Timeline

  • October 2017

    • Construction of the James Reese Career and Technical Center begins. During site preparation, Texas Historical Commission (THC) contacts FBISD and District retains full-time archaeologist, Goshawk Engineering Consultants, to search for potential archaeological artifacts.

    February 2018

    • Remains found by a contractor, further analysis confirms they are human. 

    March/April 2018

    • Under guidance of THC, archaeologists conduct perimeter search, discover several interments at site. 

    April 2018

    • Fort Bend ISD and THC announce discovery of historic cemetery, exploratory work continues. Over next months, perimeter of historic cemetery is established. Construction continues in areas not affected by archaeological work. 
    • Fort Bend ISD and Texas Historical Commission announce discovery of historic cemetery at FBISD Construction Site 
    • Update to Fort Bend ISD’s historic find on construction site

    June 2018

    • 434th District Court grants permission to exhume human remains for purposes of further historic investigation. 
    • Fort Bend ISD granted petition to exhume remains found at historic cemetery to enable further investigation and analysis

    July 2018

    • Fort Bend ISD, THC, and Goshawk team speak to members of the media about ongoing exhumation and forensic analysis.
    • Fort Bend ISD CTE students tour property and speak to archaeologists about land use history and forensic analysis underway. 
    • Fort Bend ISD and City of Sugar Land enter into Memorandum of Understanding, agreeing to cooperate for future reinterment at city-owned and operated cemetery, the Imperial Prison Farm 
    • Archaeologists provide update on historic Cemetery found at Fort Bend ISD’s James Reese Career and Technical Center site 

    August 2018

    • City of Sugar Land establishes task force on Convict Leasing and Labor to ensure remains of Sugar Land 95 are reinterred with dignity, and their lives are honored.
    • Fort Bend ISD continues to partner with community to honor individuals buried at historic cemetery

    October 2018

    • Fort Bend ISD enters into interlocal agreement with the City of Sugar Land regarding reinterment at the Old Imperial Prison Farm Cemetery.
    • Fort Bend ISD forms Advisory Committee, invites members of the City of Sugar Land Task Force to join

    November/December 2018

    • Fort Bend ISD petitions 434th District Court for permission to reinter at the Old Imperial Prison Farm Cemetery. Judge Shoemake delays decision and appoints Master in Chancery.
    • Fort Bend ISD to continue discussions regarding future interment of remains discovered at abandoned and historic cemetery
    • Fort Bend ISD response to hearing held December 18, 2018
    • Appeals court grants Stay to appointment of Master, pending further appeals court review.

    February 2019

    • Fort Bend County Historical Commission encourages Fort Bend County Commissioners Court to intervene in legal actions pending in the 434th District court. 
    • Fort Bend County Commissioner's Court votes to authorize county attorney to negotiate an Interlocal Agreement with FBISD regarding conveyance of land and reinterment.
    • Fort Bend ISD Board of Trustees votes to authorize superintendent to negotiate Interlocal Agreement with Fort Bend County.
    • Fort Bend ISD halts further legal actions related to historic cemetery

    March 2019

    • Fort Bend County Commissioners Court passes resolution asking Texas Legislature to modify county's ability to operate historic cemetery.
    • Message from FBISD Board President Jason Burdine.

    April 2019

    • Fort Bend ISD Board of Trustees Approves Resolution Supporting Legislation Related to Sugar Land 95.

    May 2019

    • Legislation related to Sugar Land 95 clears Senate, awaits Governor's signature.

    June 2019

    • Governor Abbott signs HB 4179 into law, which modifies the law to permit county to operate historic cemetery.
    • Fort Bend ISD Board approves Interlocal Agreement in principle regarding the historic cemetery discovered at site of future school.

    July 2019

    • Fort Bend ISD, Fort Bend County move forward with historic cemetery agreement
    • Fort Bend ISD announces plans to proceed to lay Sugar Land 95 to rest.

