Presswood Cemetery gains historical marker in New Caney

On Feb. 19, officials with the Montgomery County Historical Commission and Precinct 4 Commissioner Matt Gray's office unveiled the official plaque marking the Presswood Cemetery in New Caney as a historical site.

Two-minute impact

Dating back to the first founders of the New Caney area in 1862, the cemetery was abandoned for many years before a joint county and community effort to restore it emerged. Following the cemetery's rediscovery and restoration over the last several years, the historical commission sought to have the site marked as the first historical site in Montgomery County Precinct 4 to be recognized by the state historical commission.

"This small family cemetery off of Roberts Road in New Caney serves as the final resting place of the early pioneers of New Caney and East Montgomery County," Larry Foerster, Montgomery County Historical Commissioner Chair said.

Work on obtaining the marker and designation was done by Gray's office and Annette Kerr, the commission's historical marker director.

In their words

• "[Kerr's] enthusiasm for our marker program is why our historical commission has five new Texas state historical markers dedicated or soon to be dedicated," Foerster said. "While this is the first county marker in east county, there are many more county historical markers in the hopper for dedication this year."
• “This forgotten piece of land serves as the final resting place for some of our founding members and the beginning of our rich history in East Montgomery County. It has been an honor to be a part of ensuring the Presswood Cemetery is around for generations to come," Gray said in a social media post on Feb. 20.