planning a big family reunion and a trip to the cemetery. With the spring rains, there's no guarantee that the road will be passable if we can't get repairs done prior to then.
The beginning of the downward slope and trenches.
The Hornsby Cemetery is the oldest continually used cemetery in Travis County. It is on FM 969 and the road to the cemetery is about a half mile west of the FM 969-FM 973 intersection. There is a bit of history about it below the photos and we'll be most happy to answer any questions.
It is our road that is the problem. It is approximately 1750'-1800' long, one lane and dirt for the most part. For about the first 1400', it slopes gently but is getting deeply rutted with grass and weeds that grow in the middle of the ruts scraping the bottom of the cars. Then one comes to a place where it begins to slope more drastically for a distance and then it drops down to the level of the cemetery.
It is this last 350' or so that is the immediate problem. This area is caliche and continually washes out after our rains leaving trenches. These can be seen in the photos below after one such washout. We have to continually pay to have the area filled which only lasts for a short time. We want to make a permanently fix the problem.
It will take an estimated $30,000 to chip seal the whole road. But the first $4,600 raised will immediately be used to fix this area.
We frequently have calls asking for directions from visitors in the Austin area. We sincerely do not want visitors nor family members bringing flowers to lay on a loved ones' gravesite to have to call a tow truck.
This coming April 2019 is our Reuben Hornsby Chapter DRT's 100th anniversary. We are planning a big family reunion and a trip to the cemetery. With the spring rains, there's no guarantee that the road will be passable if we can't get repairs done prior to then.
The beginning of the downward slope and trenches.
The trenches in the above photo can be seen at the top of the road before the major washed out area.
This is the depth of the trench that extends completely across the road except for the one portion next to the fence.
I have a low clearance car and took these photos once I made it past the washed out area barely between the trench and scraping the side of the car on the fence and cactus. I had to slid the one large rock over to help get traction going back up because part of the road had given way. I said then if I could do anything so no one would be put in this position, I would do so.
A bit of our cemetery's history
A bit of our cemetery's history
The first buried there were two Texas Rangers killed in an Indian raid at the family home in May 1836 shortly after the Battle of San Jacinto. We now have more than 300 that have been laid to rest in our lovely cemetery. There are 15 Texas Rangers of which twelve are family and there are five more family members that were Texas Rangers buried in other cemeteries in the state. The Texas Rangers Museum in Waco is celebrating its 200th anniversary in 2023. It depends on the families and descendants along with others that support the Texas Rangers to keep the museum up and running.
Rogers Hornsby, Baseball Hall of Fame, is also buried here along with his parents and siblings. Frequently baseballs and gloves will be found left on his tombstone. Many baseball fans come to the cemetery to just see his headstone and honor him.
The cemetery is still on land that is part of the original Reuben Hornsby land grant and has been granted historic status.
Hornsby Cemetery Board of Governors
Dorothy Landoll, President
Rogers Hornsby, Baseball Hall of Fame, is also buried here along with his parents and siblings. Frequently baseballs and gloves will be found left on his tombstone. Many baseball fans come to the cemetery to just see his headstone and honor him.
The cemetery is still on land that is part of the original Reuben Hornsby land grant and has been granted historic status.
Hornsby Cemetery Board of Governors
Dorothy Landoll, President
Organizer
Dorothy Landoll
Organizer
Austin, TX
