Washington Avenue Coalition / Memorial Park in Houston in Harris County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Olivewood Cemetery
This cemetery served the early African-American community in Houston for approximately 100 years. The Olivewood Cemetery Association incorporated in 1875 and purchased 5.5 acres of this property that same year from Elizabeth Morin Slocomb. The organization bought two adjacent acres in 1917. Also known in its early years as olive wood, hollow wood and hollywood, it is one of the oldest known platted cemeteries in the city. The original 444 family plots comprising over 5,000 burial spaces were laid out along an elliptical drive. The burial ground contains several hundred marked graves, in addition to an unknown number of unmarked graves.
Interred here are pivotal leaders of Houston's post emancipation African-American community, including the pastor of Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, the Rev. Elias Dibble; Businessman James B. Bell; Alderman and Landowner Richard Brock; Attorney J. Vance Lewis; Educator James D. Ryan; Physician Russell F. Ferrill; and Dentist Milton A. Baker. Also buried here are ex-slaves, laborers, sororal and fraternal organization members, and military veterans.
This cemetery features obelisks, statuary, curbing and interior fencing. The burial ground also includes examples of preemancipation burial practices, including upright pipes (symbolizing the path between the worlds of the living and the dead), ocean shells as grave ornaments and text containing upside down or backwards letters (as used in some West African cultures to signify death). Today, Olivewood Cemetery remains as a key historical site in Houston, serving as a testament to the foresight and perseverance of the cemetery founders.
Historic Texas Cemetery - 2006
Marker is property of the State of Texas
Erected 2006 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 14239.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Cemeteries & Burial Sites. A significant historical year for this entry is 1875.
Location. 29° 46.417′ N, 95° 23.558′ W. Marker is in Houston, Texas, in Harris County. It is in Washington Avenue Coalition / Memorial Park. Marker is on Summer Street, 0.1 miles west of Studemont Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Houston TX 77007, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Damascus Missionary Baptist Church (approx. ¼ mile away); Houston Heights (approx. 0.4 miles away); Houston Cemetery Company (approx. half a mile away); William Gammell (approx. 0.6 miles away); Eugene Thomas Heiner (approx. 0.6 miles away); James Robert Cade (approx. 0.6 miles away); Caspar Braun (approx. 0.6 miles away); Ellis Benson (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Houston.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 13, 2020, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 206 times since then and 12 times this year. Last updated on July 11, 2022, by Joe Lotz of Denton, Texas. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on October 13, 2020, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.