With living next to the cemetery, many people expect me to be haunted and afraid, but instead I'm fascinated by the history, symbolism, and the importance of the cemetery. Over the summer, I fell down the wormhole of uncovering the history in my backyard. With every new name and family I discovered it led to another story, from important founders of Wylie, heart wrenching family tragedies, to graves of over 20 Civil War, Korean War, World War One (WWI), World War Two (WWII), and Vietnam War veterans. Behind those cemetery gates, there's a museum of history.
Wylie Cemetery, located at Fifth Street and Masters Avenue, was founded by Wylie Cemetery Company in 1889 on five acres. According to the state historical marker in the cemetery, the cemetery was established in 1889 and was owned by William M. Housewright, who shortly became the first marked grave in the cemetery after dying from pneumonia later in the year.
Other important people to Wylie are also buried in the cemetery, including William Thomas Brown and his wife Martha (Mattie) Thomas Brown, formerly known as Martha Housewright, Mr. Housewright's daughter. Mr and Mrs. Brown used to own the Brown House on the corner of Brown street and Ballard, building the house shortly after moving. Mr. Brown, along with his business partner, John H. Burns purchased over 31 acres of Wylie’s land.
Burns and his family are buried near the Browns as well. Buried a little behind the Browns are their adopted daughter, Tennie Lee (Rattaree) Creel, and her family. Alongside Tennie is the grave of her young child. It was common for children and infants to die young due to the lack of medical knowledge in the late 19th century. The cemetery is littered with graves of young children, often marked with doves, cherubs, and lambs to represent the purity of the lives taken prematurely.
Marked in History \\ Erected in the middle of the Wylie Cemetery, the official Texas Historic marker stands. The Wylie Cemetery earned the historic marker in 2003 from the state of Texas. Many graves in the cemetery date back to the late 1800s. The cemetery is the resting place to many veterans as well as other important people to Wylie.
The Birminghams are buried and remembered in the Wylie Cemetery as well. The Birminghams donated a trust to the Wylie ISD to help fund the upbringing of the many schools in our district. The fund was created on Nov 19, 1940, by T.F. Birmingham and Hattie A. Birmingham as a memorial to their oldest son, Franklin Ovid Birmingham, who died on Oct 9, 1911 and is buried at the Wylie Cemetery.
The Birminghams \\ Paying respects, Skills USA club visits the graves of the Birminghams. The Birminghams created a trust for the schools of Wylie to help fund various opportunities for students. Every year Wylie ISD staff and students visit the graves to give their thanks. photos by: April Cunningham
"More children should be given the opportunity to learn the mechanical trades, the different handicrafts and useful arts, the dignity of labor, and the ever important lessons in cooking, sewing and other domestic ways of life." --Hattie Birmingham
It was the opinion of T.F. and Hattie Birmingham that "more children should be given the opportunity to learn the mechanical trades, the different handicrafts and useful arts, the dignity of labor, and the ever important lessons in cooking, sewing and other domestic ways of life." The trust was established to accomplish their wishes and desires in these areas. Current residents of Wylie visit the graves of the Birminghams to remember their kindness towards the town's children, helping the district provide students with the education they need to make a future for themselves.
Without people like the Browns, the Housewrights, and the Birminghams, Wylie would not be the town it is today. Instead of thinking about ghosts and monsters when you hear the word cemetery, think about the memorialization of past lives and the history etched in stone. It's important to respect and remember the pioneers and the town's rich history.
Credits:
Avery Heist