Thurber Cemetery

 

This 9.1 acre cemetery is diagonally bisected by the Palo Pinto/Erath County line such that the cemetery is in two counties. The oldest grave in this 100 year old cemetery is that of an African-American girl, Eva Chapman, born and died _21, 1890. Over 1000 people are buried herein, but 694 are in unmarked graves; indicated by white metal crosses or white plastic pipes. Their names are listed on the large Monument To Those In Unmarked Graves near the entrance. Why so many unmarked graves? As long as Thurber was active, and although graves were temporarily marked with stones, bricks or wooden crosses, families knew grave locations and lovingly tended them. When Thurber was abandoned in the mid-1930's, the intent was to return with permanent markers. But it never worked out that way.

The cemetery has three distinct sections: the African-American, the Catholic and the White Protestant. And each section had its own entrance. The east gate, in use today, was for the African-Americans, the north gate for the Catholics and the south gate for the White Protestants. In the African-American Section there are two identical, adjacent tombstones for Mary Green, each a wife of Jack Green. But ages are different. With identical tombstones, Jack was careful to not show partiality to either wife. An 8 foot weather-worn wooden cross marks the grave of Anthony Bascilli. This man dug his own grave, lined it with bricks and marked it with the cross. To ensure that those shoveling dirt in his grave would be careful, he said he had hidden pints of whisky in the dirt he dug out. A new suit and new shoes were placed in the foot of his casket. A metal door was hinged over the casket, a few feet of dirt was shoveled in, then another metal door with lock a placed over this and covered with remaining dirt. A key was dropped down a pipe to the casket. One can only imagine Bascilli's conception of Resurrection Day: He certainly wanted to be pre- sentable, and the first one out! Over half the graves are children less than two years old. Little babies were sometimes buried in shoe boxes. There were several instances when one family buried three children in one year. The Castaldo burial plot (low metal fence and tall four-sided marker) has graves for three children who all died within a few days of each other. After burying their first child, the family returned home to find a second child had died. Four days later a third child died. There were diseases which are not common today; diphtheria, scarlet fever, whooping cough and malaria.

Next to the Castaldo burials is a grave plot which is a mystery. It is neatly outlined with six cedar trees and a brick fence. But apparently no one is buried there. There was a Knights of Pythias symbol on the gate. But why is this in the Catholic Section when the Church banned secret lodges?

Fifteen years ago, an unscrupulous rancher opened cemetery gates to permit cattle to graze in the cemetery, and to this day damage is still being corrected. One of the tombstones knocked over by cattle was that of Rev. J.B. Dodson 1856-19l9. Research by local Methodists discovered an old-time circuit riding preacher who had briefly served as pastor of Thurber's Methodist Church. Although born in Missouri and dying in Dallas, this minister wanted to be buried in Thurber. In the Fall of 1993, the Methodist Church honored Rev. Dodson by placing a Circuit Rider emblem on his tombstone (preacher with Bible on horseback).

Mike McCounnla's tombstone was carved out of sandstone. Mike was proud of his union membership in the Brick, Tile and Terra cotta Workers Union whose logo was a triangle with the letters "B" "A" "T" and "A" "T" at each apex. In the upper left corner of Mike's tombstone is the union symbol, but the "B" is backward.

Georgie Milligan. Concrete marker. "As yo(sic) are now, so once was I, As I am now so yo(sic) must be. So trust in God and follow me."

A beautifully detailed weathered sandstone marks the graves of two Croatian sisters, Marija and Olga Kalcicrodje. There are three other similar sandstone markers in the cemetery, all undoubtedly carved by the same meticulous craftsman. The words are in Croatian and translate: A Here are resting in peace two sisters, and Marija (dates). This monument erected by their parents. "Let the soil be light for them".

Because of rocks in the cemetery, particularly in the African-American Section, graves were hard to dig, and sometimes dynamite was used to blast out graves. When one heard a dynamite blast emanating from the direction of the cemetery, the question might be asked, "I wonder Who died?"

If You would like a $50 or $250 name brick placed at the base of the Monument To Those In Unmarked Graves, contact Thurber Cemetery Association, Box 115, Mingus, TX 76463. Thurber Cemetery Association, Box 115, Mingus Texas 76463, or leave information at New York Iiill Restaurant.