< Back >

Interesting Features of The Thurber Cemetery
by Faye, Butter Bridier and Leo S. Bielinski, April 1994

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 parcel is that of an Afro-American girl, Eva Chapman (marked as '1' above), 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 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-thirties, the intent was to return with permanent markers, but it never worked out that way. The cemetery has three distinct sections; the Afro-American, the Catholic and the White Protestant. And each section had it's own entrance. The east gate in use today, was for the Afro-Americans, the north gate for the Catholics and the south gate for the White Protestants. In the Afro-American Section there are two identical, adjacent tombstones for Mary Green (2), wives of Jack Green. But ages are different. Jack was careful to not show partiality to either wife. An eight foot weather-worn wooden cross (3) marks the grave of Anthony Bascilli. This man dug his own grave, lined it with bricks (Thurber 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 whiskey 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 soil was shoveled in, then another metal door with lock was 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 presentable 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 (4) (low metal fence and tall four sided marker) has graves for three children who all died within a few days of each other! There were diseses which are not common today; diptheria, 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 cedars and a brick fence (5). But no one is buried there. There was a Knight of Pythias symbol on the gate. But why is this in the Catholic Section when the church banned secret lodges. A dozen years ago cemetery gates were opened 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 (6) 1856-1919. Research by local Methodists discovered an old-time circuit riding preacher who had briefly served as pastor of Thurber 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 (7). Sandstone marker. Proud of his union membership in Brick, Tile and Terra Cotta Workers (BTT). In upper left corner is union symbol, but "B" is backward. Georgie Milligan (8). 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 (9). There are three other similar sandstone markers in the cemetery, all undoubtedly carved by the same meticulous craftsman. The words are in Croatian and translates: "Here are resting in peace two sisters, Olga 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 Afro-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 The Unknown Graves, contact Thurber Cemetery Association, Box 115, Mingus, Texas 76463, or leave information at New York Hill Restaurant.

This information came from a handout Ed and Jannie Gibson picked up on a recent visit.
< Back >