On Thursday morning, a Texas Historic Cemetery marker was installed at First Street Cemetery to remember the remains of unidentified people unearthed at that location.
In 2007, more than 200 remains located in the lower terrace were unearthed during the construction of the Texas Rangers Company “F” headquarters in Waco.
City officials and members of the First Street Cemetery Advisory Committee attended the installation of the marker.
“I think there is a sense that the mission that we were given early on. That part of that mission has been fulfilled,” First Street Cemetery Memorial Advisory Committee Chairman John Wilson said. "This is sort of closure for part of it and those who were disturbed are being remembered."
Waco Councilman Wilbert Austin Sr. attended the marker was proud of the achievement on Thursday when he visited the marker.
"It doesn't clear all the error but it clears some of it. But to let people know that we haven't forgotten what we needed to do,” Austin said.
A similar marker that describes the history of the remains will be placed at Rosemound Cemetery.
A reburial ceremony will take place in the spring and a structure similar to a wall will be added near where the remains will be reburied.
The city has a budget of $41,000 to pay for this project and part of that money is coming from the general fund.
The city is also looking into reaching an agreement with a Baylor University researcher to do DNA testing of the remains, which will be placed in marked plots.
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