Bridges Cemetery

The Colony, Denton County, Cemeteries of Texas

Information provided by
William (Bill) Longo
American Legion Post 21
The Colony, TX 75056
 

The Commander of Post 21 of the American Legion has
ask me to explore the possibility on restoring Bridges
Cemetery here in the Colony, Denton Texas. Below is an
article that will appear in our newspaper. (2008)

 By Staff Reporter Blaine Crimmins

of The Colony Daily Leader

On a day when many Americans are firing up the
barbecue, heading to the lake, or on the road to visit
family near and far, the American Legion Post No. 21
from The Colony conducted a Memorial Day ceremony on
Monday morning at the Five-Star Veterans Memorial.

As a bugler played the National Anthem, Legion Post
representatives presented the colors while raising the
American Flag to full mast then back down to half
mast, where it will remain most of the day.

Veteran Dewey Fambry spoke to the crowd about the
importance of honoring Old Glory, and about the bond
between brothers and sisters who have served together
around the world in the armed forces.

While actively seeking new Legion members, Post 21
also is looking to form a Ladies Auxiliary and a Sons
of the American Legion. For information, contact the
Legion via its Web site at www.post21.org.

On Friday, American Legion members placed flags on
grave sites at the historic Bridges Cemetery,
including the grave of a Civil War veteran, while also
providing those in attendance with a tour of the
cemetery.

According to information provided by the Legion,
Bridges Cemetery was part of the original Bridges
Settlement of 1843, named for the W. A. Bridges
family, and is reportedly the oldest in Denton County.
The 1.57-acre cemetery was established in 1857 and
contains the remains of some of the earliest settlers
in North Texas, including the graves of Mildred
Bridges and her sons, as well as some distant
relatives of President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

The cemetery has been closed since 1969, when a child
was buried there by special permission, according to
the Legion. Many of the graves are unmarked from
people being buried during a smallpox epidemic in the
late 1800s.

Despite previous efforts by Boy Scouts and others to
maintain the cemetery, it remains overgrown and in
need of maintenance. The American Post No. 21 plans to
begin another restoration project in the near future,
perhaps in conjunction with The Colony Masonic Lodge,
said Fambry.

Post 21 believes that this is a project that needs to
happen before history is lost. But we also realize
that we must follow correct procedures and not do more
harm while correcting the damage already done.