Near Henderson in Rusk County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Pleasant Hill Cemetery

Photographed by James Hulse, March 16, 2025

1. Pleasant Hill Cemetery Marker

Inscription. Located on land donated in 1845 by Captain Robert W. Smith (1814-1851), a veteran of the Texas Revolution, this cemetery first served the members of Pleasant Hill Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The earliest marked grave is that of DeWitt Smith, who died in 1850. Also buried here are 112 victims of the March 18, 1937, explosion which destroyed the school at New London (4 mi. NW) and killed 293 students and teachers. Annual Pleasant Hill homecoming activities, including a memorial service and dinner on the grounds, are conducted here each July.

Erected 1980 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 11047.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Disasters. A significant historical date for this entry is March 18, 1937.

Location. 32° 12.626′ N, 94° 53.341′ W. Marker is near Henderson, Texas, in Rusk County. It is on Van Buren Street (U.S. 323) west of Marshall Cox Rd, on the left when traveling west. The marker is located at the entrance to the cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6826 State Hwy 323, Henderson TX 75652, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and in the Piney Woods.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Captain Robert W. Smith

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(about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Commemorating The Daisy Bradford #3 (approx. 2.3 miles away); Gaston Public School Complex (approx. 2.3 miles away); The First Well in the East Texas Oil Field (approx. 3 miles away); The Joiner No. 3 Daisy Bradford (approx. 3 miles away); London Baptist Church (approx. 3.6 miles away); New London School Explosion (approx. 3.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Henderson.

Also see . . . New London School explosion. Wikipedia

The New London School explosion occurred on March 18, 1937, when a natural gas leak caused an explosion and destroyed the London School in New London, Texas, United States. The disaster killed 295 students and teachers. As of 2021, the event is the third-deadliest disaster in the history of Texas, after the 1900 Galveston hurricane and the 1947 Texas City disaster.

(Submitted on March 25, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Pleasant Hill Cemetery and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, March 16, 2025

2. Pleasant Hill Cemetery and Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on March 25, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 24, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 406 times since then and 77 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 25, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.