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West Hill Cemetery Sherman, Texas Herald Democrat Tuesday, July 1, 2014 SHERMAN TO EXPAND CEMETERY by Nate Strauch (excerpts) Benjamin Franklin made famous the quote, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” The city has only 155 graves left unsold in the 24,000-plot facility, which has been in use by locals since at least 1857. Sherman has about 3 years worth of space remaining. City management has earmarked three areas on the cemetery property that can quickly be turned into additional burial ground, with plans to develop the largest of those lots during the next budget year. City Manager George Olson said work should begin sometime between October and next summer on the project, which will be funded through money in the Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund. The city has only 155 graves left unsold in the 24,000-plot facility, which has been in use by locals since at least 1857. Though the city’s annual burial rate of approximately 142 interments per year suggest a rather dire picture. The cemetery expansion will provide an additional 3,146 burial plots, or enough to last the city for another two decades if current rates hold. Some years down the road, when Sherman exhausts the added Phase I plots, two other areas of city-owned land near the cemetery could provide a Phase II and Phase III expansion. Together, those tracts could hold another 4,000 graves across 3.6 acres. “We believe we’re somewhere in the neighborhood of 40 to 50 years of additional capacity available,” said Keene. While it may be impossible to predict what Sherman will look like in the year 2064, it’s safe to assume that taxmen and burial services will still be in demand. West Hill Cemetery Elaine Nall Bay ©2013 If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |