Beaumont, Texas (October 14, 2026)- In late 2025, while moving forward with an important water infrastructure project, the City of Beaumont was made aware of the possible presence of historic burial grounds dating back to the late 1800s on City-owned property near Pine Street and Marina Drive. These burial grounds, associated with the Martha Mack and Sheffield Cemeteries, have a history spanning more than a century. Recognizing the significance of these sacred sites and the importance of protecting those laid to rest there, City staff took immediate steps to investigate the property, working with historical experts and archaeologists to better understand its history and to ensure the burial grounds are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.
The discovery was made as the City was moving forward with the Pine Street Raw Water Line project, which is partially funded through federal dollars. As part of the required permitting process, the City worked with the Texas Historical Commission (THC) to conduct historical research and obtain clearance before beginning construction.
The City received clearance for the original water line route and was authorized to proceed with construction. At the time of that review, the historic burial grounds had not been identified.
The project involved installing a water line along Pine Street and connecting it to an existing line near Marina Drive. As construction moved forward, plans were developed for a temporary detour near Marina Drive to maintain access to City facilities while work was underway.
When the contractor contacted Magnolia Cemetery about the proposed detour, concerns were raised about the possible presence of historic African American cemeteries in the area.
Those concerns were brought to the City's attention in late November 2025. Upon receiving this information, City staff immediately placed work affecting the area along Marina Drive on hold and began coordinating with the Jefferson County Historical Commission and professional archaeologists to investigate the property.
Although the City had received state clearance for the original project, the new information raised questions that required additional investigation. The City recognized the importance of understanding the location and extent of the burial grounds before proceeding with work that could affect these sacred sites.
On December 3, 2025, the City engaged Acacia Heritage Consulting to conduct additional historical and archaeological research.
On December 11, the Jefferson County Historical Commission submitted documentation to the Texas Historical Commission requesting historic cemetery designations.
On January 9, 2026, City Engineering staff and archaeological consultants met with representatives of the Jefferson County Historical Commission to review historical records, maps and documentation associated with the burial grounds.
On January 16, the City obtained an historical permit for the archaeological investigation.
From February 10 through February 12, professional archaeologists conducted an on-site investigation of City-owned property north of Marina Drive. Members of the Jefferson County Historical Commission participated in the process, along with a licensed surveyor.
The investigation identified 33 grave shafts, confirming the presence of historic burials within the area being evaluated.
On August 5, the City received archaeological site number 41JF137 from the Texas Historical Commission. On September 22, the City received the consultant's final edited archaeological report documenting the investigation and its findings.
These findings provided important information about the location of historic burials and reinforced the need to make significant changes to the City's construction plans.
As a result, the City began a substantial redesign of the Pine Street Raw Water Line project to avoid the identified burial area.
This was not a minor adjustment. The changes require additional engineering, coordination and significant anticipated expense. While the redesign is still being finalized, the City is working toward a route that protects the identified burial grounds.
Through the research and investigation, the City has gained a greater understanding of the historic Martha Mack and Sheffield Cemeteries, as well as the nearby Murray Cemetery, historically known as the Black Pauper Cemetery.
Historical research indicates that the Martha Mack and Sheffield Cemeteries date back to the late 1800s and had largely fallen out of use by the 1920s. Over the years, the properties were used for other purposes before being acquired by the City in 1945. According to Acacia Heritage Consulting's archaeological report, the cemeteries had been largely forgotten by the time the current investigation began.
Burial