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Notable Interred: Lester H. Smith (1942-2019) A

Notable Interred:
Lester H. Smith (1942-2019)

A Houston icon known for his generous contributions to local charities, Lester H. Smith was one of Houston’s most joyous philanthropists.

A wildcatter who made his fortune in the Texas oilfields, Smith told @papercityhouston, “I love giving away money. That’s the only reason I work is to make more money to give more money away…”

Smith gave more than $150 million to local organizations in his lifetime, notably donating $50 million to @texaschildrens Hospital.

A lover of ballroom dancing, he was known for his high spirits and rambunctious character.

#houston #philanthropy #charity #generous #icon #texaschildrens #papercity

#DidYouKnow it’s time to cut back your tropical

#DidYouKnow it’s time to cut back your tropical milkweed? Plants in the milkweed family serve as host plants for our beautiful Monarch butterflies. Since tropical milkweed does not die back in the fall, it can be a problem for the Monarchs, who will continue to reproduce into the winter.

When that happens, their migration is delayed, and sudden freezes can kill them.

If you grow tropical milkweed in your garden, it’s important to cut it back to the ground every November and again in the middle of winter to encourage Monarchs to travel south—and away from our cold snaps—for the winter.

#houston #gardening #monach #butterflies #milkweed #buffalobayou

Learn more: https://i.mtrbio.com/ercucgsqoe

The historic Glenwood Cemetery is one of Houston’s best-kept secrets.

”Since 1871, Glenwood Cemetery has been the final resting place for the honorable men and women responsible for laying the foundation of Houston’s prosperity. Some of those famous Houstonians include George R. Brown, George Hermann, and Ross Sterling. Members of the Rice, Allen, and Cullinan families, whose namesakes you can spot all over the city, are also buried at this prestigious site.”

🗞️ Read more here: secrethouston.com/historic-glenwood-cemetary

📸 @kail.graham

#SecretHouston #ExploreHouston #HTX #CemeteryLovers #bestkeptsecret #hiddengem

Wildlife Spotlight: Meet Glenwood’s newest duck

Wildlife Spotlight: Meet Glenwood’s newest duck family! Mama is keeping a close eye on her babies. And our owl boxes have been hung. We can’t wait to see whooo comes visiting.

#Houston #wildlife #nature #ducklings #owls #naturelovers

At the turn of the 20th century, a traveling photo

At the turn of the 20th century, a traveling photographer named Allen took photos of Glenwood which were later published as a series of 12 postcards.

Taken around 1907-1908, the photos are a lens into Glenwood’s past. Pictured are the dwelling of Frank Noland (the first superintendent to live on the property), the original office built in 1888, the wooded entryway from Washington Avenue, and the bridge and waterwork project completed in 1887.

#HoustonTexas #HistoricHouston #History #HoustonPhotography #Photographer

Notable Interred: Ellis Benson (1813-1896) Ellis

Notable Interred:
Ellis Benson (1813-1896)

Ellis Benson was a Vermont native and war veteran who was recruited to join the Texas Revolution in 1836.

Before immigrating to Texas, Benson served in the U.S. Army, fighting in the Black Hawk War in Illinois. He was recruited by a captain instructed to find as many men as possible for the Texas Army. He and 100 other recruited men landed in Velasco, Texas in January 1836. Benson served in the Texian Army from February 1836 until October 1837. He operated one of the famed “Twin Sisters” cannons in the Battle of San Jacinto and later patrolled South Texas to protect against Mexican invasion.

After his military service, Ellis Benson settled in Houston. He became a carpenter and held several political positions in Harris County, including Constable and County Coroner.

Ellis Benson contributed to the development of three nations through settlement, militarism, business, and political activities. He lived under four of Texas's six flags and was a veteran of three wars.

#HoustonTX #houstonhistory #houstoncemetery #historybuffs #texashistory

Take a tour of Glenwood Cemetery, the resting plac

Take a tour of Glenwood Cemetery, the resting place of many notable figures from Houston and Texas history.

Register at preservationhouston.org/tours/glenwood for the Glenwood Art & Architecture Walking Tour hosted by Preservation Houston.

The two-hour tour will feature some of Glenwood’s outstanding monuments, the symbolism and stories behind them, and the lives of those, both famous and forgotten, who commissioned them.

Saturday, November 23
10 AM-12 PM

@preshou #houston #explorehouston #history #houstonartscene #architecture

The Red-tailed Hawks have been busy at Glenwood th

The Red-tailed Hawks have been busy at Glenwood this summer! You can spot them daily, soaring in circles overhead while hunting for small mammals and the occasional snake. Known for their brick-red tails and pale bellies with streaks, these hawks can fly at 20-40 mph and reach 120 mph when diving.

