Once known as “the Burial Grounds” which began rather bleakly this plot of land has grown into a beautiful, quaint, and peaceful resting place. Some of those interred here exerted their influence far beyond the city limits of Weatherford, Texas.

In 1859 the City Commission authorized the Mayor to “survey out the lots and establish corners” to define the borders so that burial plots could be sold for $10.00 each or 50 cents a foot. This survey also provided the boundaries for a five-foot high fence to enclose the cemetery.

As the years passed by the deterioration of the cemetery began to take its toll and in the 1920’s a Ladies Civic League and Cemetery Association came to refurbish and clean up the land. It was at this time that a sexton was hired full-time and paid $10 to hand dig grave sites. This Association was said to have been deeded the cemetery by the city, and they continued to maintain it for over 30 years. Then in 1952 they sold the cemetery for $1 back to the city of Weatherford.

To visit the City Greenwood Cemetery today is a lesson in history and despite the meager beginnings the families of those represented here have much to be proud about. Sadly we cannot include stories of all those who are there but we can tell you about a few of the widely recognized names.

The oldest documented grave harkens back to 1859. “A.E. Johnson, wife of R.J. Shelton, Born in Yadkin County, North Carolina June 20,1837, age 22 years”

Oliver Loving (1812-1867), a man who blazed three major cattle trails and supplied beef to the Confederate forces during the Civil War. While on a drive into New Mexico Loving was shot and wounded in the leg, eventually to die of gangrene.

His son Joseph fulfilled his dying wish to be buried here and brought his body back from some 600 miles away. This frontier life was made famous in a book by Larry McMurtry “Lonesome Dove”.

Veterans of many wars are buried here. Battles include the War for Texas Independence, Civil War, Spanish-American War, World War I & II, Korea, and Viet Nam. One soldier was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for a Civil War battle in West Virginia, Chester Bowen (1842-1905).

Mary Martin (1913-1990), as a star of screen and theater her career carried her from coast to coast but she always called Weatherford home. While she starred in several productions she will always be remembered for the role she played as Peter Pan. A statue of her in costume was erected in her honor at the Weatherford Public Library.

In 1994 a cemetery committee was formed of several residents who shared a common concern of protecting the sacred grounds. The primary objective of the committee was to enclose the cemetery with a new fence, gates, lighting and historical marker designation. While the committee was hard at work raising the necessary funds for the project vandals struck the cemetery damaging seventy-nine tombstones and monuments. This senseless act struck at the heart of many people in the community and provided a substantial boost to the fund raising effort. By February 1996 over $60,000.00 was raised allowing bids to be requested and construction began soon afterward. In June of 1997 a Texas Historical Commission marker was placed at the cemetery, to be followed with another honor in 1998 as an Official Historic Texas Cemetery. Finally in 1999 reproduction period lighting was placed throughout the grounds thus providing another element of protection from anyone wishing to do harm to the cemetery.

Even with all the aesthetic elements required to protect the cemetery, it would not be complete without the hard work and dedication of a man who possesses a skill and knowledge known to a very few. Local resident and tombstone restoration expert Ron Gaskill took on the task of repairing the over two-thousand stones in the cemetery. Those that had not been damaged by vandals had fallen victim to Father Time and the elements of nature. Due to the soft, sandy soils many of the heavy stones had gradually sunk into the ground, some a considerable distance. Raising, cleaning, grouting and resetting these stones is no easy task. During several contracts to accomplish this task Gaskill and his men cleared away brush and dense undergrowth so that visitors today can stand virtually anywhere in the cemetery and view the entire area in a 360 degree circle.

Work for the Society here will always be an on going effort and to date over $250,000.00 have been put towards the preservation of this wonderful testament to our past.