Springer-Macedonia Cemetery

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker says about Springer-Macedonia Cemetery, out there in Waller County. Now, some places carry more than one name, and there's usually a story in that. This cemetery carries two, and both of them matter.

The pioneer Springer family, they donated the original two acres of this graveyard. Two acres of ground they gave over to the community, and in doing so they left their name on more than just the burial site. The Springer name went to the surrounding community and to a school in this area, a school also known as McPherson School.

That's two things named, right there, from one family's generosity. But the land wasn't done accumulating names. Later, the cemetery took on a second identity, Macedonia, drawn from a nearby church that was founded in the 1890s.

So the place holds both names now, layered one on top of the other like the generations it has kept. As for how far back the burials actually go, well, the marker is honest about this: they probably predate the earliest marked grave on record. That marked grave belongs to Oliver McPherson, who died in 1871.

Probably predate it. Which means whatever came before is out there in that ground without a stone to say so, and the full depth of this community's history may never be fully counted. What is counted comes to about three hundred known graves, the land enlarged over the years by additional gifts, neighbors adding to what the Springer family started.

The Macedonia Cemetery Association, incorporated in 1976, is the one keeping watch over it today. Two names, three hundred known souls, and likely more the records never caught. That's the kind of place that asks you to stand still for a minute before you move on.

What the marker says

The pioneer Springer family donated the original two acres of this graveyard and gave their name to the community in this area and to a school, also known as McPherson School. Later the cemetery was called Macedonia, for the nearby church founded in the 1890s. Burials probably predate the earliest marked grave, that of Oliver McPherson (d. 1871). Enlarged by additional gifts of land, the community burial ground contains about 300 known graves. The Macedonia Cemetery Association, incorporated in 1976, maintains the site.