With sharp eyesight and intelligence, they dominate the skies. Keep an ear out for their signature long, raspy screeches next time you’re at Glenwood.

#houstontx #buffalobayou #naturelovers #hawk #redtailedhawk #birdwatching #houstonbirders #houstonbirding

Notable Interred: Anton Stelzig, Jr. | 1849 - 189

Notable Interred:
Anton Stelzig, Jr. | 1849 - 1893

Stelzig was the son of an Austrian immigrant who spent his childhood traveling from ranch to ranch with his parents offering on-site leathercraft to Texas ranchers.

He opened his own saddlery near the U.S. Cavalry fort at Richmond, Texas in 1870. The A. Stelzig Company, later known as the Stelzig Saddlery Company, relocated to Houston in 1887.

From 1926 to 1989, the company was located at 612 Preston in Downtown Houston. Stelzig’s became one of the city’s best-known western wear shops, offering many lines of western wear, boots, jewelry, and saddlery.

#historichouston #houstontexas #westernwear #westernstyle #westernfashion #cowboyboots #leatherwork #leathergoods

Interested in learning about one of Houston’s mo

Interested in learning about one of Houston’s most fascinating yet lesser-known historical landmarks? Take a tour of Glenwood Cemetery, the resting place of many notable figures from Houston and Texas history.

Register now at preservationhouston.org/tours/glenwood for the Glenwood Art & Architecture Walking Tour hosted by Preservation Houston.

The two-hour tour will feature some of Glenwood’s outstanding monuments, the symbolism and stories behind them, and the lives of those, both famous and forgotten, who commissioned them.

Saturday, November 23
10 AM-12 PM

@preshou #houston #cemetery #historichouston #thingstodoinhouston #buffalobayou #downtownhouston #houstonheights #montrose #art #architecture #cemeterylovers

In 1893, Glenwood Cemetery faced a dark chapter wh

In 1893, Glenwood Cemetery faced a dark chapter when New York lawyer Thomas Tinsley took control of the board of the Houston Cemetery Company. Through questionable leadership and financial practices, Tinsley prioritized his own wealth over the care of the cemetery, allowing it to fall into despair.

By 1896, public outrage led a group of lot owners to file a lawsuit, demanding better management. The court responded by appointing Captain William Christian, who worked to restore the cemetery and repair the damage of the Tinsley years until 1904.

#houstontexas #historichouston #houstonhistory #history #texas

As we celebrate German American Heritage Month, we

As we celebrate German American Heritage Month, we’re highlighting the history of Houston’s Washington Cemetery.

From the Glenwood Archives:
You’re looking at an original deed of sale dated December 12, 1895 for a lot in the “Deutsche Gesellschaft of Houston,” then known as the German Society Cemetery, now known as Washington Cemetery next door to Glenwood.

Plot A-102 was sold for $85 to William J. Kohlhauff (Nov. 1, 1861 - Feb. 21, 1928). The son of German immigrants, Kohlhauff was born in St. Louis and moved to Houston in 1883. He worked as a compositor for the Houston Post until 1909 and was an alderman for the First Ward, Houston City Councilman, and Commissioner of the Houston Fire Department.

Interested in exploring our Archive Room? Learn more and schedule an appointment at centerforglenwood.org/archive.

#houstontx #historichouston #german #germanamerican #preservehouston

October is German American Heritage Month, and we’re highlighting notable Germans buried at Washington Cemetery.

Notable Interred:
Charles Dellschau | 1839–1923

Dellschau was born in Germany and immigrated to Galveston in 1849. Shortly after his arrival, he joined other “Forty-Niners” in the Great California Gold Rush. His career as a gold miner was short-lived before he returned to Texas, where he worked as a butcher for 30 years.

After tragically losing two wives and three children, he moved in with his remaining daughter in Houston. Dellschau spent his remaining working years selling saddles and leather goods at his son-in-law’s business and filling over a dozen notebooks with some 5,000 collages, drawings, and watercolor paintings, known as “aeros,” depicting fantastical airships.

Dellschau’s notebooks caught the attention of the art world 40 years after his death. Four of his notebooks were acquired by Dominique de Menil, and others surfaced later in junk shops. His work is now in the collections of museums, including the Menil Collection, the Witte Museum, the San Antonio Museum of Art, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the American Folk Art Museum.

@menilcollection @wittemuseum @sama_art @philamuseum @afamuseum
#houston #german #germanamerican #houstonhistory #artist #artmuseum #fantasy #airships

As we celebrate German American Heritage Month, we

As we celebrate German American Heritage Month, we’re highlighting the history of Houston’s Washington Cemetery.

