First United Methodist Church and Cemetery of Mont Belvieu

Mont Belvieu as this marker knew it no longer stands. On November 5, 1985, an explosion at a plant on the Barbers Hill salt dome, which was used to store liquid propane, killed two workers and threatened the whole dome. Residents demanded that the petrochemical companies buy their homes, and by 1990 about 200 families had been bought out by a dozen firms. With the companies' help the town was rebuilt two miles east, with a new city hall, a school and seven new churches. The 1979 marker records the older town.

What the plaque says

First United Methodist Church and Cemetery of Mont Belvieu After Amos and Ann Barber settled in the vicinity in 1849, the village became known as Barbers Hill. Early preaching services were held in the Barbers' home. Captain Robert S. Dingham, a seaman, began a Sunday School and preached in the area. In 1877"Barbers Chapel" was officially organized as a Methodist Episcopal Church, south. The Barbers gave four acres for a church house and school building. In 1878 the 17 charter members erected the schoolhouse which also served for worship and as a community center. The Rev. P. E. Nicholson was the first pastor and Captain Dingham was officially licensed to preach. The original church site was traded for this location n 1895. A 30' x 40' church house was completed in 1897. Because the Fisher family made the largest contribution toward the new structure, the church was known for a time as "Fisher's Chapel." While the church house was being built, a family needed a burial site for a child and the cemetery was opened. There are 495 gravesites with 245 interments. This sanctuary was erected in 1932 by adding onto the existing structure. The fellowship hall was built in 1945 and the education wing in 1957. (1979)

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site — 13 mi
  The 1,200 acres of coastal prairie and marsh where the Texas Revolution ended in eighteen minutes, and the 567-foot shaft of fossil-studded limestone that has stood over them since 1939.
• Space Center Houston — 24 mi
  The visitor center of NASA's Johnson Space Center at Clear Lake, with flown capsules, a shuttle replica riding a 747, and tram tours to Mission Control and a Saturn V.

More markers nearby

• Barbers Hill Oil Field — 1.3 mi
• Old River — 4.1 mi
• Near Home Site of John Peter Sjolander — 4.3 mi
• Victoria Taylor Walker — 5.6 mi