Super sleuthing in Plano: Field guide uses smartphone technology to uncover the past

Aldridge. Bethany. Haggard. Hedgcoxe. Schimelpfenig.

While these names sound familiar to Plano residents in the form of schools, streets and libraries, many may wonder where these names actually originate. According to the Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation, the answer lies in Plano's pioneer cemeteries. And they've got an app for that.

The conservancy recently released an interactive, scavenger-hunt style guide to Plano's historic cemeteries titled, "A Super Sleuth's Guide to Plano's Historic Cemeteries."

Although the scavenger hunt is geared more toward educating children, the conservancy also offers a similar cemetery guide for adults. Hunters may find the children's brochure on the conservancy's website, which contains questions pertaining to a cemetery's layout, tombstone design and foliage. Answers may be found by scanning the QR code on the brochure with a smartphone.

"This is a way for children to learn about early pioneer families and a different area of Plano where people settled," said Maggie Sprague, co-director at the conservancy. "We feel very strongly that it's important to have a connection to the past -- to understand who you are as a community."

The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting civic pride in the past by increasing preservation awareness through education and public outreach. The conservancy also provides financial assistance to protect and preserve the city's heritage for current and future generations.

Each of Plano's nine historic cemeteries feature wayside signs that include site facts, details about some of Plano's early families and information on historical structures that used to stand at some locations.

The guide also explains interesting facts about the cemeteries' layouts. For example, willow trees indicate eternal life, hands pointing upward indicate heaven, tree trunks symbolize a life cut short, and lambs usually refer to a child's grave.

For the past 11 years, the conservancy has researched and identified historical facets of Plano and have used its overall knowledge of the city to produce the wayside signs at each of Plano's pioneer cemeteries. The scavenger hunt uses information from the wayside signs to present the city's history in the most modern method possible.

"A lot of people don't understand how important education and religion were to the early settlers here," Sprague said. "Those themes reoccur and we grow into them. We're not saying halt progress, we're just saying we should capitalize on the good parts from long ago and make certain they are woven into our lifestyle today."

The sad thing about these pioneer cemeteries is that many of them no longer have caretakers in place, Sprague said. Old cemeteries are easy targets for vandalism, as many of their markers have fallen or have been broken. These special monuments are unique works of art and should not be sat upon or stepped on, as they are old and break easily. With the scavenger hunt available, the conservancy is now working on collaborating with groups within the community to make sure these sites are kept clean, and hope to get the funding to repair some of the old structures to restore them to their former glory.

"Cemeteries were originally considered the first parks in the United States," Sprague said. "They were usually very resting and peaceful. Families would go to visit their deceased family members, not just to visit but to have a picnic. Today, we are very skittish about funerals and keeping at arm's length but life and death were much more first hand in the pioneer times; they didn't send everybody to the hospital. People were born and died at home and it was a part of everyday life."

For a detailed map with all locations, log on to www.planoconservancy.org/cemeteryanswers.

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