U.S History Project: Glenwood Cemetery Visit

I went to the Glenwood Cemetery this weekend. I was surprised with how beautiful the cemetery grounds were, on the website it says it has a common 19th century romantic feel. It was raining when I went to Glenwood and it added a ominous feeling.

Numerous famous people are buried in the Glenwood Cemetery, including:

Blaffer, R.L. (1876-1942) Co-founder of Humble Oil (now part of Exxon Mobil)
Carter, Samuel Fain (1857-1928)Founder of Lumberman’s National Bank (later Second National Bank); built Houston’s tallest building in 1911
Gearing, Mary Edna (Mamie) (1872-1946) Instrumental in starting the first kindergarten class in Houston; established the School of Domestic Economy at the University of Texas; first female full professor and department chair at UT. (had to include this one I'm a huge longhorn fan!)
Hermann, George (1843-1914)
Millionaire cattleman, businessman and real estate investor, he left his entire fortune for the benefit of all Houstonians in such institutions as Hermann Hospital, Hermann Park, and Hermann Square at City Hall
Hobby, William P. (1878-1964)
Governor of Texas 1917-1919; publisher of the Houston Post; radio and television executive (KPRC)
Hofheinz, Roy (1912-1982) Co-founded the Houston Sports Association, which brought major league baseball to Houston; built the Astrodome and Astrodomain; Harris County Judge; two-term Mayor of Houston
Holland, Dr. Margaret Ellen (1847-1921) Houston’s first female physician, established her practice here in 1871 following her graduation from Woman’s Medical College in Chicago and continuing until her death in 1921; recognizing the importance of education, she was a leader in the Public School Art League and the PTA.
Hughes, Jr., Howard R. (1905-1976)
Billionaire and man of legendary accomplishments in business, aviation and film making. He assumed control of the Hughes Tool Company at the age of 19, following his father’s death. In the late 1920s he moved to Hollywood. His best-remembered films are the epic Hell’s Angels (1930) and The Outlaw (1941). During WWII and the decade that followed, he pursued his fascination with aviation, forming Hughes Aviation and receiving government contracts for development and manufacture of aircraft (including the wooden flying boat dubbed “The Spruce Goose”). In 1956 he acquired TWA and pushed it into the jet age. By the late 1960s, he was becoming increasingly reclusive, eventually running his business empire from a penthouse atop the Dessert Inn in Las Vegas. He died on a flight from Acapulco to Houston.
Hutcheson, Sr., Hon. Joseph C. (1842-1924) As State Representative, drafted bill that established the University of Texas; served in U.S. Congress 1893-1897
Jones, Anson (1798-1858)
Physician who served as the last President of the Republic of Texas.
Lee, Gene Tierney (1920-1991)Hollywood actress best known for the title role in the 1944 film classic Laura; also starred in The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, The Left Hand of God, Advise and Consent; Oscar nomination for Leave Her to Heaven
Saunders, Edna (1880-1963) The most successful impresario in the Southwest, in her fifty-year career she brought to Houston such performers as Caruso, Rachmaninoff, Marian Anderson, John Philip Sousa and Will Rogers. Under her auspices, the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and the Metropolitan Opera appeared annually in Houston. The present-day Society for the Performing Arts evolved from her dedication to Houston’s cultural life.
Sterling, Ross (1875-1949)
Governor of Texas 1931-32; publisher of Houston Post-Dispatch; co‑founder of Humble Oil Company (now part of Exxon Mobil)

It did not appear that the cemetery was separated by race or ethnic groups. There were only a couple mausoleums in the cemetery and they were not as eccentric as the ones down in the cemeteries on Galveston. Their was copious amounts of angel statues on Glenwood, most were very peaceful looking but a couple looked intimidating. The grave stones and grounds were in great condition, its hard to believe that some of the headstones were over 100 years old by how good they looked. Some headstones were done in this white marble looking stone that I have never seen in modern cemeteries.

The Glenwood Cemetery collects some from burials and other fees but most of its money is from donations. The Glenwood Cemetery Historic Preservation Foundation was formed in 1999 The foundation is run by a board of volunteer trustees