Donna Fowler
Dedication of State of Texas Historical Marker
for the Hutto Lutheran Cemetery
On Sunday, February 26th at 2:00 p.m., a dedication celebration was held at Hutto Lutheran Cemetery on County Road 135 to unveil its newly acquired State of Texas Historical Marker. It was a glorious day for an outdoor celebration, as the sky was without a cloud and the temperature was a pleasant 68 degrees.
The active members of the Hutto Lutheran Church Cemetery Committee that helped to bring placement of this marker to fruition were Chairman Everett Davis and members Edmund Schmidt, Victor Stern, Carl Stern, Larry Rydell, David Dahl, Keesy Kothman and Donna Fowler. Past members that also helped on this important historical project were Carl Lidell, Donald Shephard, Bill Seigmund, David Ramm, Jeff Smith, Jeff Svoboda and Harlan Svoboda. The work in obtaining approval through the Texas Historical Commission for this marker began in the fall of 2003. Much of the research and required documentation was completed by Mike Fowler.
The application was submitted in 2004 and in April of that year, the historical designation was approved.
Augusta Stromberg, one of the oldest members of Hutto Lutheran Church, graciously donated the money needed to pay for the cost of the historical marker. Once the marker was paid for, the writers for the Texas Historical Commission created the wording that appears on the marker based on information provided. After the wording was approved by the members of the cemetery committee, the marker was cast and shipped to the church in November 2005.
Donna Fowler began the program with the invocation and conducted the opening remarks and remaining program for the dedication ceremony this past weekend. Mrs. Fowler stated: " It is extremely important that we try to preserve the history of our fast growing community. It is a blessing that the State of Texas promotes historical preservation like it does. Not every state is like Texas in that way and often history is lost".
According to Mrs. Fowler, "Approximately one hundred people attended the dedication ceremony and reception that followed at Hutto Lutheran Church. Honored guests present from the City of Hutto were Mayor Mike Ackerman, Mayor Pro Tem Ken Love, Councilwoman Florence Winkler, Councilwoman Debbie Holland, and City Manager Ed Broussard and three members of the City of Hutto Historical Preservation Commission, Bill Siegmund, Donna Slocum and my husband, Mike Fowler.
Williamson County Historical Museum photographer and webmaster, Wayne Ware, was also present.
For more information, photographs and some of the actual voice over from the dedication ceremony go to the Williamson County Historical Museum website at www.wchm-tx.org/ Many people with family interred at the cemetery were present as well as people in the Hutto community."
Upon introduction by Donna Fowler the keynote speaker, Karen Thompson, spoke to the need for preserving our cemeteries. Mrs. Thompson is the founding President of Save Texas Cemeteries, Inc. and has authored six books on Texas history.
Karen Thompson is employed by Williamson County as the Chairman of the Williamson County Archives Division. Mrs. Thompson stated that: " The Hutto Lutheran Cemetery is a prime example of what a church and its members can do to preserve the heritage of their congregation and community. Being involved in preserving our history is important to all of us.
Each and every one of us should take the time to write up the stories that describe the important landmark events of your life and those of your ancestors.
Preserving our past is all of our collective and individual responsibility".
The benediction was given by Pastor Tim Muehlbrad and quests were invited to the reception at the fellowship hall where refreshments were served.
The Marker text reads as follows:
Hutto Lutheran Cemetery
In 1892, several Swedish immigrants who had settled in the Hutto area established the Swedish Lutheran Evangelical Church. An 1894 tornado destroyed the first sanctuary, built by members on Short Street. After utilizing a second church building for several years, the congregation moved to East Live Oak and Church Streets in 1902. The following year, the congregation purchased this site for a church cemetery.
It is believed the first marked graves, dating as early as 1897, are those of children whose remains were exhumed and re-interred at the new cemetery. The first adult buried here was Johannes Anderson (d. 1903).
There are several unmarked graves believed to be those of children.
There are also graves of military veterans and tombstone symbols that reflect Masonic and Woodmen of the World affiliations.
Today, Hutto Lutheran Cemetery is maintained by a church committee, which conducts special events and raises funds for maintenance of the burial ground. The site remains a link to the area's early Swedish settlers, their families, and their church.
(to view the plaque go to Hutto on U5 79, proceed to FM 1660
South and turn south going approximately 1.5 miles, turn right on
County road 135 at the Hutto Cemetery. Go approximately 0.5 miles and the Hutto Lutheran Cemetery will be on the right side of the road)