    August 2019

    • Fort Bend ISD provides update regarding Sugar Land 95; responds after appeals court halts latest court action

    • Sugar Land 95 update: Court of appeals halts Judge James Shoemake for third time, stays all proceedings

    • Sugar Land 95 update: small protest at Fort Bend ISD’s administration building

    • Video Update from Dr. Charles Dupre

    September 2019

    • Board of Trustees approves agreement with local funeral home for reburial of the Sugar Land 95

    November 2019

    • Ceremony held prior to reburial of Sugar Land 95
    • Community symposium held at James Reese Career and Technical Center

    December 2019

    • Sugar Land 95 laid to rest, community memorial service to be held in spring 2020

    June 2020

    • Opinion No. KP-0317 regarding FBISD's authority to maintain the historic cemetery is issued by the Attorney General of Texas

    August 2020

    • The final report of findings, Back to Bondage: Forced Labor in Post-Reconstruction Era Texas, is released to the public by FBISD. 
    • In partnership with the Fort Bend Historical Commission and Fort Bend Black Heritage Society, Fort Bend ISD applies for historic cemetery designation to the Texas Historical Commission. 

    September 2020

    • FBISD installs permanent markers on the graves of the Sugar Land 95. The markers read "Unknown" and the number in which they were discovered. The Bullhead Camp Cemetery is open for public visitation daily. 

    January 2021

    • FBISD publishes a community mailer titled "Honoring the Sugar Land 95" to engage the greater Fort Bend Community. Community mailers were delivered to over 140,000 homes in the FBISD area. 

    February 2021

    • The Texas Historical Commission approves and grants Historical Cemetery Designation to the Bullhead Labor Force Camp Cemetery. 

    November 2021

    • FBISD Board of Trustees approves a contract with MASS Design Group to launch Phase 2 of the Sugar Land 95 Memorialization Project. The project will engage the community on the design of an outdoor learning area and to revitalize the cemetery to serve as a proper memorial. 

    February 2022

    • FBISD hosts the Sugar Land 95 Exhibit Opening event to launch the official opening of the exhibit for public viewing. At this event, the Texas Historical Commission announced the awarding of an Undertold Histories - Texas Historical Marker to FBISD in honor of the Sugar Land 95 and Bullhead Convict Labor Camp Cemetery. 

    March 2022 

    • FBISD opens the Sugar Land 95 Exhibit for public tours.
    • Community Engagement sessions for the Sugar Land 95 Memorialization Project: Phase 2 begins under the leadership of MASS Design Group.

    April 2022

    • FBISD publishes the first edition of the Sugar Land 95 Newsletter.

    October 2022

    • FBISD hosts "Sugar Land 95 Symposium" and a descendant outreach discussion panel sponsored by the Fort Bend Education Foundation and FLUOR Corps. Students provide feedback to MASS Design on the design of the Sugar Land 95 outdoor area.

    February 2023 

    • FBEF and FLUOR Corps sponsors African American Studies field trip to the Sugar Land 95 Exhibit. 
    • Five year commemoration of the Sugar Land 95 discovery hosted at the James Reese Career and Technical Center. 

    September 2023 

    • FBISD presents the final design plans for the Sugar Land 95 Memorial Project. There is no anticipated date of construction, as funds for the site have not been secured. The district will continue to collaborate with other entities to establish and execute a fundraising plan for the outdoor learning area and memorial cemetery.  

    November 2023 

    • Sugar Land 95 Memorial Project highlighted in the New York Times.
    • Fort Bend County Historical Commission host public meeting to discuss the designated name of the historic cemetery on Fort Bend ISD property. Community members were provided information about the current name “Bullhead Convict Labor Camp Cemetery” and the status of the historical marker. Public comments were taken to allow participants to provide feedback and suggestions about a revised name for the cemetery that is more historically accurate. 

    February 2024

    • FBISD in partnership with the Sugar Land Rotary Club and the Friends of the Sugar Land 95 host the annual commemoration event. The Sugar Land Rotary Club funded and installed a memorial plaque at the historic cemetery as a sign of respect and remembrance. 

     

     

     

Photos