Tomball property where headstones were discovered was not a cemetery, city says
Headstones found were likely repurposed as building materials, officials said.
TOMBALL, Texas (KTRK) -- A property where headstones dating back to the 1900s were discovered during construction was determined not to be a historic cemetery, Tomball city officials said.
On June 30, authorities were called to a report of a possible historic cemetery at 110 North Walnut Street after the discovery of the headstones. Police said the address, an active construction site, had a historic building that was recently demolished.
The City of Tomball locked down the scene as soon as the contractor called them, and appropriate historical authorities responded.
On Thursday morning, the City of Tomball said in an update that a professional archaeologist hired by the property owner, Mitchell Holderreith, who was previously featured in an ABC13 story in 2019, found no evidence that a historic cemetery ever existed on the property.
The report, according to officials, concluded that the headstones were not associated with burials, but were likely rejected or discarded headstones that were repurposed as building materials many years ago.
The investigation into the possible cemetery included a review of historical records, government documents, maps, death records, and the physical evidence found at the site.
The City of Tomball said it appreciated the public's concern and Holderreith's willingness to collaborate throughout the investigation.
