By the summer of 1918, America had been at war with Germany for more than a year, and with anti-German sentiment growing, the German Society opted to change the name toWashington Cemetery in July 1918. This action would usher in an era spanning six decades and see global changes, including two World Wars, the Great Depression, the maturing of the “Greatest Generation,” and advancements in technology unimaginable to the cemetery founders.
The cemetery itself saw similar periods of growth, and unfortunately decline, over the ensuing 59 years. This era accounted for half of the more than 7,600 burials in the cemetery,with 1918 through the late 1940s seeing the most activity.
In October 1941, long time on-site caretaker Willie Lee Noland passed away, and the task of cemetery care was assumed by his widow, Jennie C. Noland, supported by her live-in assistant, Miss Leona Tonn.
The property retained its original dimensions until the 1950s, when an undeveloped portion of 5.7 acres adjoining Buffalo Bayou was taken by the City of Houston to extend Memorial Drive. That segment opened in early 1956 and created an additional artery to Downtown from the west side of Houston other than Washington Avenue. This left approximately eight acres undeveloped, which would ultimately play a key role in the preservation and perpetuation of the cemetery.
The 1960s saw a decline in burials and maintenance of the cemetery. Aging survivors became unable or unwilling to care for their family plots and the cemetery lacked sufficient funds to provide the necessary level of attention, thus rendering the property in a state of disrepair, inviting vandalism and other undesirable activity.
Jennie Noland died in March 1970, and the responsibility for cemetery care was assumed almost exclusively by Miss Leona Tonn. This slightly built aging lady worked diligently to maintain the grounds but was doing so against insurmountable odds. Despite what must have been utterly discouraging conditions, she managed to maintain a friendly and helpful attitude toward anyone seeking information. In July 1977, Miss Tonn was brutally murdered at the caretaker’s residence on the property, a case that sadly remains unsolved.
With the passing of Miss Tonn and no other on-site personnel to care for our hallowed grounds, the Washington Cemetery era ended with the creation of Concerned Citizens for Washington Cemetery Care, Inc. in August 1977, thus concluding this period that began and continued for most of its time in grand fashion, but regrettably resulted in a state of demise. We can only appreciate in hindsight that this period set the stage for the revival of the cemetery in the next two phases.