Hi Listers,
In the August 15, 2000 edition of the Reno Gazette Journal, there is an
article by Don Cox, entitled "Thefts Threaten Virginia City Cemeteries". In
a nutshell, the article explains theft in the cemetery -- headstones,
monuments, ornaments, iron gates, or just about anything else people can pick
up and carry away.
The Comstock Cemetery Foundation was formed in April to save SilverTerrace
and other Comstock cemeteries suffering from a century of neglect. The
foundation is headed by Candace Wheeler.
For years there have been sporadic attempts to rehabilitate the graveyards,
with persons clearing burial sites and small groups tending cemetery
sections. But Wheeler and the foundation's nine other board members are
starting a nationwide effort that will cost $1.5 million and use experts from
across the country to do the job. Money, they hope will come from individual
donations, along with grants from companies and charitable foundations.
The graveyards are important parts of the history of Virginia City and the
rest of the Comstock, site of one of the world's great gold and silver
discoveries and a designated national landmark. Candace Wheeler figures
something of iron, stone or wood is stolen from Silver Terrace every day
during the summer tourist season. Wheeler states that "We have to move fast
or there literally won't be anything there."
"Despite its disrepair, Silver Terrace is filled with beautiful iron work,
stone monuments and other grave markers. But the cemetery is unprotected.
There is no caretaker. That's something else Wheeler wants to change.
"The first thing the foundation will do is take the rest of this year and
part of next to make a plan for Silver Terrace and the Gold Hill Cemetery.
"We have fencing problems and site problems, we have erosion," said Wheeler.
"There is no working plot map" said Ross Bevans, a foundation member. We
don't have a map to show someone that "John" is over there and "John
Henry"
is over here."
Wheeler estimates there are 2,500 people buried at Silver Terrace (which is
actually 11 cemeteries covering 30 acres), but the foundation can record only
1,200 plots. At Gold Hill, about 400 of an estimated 2,000 graves are
identified.
"Along with funds, the foundation is looking for the descendantsof people
buried at Silver Terrace and Gold Hill. Those descendants may have pictures
of graves that can be used when rehabilitation work begins."
The article gave no address or email address of the Comstock Cemetery
Foundaion and Comstock Historic District Commission, but there is a phone
number (775) 847-0281. If there are any descendants out there who can give
the Foundation information on their ancestors or who have grave site
pictures, you can call that phone number, and if it is a toll call, you can
email me and I will forward the information to the Foundation.
Lee Nielson
Carson City, NV
cgnielson(a)aol.com