If you have visited the Tombstone Project website and the Northern Nevada Mental Institute
Cemetery (
http://www.usgwarchives.net/nv/washoe/photos/tombstones/mental/mental.html) you
will see how desecrated this cemetery is. You can also visit a group formed to preserve
this cemetery by visiting
http://friendsofnorthernnevadaadultmentalhealthservicescemetery.com/homep.... After
much work, research and many hours spent by volunteers, a bill is to be considered by the
Senate Government Affairs committee on Friday, 3/27/09, after adjournment of the Senate
floor session. This bill will name the cemetery as an historial site and will help to
preserve the cemetery. Future plans, once the bill is passed into law is to have the
cemetery cleaned up, and to provide some type of memorial to those known to be buried in
this cemetery.
This cemetery is located in Sparks, Nevada,
Please visit this site and record your comments about the bill. The more people that
express their feelings about the preservation of this historic cemetery the better will be
the chances of having the bill passed.
https://www.leg.state.nv.us/75th2009/opinions/Poll/?CFID=2334396&CFTO...
You can also email the senators who are on the committee and voice your opinion and
encourage them to vote to approve the bill and send it on its way to becoming law. It is
past time when the State of Nevada took steps to right the wrongs that occurred under the
State's watch. It is virtually impossible to determine the number of people buried in
this cemetery, but estimates, based on research, have the number at over 600. Today there
are only 11 burial sites remaining that have a marker! It is unknown where the remaing
deceased are buried. There are some records where the deceased were buried 3-deep! and
there are stories of nearby construction projects uprooting the graves and reinterment
within the cemetery at locations which were not recorded. HELP THESE POOR TORMENTED SOULS
HAVE A FINAL AND DIGNIFIED RESTING PLACE. You can help by taking action and contacting
the senators and recording your encouragement for passage of the bill.
Please take a moment and voice your opinion about this much needed bill. And, contact the
following senators who sit on the Government Affairs Committee and encourage their
"yes" vote - tell them how important this bill is.
Senate Committee on Government Affairs, S.B. 256
John J. Lee, Chair (D) (775) 684-1424 Email:
jlee(a)sen.state.nv.us
Room 2126
Terry Care, Vice Chair (D) (775) 684-6503 Email: tcare(a)sen.state.nv.us
Room 1224
Steven A. Horsford (D) (775) 684-1429 Email:
shorsford(a)sen.state.nv.us
Room 1222
Shirley A. Breeden (D) (775) 684-1457 Email:
sbreeden(a)sen.state.nv.us
Room 2131
William J. Raggio (R) (775) 684-1419 Email:
wraggio(a)sen.state.nv.us
Room 2160
Randolph J. Townsend (R) (775) 684-1450 Email:
rtownsend(a)sen.state.nv.us
Room 2107
Mike McGinness (R) (775) 684-1442 Email:
mmcginnes(a)sen.state.nv.us
Room 2100
Gerry Perry, Manager
Nevada Tombstone Project