Local volunteers strive to preserve forgotten cemetery

  • Nov. 18, several volunteers helped clean up Stringtown Cemetery, an old Burnet County graveyard along CR 326A between Bertram and Oatmeal. (From left, front row) Tanna Burge, Barbara Lamb, Burnet Historical Commission President Rachel Bryson and Nicole Ritchie and (back row) Jason Jewett, Reno Lamb, Lee Kirkland, Michael Ritchie and Jonathan Perkins. Photos by Raymond V. Whelan/The Highlander
    Nov. 18, several volunteers helped clean up Stringtown Cemetery, an old Burnet County graveyard along CR 326A between Bertram and Oatmeal. (From left, front row) Tanna Burge, Barbara Lamb, Burnet Historical Commission President Rachel Bryson and Nicole Ritchie and (back row) Jason Jewett, Reno Lamb, Lee Kirkland, Michael Ritchie and Jonathan Perkins. Photos by Raymond V. Whelan/The Highlander
  • Volunteer Michael Ritchie hangs on to a stubborn branch while fellow volunteer Lee Kirkland saws away during cleanup Nov. 18 at the Stringtown cemetery, an old Burnet County graveyard along CR 326A.
    Volunteer Michael Ritchie hangs on to a stubborn branch while fellow volunteer Lee Kirkland saws away during cleanup Nov. 18 at the Stringtown cemetery, an old Burnet County graveyard along CR 326A.
  • The modest headstone of Sindia Houston Huling (1866-1918) rests between Bertram and Oatmeal in the Stringtown Cemetery, an old Burnet County graveyard along CR 326A.
    The modest headstone of Sindia Houston Huling (1866-1918) rests between Bertram and Oatmeal in the Stringtown Cemetery, an old Burnet County graveyard along CR 326A.
  • Jason Jewett carries deadwood out of Stringtown Cemetery between Bertram and Oatmeal. Several other volunteers helped clean up the old Burnet County graveyard along CR 326A Nov. 18.
    Jason Jewett carries deadwood out of Stringtown Cemetery between Bertram and Oatmeal. Several other volunteers helped clean up the old Burnet County graveyard along CR 326A Nov. 18.
  • Bertram resident Tanna Burge clips dense weeds out of Stringtown Cemetery along CR 326A in Burnet County Nov. 18
    Bertram resident Tanna Burge clips dense weeds out of Stringtown Cemetery along CR 326A in Burnet County Nov. 18
  • Nicole Ritchie lugs deadwood to a trailer while Lee Kirkland saws off more deadwood during cleanup Nov. 18 at the Stringtown cemetery between Bertram and Oatmeal.
    Nicole Ritchie lugs deadwood to a trailer while Lee Kirkland saws off more deadwood during cleanup Nov. 18 at the Stringtown cemetery between Bertram and Oatmeal.
  • Reno Lamb (standing) observes while his daughter Barbara (kneeling) and (left) Tanna Burge cut away pesky plants during cleanup Nov. 18 at the Stringtown cemetery in Burnet County.
    Reno Lamb (standing) observes while his daughter Barbara (kneeling) and (left) Tanna Burge cut away pesky plants during cleanup Nov. 18 at the Stringtown cemetery in Burnet County.
Stringtown Cemetery lies near Bertram and Oatmeal along CR 326A, one yellow-colored, unpaved, narrow track of stony road near a sheep ranch due southwest of Texas 29 and FM 1174. The remote graveyard is the final resting place for 70 bodies. However, perhaps as many as 50 dead rest in graves unmarked by a memorial stone. The rest of the departed do have an aged, weather-beaten stone marker…

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