Maybe history isn't the first thing that comes to mind when hearing the words "Southlake, Texas." But one of my town's hidden gems is rich in regional history. Lonesome Dove Cemetery is located adjacent to Lonesome Dove Baptist Church, on Lonesome Dove Road. Contrary to what people might believe, the church is not named after Larry McMurtry's 1985 Pulitzer Prize winning novel. Rather the novel was inspired by the name of the church and the cemetery. The TV mini-series, of course, came a bit later.
Earlier this year, on the eve of the church's 170th anniversary, I made a photo of the cemetery for 360 West Magazine. It was a quiet winter evening I spent walking among the graves and markers. Some of the stones are so faded you can't even see the chiseled lettering on them. But some are quite legible despite dating back to the mid-1800s, and are poignant in their epitaphs. In the fall, the Southlake Historical Society holds a historical re-enactment featuring some of the characters buried in local cemeteries, including Lonesome Dove. I made some photos for the society last year, and it was a fascinating look at the history and the people who settled this part of Texas.
The tear sheet above and the images below are from the Lonesome Dove shoot.
All photos copyright Beatriz Terrazas, all rights reserved.