Methodist Arbor - Frisco, TX - Signs of History on Waymarking.com

Bethel Cemetery is the older and historic section of what is now Ridgeview West Memorial Park, just north of the intersection of Peaceful Land and Sanctuary Drive.

The sign says:

Methodist Arbor

Bethel Church members built a brush arbor on a nearby 10-acre plot donated by Joseph B. Rogers in 1874. As many as 50 families camped there to attend annual 2-week revivals. The arbor was used until about 1902. The Bethel Church moved to Frisco and is now First United Methodist Church of Frisco.

Heritage Association of Frisco, Inc. 2005

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While the sign was about the Bethel Church, the Heritage Association of Frisco provides some complementary information that covers the cemetery as well (see link):

"Bethel Cemetery was established in 1850 on land donated by William Rogers, who arrived from Bethel, Tennessee in 1847. The settlement was named Bethel after the Tennessee town and land was dedicated for family burials and a church. The church eventually became the First Methodist Church of Frisco in 1902.

Bethel became a popular camping place for settlers as they headed west in their covered wagons. The campgrounds served another purpose as, each year when the crops were “laid by,” many farm families took a vacation coming to camp at Bethel while attending a two-week brush arbor revival. The arbor was built in 1874 on land donated by Joseph Rogers. In 1908 the Hagood family was heading west in their covered wagon and stopped at Bethel to await the birth of a baby. Little Walter M. Hagood, Jr. died four days after his birth and the family was offered a site to bury the baby. After a few days the family prepared to continue their journey and the grieving mother was concerned that no one would ever leave flowers on the grave. Families living in the Bethel area consoled her by saying that they would take care of the grave and make sure it had flowers every year. True to their word that traditional continues today."

Group that erected the marker: Heritage Association of Frisco, Inc. URL of a web site with more information about the history mentioned on the sign: [Web Link] Address of where the marker is located. Approximate if necessary: Peaceful Lane and Sanctuary Drive Frisco, TX USA 75035

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