Headstones dating to the early 1900s were found at 110 N. Walnut St.
TOMBALL, TX — Construction work in downtown Tomball has stopped after workers clearing a recently demolished building found headstones and other signs of a possible historic cemetery at 110 N. Walnut St., city and police officials said.
The discovery has shifted a private construction site into a preservation review. Tomball police secured the area, and city officials said historical authorities were being contacted to assess what was found. The immediate question is whether the headstones mark an unknown or abandoned cemetery, which could trigger state recording and protection steps.
Officers responded to the site Tuesday, June 30, after workers reported evidence of a possible burial ground near Walnut and Commerce streets. The property had been an active construction location where an older building had recently been demolished. While clearing debris, crews found what appeared to be historic headstones, some believed to date back to the early 1900s. Tomball Police Capt. Brandon Patin said the first duty was to protect the location. “Our goal is to protect whosoever’s ancestors are here in their final resting spot until we’re told different,” Patin said. The contractor notified the city after the discovery, and work was halted while officials began a review.
Police and city officials fenced off the property to keep people away from the possible graves while the investigation continues. The city said the scene was locked down while the proper historical authorities were contacted to determine the site’s significance. Reports from local officials said six to nine headstones were visible, with clear inscriptions from the early 1900s. The building on the property had been abandoned for some time and was being cleared for future use. Officials have not said whether human remains were found, whether the headstones were in their original locations or whether the site was listed in any cemetery records before the construction work began. Those questions remain part of the review.
The site sits in the heart of old Tomball, a city northwest of Houston with roots tied to the railroad and early settlement in Harris County. Tomball was renamed in 1907 for Thomas Ball, who helped route a rail line through the area. Its downtown includes older buildings, shops and the 1907 Depot area, which has become a local history landmark. The possible cemetery discovery adds a new layer to that history because the headstones appear to come from the same broad period when the town was taking shape. Tomball and the surrounding area also have small family cemeteries, some of them tied to early settlers and local families. Officials have not identified any names from the headstones publicly or connected the site to a known family burial ground.
Texas law gives special treatment to old and unverified burial places. Cemeteries or graves that are 50 years or older are treated as historic under the Antiquities Code of Texas. State rules also require a person who discovers an unknown or abandoned cemetery to file notice with the county clerk and notify the landowner within a set period. For an unverified cemetery, notice and evidence must be filed with the Texas Historical Commission, which can review the information and decide whether the evidence supports the existence of a cemetery. Any future construction that could disturb graves would face additional legal steps. In Tomball, officials said the site will remain protected while historical representatives evaluate the discovery.
The discovery drew attention from people who live and work near downtown. Some longtime residents said they were surprised to see a possible burial ground emerge in such a familiar part of the city. Karen Bowden, a Tomball resident, said the find stunned her. “I’m shocked. I really am,” Bowden said. John Reed, a member of the Tomball Preservation Society, said the discovery showed how much local history may still be out of sight. “I think there’s a lot about Tomball’s history we don’t know, and we should move slowly when we think we’re maybe in danger of erasing it,” Reed said. Nearby, the fenced-off site stood close to the Tomball Pickleman, a downtown landmark known to visitors for decades.
City officials said the property will be handled with care while the review continues. “The City of Tomball is committed to treating the site with the utmost respect while the investigation is underway, recognizing that the area may contain the final resting places of individuals’ ancestors,” the city said. Police said an officer would remain at the site around the clock to protect the area. No charges have been announced, and officials have not accused the contractor or property owner of wrongdoing. The main next step is the historical assessment, which could determine whether the headstones mark a protected cemetery, whether more records must be filed and whether any future work can resume.
The construction site remained fenced and under police watch after the discovery. Officials said more information would be released after historical authorities and local investigators determine what lies beneath the property and whether the site is legally a cemetery.
Author note: Last updated Saturday, July 4, 2026.