Legends and Stories of the Big Bend Area
By: Verna Bonner
In the early years of Alpine, there was a space of ground on "A" Mountain used as a public cemetery. Many burials were made in this area prior to 1907 when the Alpine Cemetery Association was formed. There seems to be no record of lots being drawn or assigned in this old cemetery. It is assumed that the landowner gave permission for these burials.
When the land changed owners, sometime after 1900, the new owner asked that the burials stop. The property was fenced and many of the markers located at the site were moved to the new cemetery site--Elm Grove or Holy Angel.
By 1981, there were only two remaining markers at the site. In current times there is one visible marker standing and another behind fences in a private citizen's back yard. The lone marker which is visible and seems to be "standing watch" over the historic area is for Emmett Dolphus Kelly, born March 8, 1852 and died May 22, 1892. This grave and marker was originally enclosed by an iron fence, but the fence is no longer there and the marker is abuted to a tin fence surrounding a home located at the site.
At one time in recent years, there was talk of moving the marker to Elm Grove Cemetery, but no action has been taken in the matter.
Slightly to the west of Kelly's grave is an above ground vault situated in the back yard of another home. It is a massive vault and would be most difficult to move. It is weather-worn and the inscription is almost unreadable- "In Memory of Thomas C. Dawson son of James and Mary Dawson born Uvalde County July 15, 1869 died Brewster County September 11, 1897".
The story of the life and death of Emmett D. Kelly and his brother Eugene A. Kelly is an interesting part of the history of Brewster County and certainly reads like "the tales of the old west". That story follows........
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