FOOD FOR THOUGHT...
Most of the historic "pioneer" cemeteries have no records or plot maps and
what they may have may not be accurate. In our studies of over 25
cemeteries in El Dorado County, only 1/3 of the graves in the cemeteries are
marked. On average 1/2 to 2/3's of the graves are unmarked and many do not
even show signs of being a grave on the ground.
At the cemetery where I am Sexton there are 625 unmarked graves. Some I
know where they are, most I don't. The cemetery was established in 1848-49,
the earliest tombstone is dated 1851 and records have NEVER been accurately
kept. It has taken me three years going through burial permits, news
accounts, etc. to locate the names I have. This does not account for those
people whose names were not put in the newspaper or for whom no burial
permit was issued as required. (Another nifty law in California that's easy
to get around).
It is my opinion, and is fast becoming the opinion of the state, that if you
don't have accurate records, if you can't show where everyone is buried, you
shouldn't be using the cemetery. In the case of El Dorado Cemetery, we have
had a ground penetrating radar study done in 11 locations where records show
we had pre-sold, unused plots. In nearly every area where we anticipate
someone will want to be buried, we found anomalies indicating the presence
of another grave. Every grave at the cemetery is dug by hand and if the
grave digger sense the ground has previously been dug, we probe. We do not
want to obliterate or harm an early grave. We do not even want to chance
erroneously unearthing someone else's grave. I am at every grave opening
and closing.
There are some other compelling reasons not to continue to try to use the
old cemeteries. One is that often times the deceased died of contagious
diseases. Forensic biologists are split on this issue with some maintaining
that diseases can be spread from the grave even after an extended period of
time. One archaeologist we worked with stated she had contracted TB while
doing an excavation at an old Native American cemetery. Her daughter, who
also works in that field, contracted Valley Fever during an excavation.
Another reason is that the old cemeteries may contain Arsenic. Arsenic was
used as a major embalming agent, devised during the Civil War and continued
until about 1910. While the remains may decompose, Arsenic never degrades.
In the heavy metals group, Arsenic will "travel" in the ground. Arsenic
tainted wells within a 1/4 mile of historic cemeteries in the mid-West have
been found and documented. The Arsenic stays in the ground, travels into
the ground water and Arsenic kills. You can ingest it by skin contact,
through breathing Arsenic-laced dust and by drinking Arsenic-tainted water.
I think that rather than desiring to bury in these old cemeteries, the
kindest and most respectful thing one can do is to let the cemetery Rest In
Peace. Cemeteries are not renewable resources. The ground gets filled with
human remains and graves - marked or unmarked - should be respected. In
California, major "death conglomerates" have come in and are taking over a
large number of the older cemeteries from private operators. They don't
have accurate records and they are overburying on top of old graves. They
know and they continue.
Those of use who recognize the value of these old grave yards in terms of
the history they impart and the people and communities they are associated
with, should endeavor to spread the word that even cemeteries need to be
left in peace.
Respect the dead. Respect the last homes of our pioneer citizens.
Sincerely,
Sue Silver
El Dorado County Pioneer Cemeteries Commission
California
P.S. At Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, the State Dept. of
Parks & Recreation approved a burial policy for the Coloma Pioneer and St.
John Catholic cemeteries. 1) You can only be buried if you are a direct
descendant of a family with an existing, enclosed family plot. 2) Your
burial must be of cremated remains. 3) You must receive authorization to
be buried from the Park Superintendent. At Coloma Pioneer Cemetery, out of
600 known and visible graves, only 150 had markers. It is the oldest
cemetery in California's Gold Rush region and it is the second cemetery used
by the people of Coloma. The first cemetery was mined, sluiced or
hydraulicked away, leaving what is believed to be a mass grave where the
remains were placed. This is a reasonable burial policy for a pioneer
cemetery.
----- Original Message -----
From: UEB <ulyssesb(a)nltc.net>
To: <INPCRP-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Wednesday, August 30, 2000 7:34 PM
Subject: Re: [INPCRP] Burial in Pioneer Cemeteries
We had that request here in Henry county and they were told as long
it is
still recognized as a cemetery. It could be handled by a local funeral
home
or mortician. Check with a funeral home, they can make the
arrangements.
UEB
----- Original Message -----
From: Debbie Frick <dfrick(a)flash.net>
To: <INPCRP-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Wednesday, August 30, 2000 8:12 AM
Subject: [INPCRP] Burial in Pioneer Cemeteries
> If a person wanted to be buried in a pioneer cemetery with his or her
> ancestors are there laws prohibiting this? I'd love to hear lots of
> discussion about this idea. Thanks in advance for your input.
>
> Debbie
>
>
>
> ==== INPCRP Mailing List ====
> If we cannot respect the dead, how can we respect the living?
>
>
==== INPCRP Mailing List ====
THIS IS A CEMETERY -----
"Lives are commemorated - deaths are recorded - families
are reunited - memories are made tangible - and love is
undisguised. This is a cemetery.
"Communities accord respect, families bestow reverence,
historians seek information and our heritage is thereby enriched.
"Testimonies of devotion, pride and remembrance are carved
in stone to pay warm tribute to accomplishments and to the life -
not the death - of a loved one. The cemetery is homeland for family
memorials that are a sustaining source of comfort to the living.
"A cemetery is a history of people - a perpetual record of
yesterday and sanctuary of peace and quiet today. A cemetery
exists because every life is worth loving and remembering - always."
--Author unknown -- Seen at a monument dealer in West Union, IA