Every first Sunday in June, families with ties to the Rock Springs Schoolhouse and Cemetery find their way back, and this year’s gathering is set for June 7.
The covered dish luncheon begins at noon at 1177 Old Hwy. 135 North, as descendants, supporters and neighbors gather on the grounds of one of Gregg County’s oldest historic sites. Attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair.
The one-room Rock Springs Schoolhouse was built in 1849 and is recognized as the county’s first schoolhouse. Around it, generations of families rest in the surrounding cemetery, many of them kin and still connected through the loved ones who return each year. After lunch, attendees typically head out among the headstones to tend family graves.
As ever, there will be a brief business meeting before the meal. Expect an update on the cemetery association, preservation needs and ongoing care for the historic building and grounds.
Each year brings a growing list of needs and projects for the schoolhouse as supporters continue raising funds for repairs and maintenance.
The Rock Springs Association is a registered nonprofit, and donations to its preservation efforts are tax-deductible. To contribute, mail donations to association treasurer Tammy Trotter at Rock Springs Cemetery Association, 2896 CR 192 East, Kilgore, Texas 75662.