By the 1870s, so many Germans settlers and their descendants inhabited the east side of Downtown Houston that the area was referred to as “Germantown.” In fact, Canal Street was originally named German Street.

The Deutsche Gesellschaft von Houston, founded in 1875, established the German Society Cemetery in 1887 after purchasing property west of downtown (next to Glenwood). The cemetery offered family lots and single spaces to the public for $10-$50 each.

In 1918, the name was changed from German Society Cemetery to Washington Cemetery due to anti-German sentiment. By then, immigrants from at least 17 countries had been laid to rest there, with gravestones in English, German, Spanish, and Polish. It now has over 7,500 burials in its 13.5 acres.

#german #germanamerican #heritage #houstontexas #texashistory #historichouston

As fall approaches, Glenwood is transforming into

As fall approaches, Glenwood is transforming into a beautiful autumnal landscape. With the cooler weather and stunning fall colors taking over, it’s the perfect time to visit and take in the peaceful surroundings.

Glenwood is open to the public. The cemetery gates are open daily from 7:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Experience the magic of fall at Glenwood.

#fallcolors #houstontx #thingstodoinhouston #explorehouston #cemeterylovers #cemeterybeauty

Let the serene, historical Glenwood Cemetery be th

Let the serene, historical Glenwood Cemetery be the final resting place for you or your loved one. Whether you prefer an in-ground burial, an above-ground mausoleum, or cremation, Glenwood presents a range of options to honor loved ones with reverence and grace.

Our in-ground burial options include individual plots for casket or urn burials, available in single-depth or double-depth options.

You also have the option of a private estate, a “cemetery within a cemetery,” allowing more than one person to be buried in a shared, private area. Estate areas can be customized to include beautiful landscaping, ornate gates, stone walls, and other unique options for the family honored.

Visit glenwoodcemetery.org/available-lots for more information and to make an appointment.

#houston #cemetery #monuments #estateplanning #burial #gravestones #gravemarkers #headstone

October is German American Heritage Month, and we’re highlighting notable Germans buried at Washington Cemetery.

Notable Interred:
Isabella von Haxthausen | 1853–1896

Born in Hesse-Nassau, Prussia, Germany, Isabella and her husband immigrated to the United States in the early 1880s. Together, they operated the ‘Texas Deutsche Zeitung,’ a German-language newspaper based in New Braunfels before moving it to Houston.

After her husband Marcel’s death in 1885, Isabella took over the newspaper, becoming one of only a few female members of the Texas Press Association. Isabella continued to publish the newspaper until her death when it was taken over by her son August. It ceased publication around the time of World War I.

She passed at the age of 42, leaving behind six sons and a daughter.

📷 Gene Ford

#houstonhistory #houstoncemetery #historichouston #houstontexas #houstonmedia #german #germanamerican #newspaper #newbraunfels

Our new Center for Glenwood is available for renta

Our new Center for Glenwood is available for rental.

The modern architecture and natural elements provide a beautiful space for hosting. Our gathering space fits 80 guests or 100 seated guests.

We are excited about all the new hosting opportunities we can now offer to members and the community.

#houstonrentals #houstonevents #houston #houstonvenue #houstonfunerals

Interested in exploring Glenwood’s history? Sche

Interested in exploring Glenwood’s history? Schedule a visit to our archives, a treasure trove of archival records and original source holdings that document the cemetery’s residents and operations for over 150 years.

These records contain the day-to-day business of the Cemetery and serve to memorialize the people interred there, revealing a vast store of genealogical and historical information.

Learn more at centerforglenwood.org/archive. Schedule an appointment by calling (713) 864-7886.

#houstonhistory #genealogy #research #researcher #houstontexas #fromthearchives #cemeterylover

Notable Interred: Kern Tips (1904-1967) Known as

Notable Interred:
Kern Tips (1904-1967)

Known as the “Voice of the Southwest Conference,” Kern Tips was a sportscaster for 32 years, broadcasting Texas college football games on the Humble Football Network.

Kern worked at the Houston Chronicle for 10 years where he was a sports writer, then sports editor. He was general manager of Houston radio station KPRC until 1946. He received the only award ever made by the Southwest Football Officials Association for distinguished service and was voted Texas Sportscaster of the Year for five consecutive years.

Kern Tips was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2005.

@houstonchron @kprcradio @tx_sportshof #sportscaster #broadcaster #texas #collegefootball #houstonnews #halloffame

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Contact Information

Glenwood Cemetery
2525 Washington Avenue
Houston, Texas 77007

P: 713.864.7886
F: 713.864.6429

Hours of Operation

Cemetery Hours:
7 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday
8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Links

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