Hi everyone: Why send to all CALIF lists? Because from 1854 to late 1800's if you were committed in Calif to a state hospital, you were sent to Stockton for long term care. Why would you get committed? For reading Trashy Romance Novels, for being Jealous of hubby's new lady friend, for striking gold, and being to happy with it (they took the claim from this one I am sure), for sending for your niece & nephews after saving for years to do so.. and being to happy at seeing them arrive, for being to old to care for yourself, for missing over 5 menses (menopause), some legit, many more not. No, I haven't given up! I received a letter from a gentleman who stated he and one other person went into a Judge's chambers and in a matter of a few hours had "successfully removed" all the remains at the old State Hospital Cemetery to a common grave at Rural cemetery. One great feat accomplished with a few strokes of a pen (this man gave copies to all city/county/state officials, or asked Stockton to forward for him). This man is very concerned about the happenings years ago. He has been pushing me to get the matter corrected, as he had no success on his own. I had been trying to do this without mentioning this person, as he is elderly now, and it would do no good to hold him responsible for something others with greater authority talked him into doing. This has been a worry to him since it's inception, and he is relieved & willing to do what needs to be done to put things right (get the records released & get a plaque put up). The above is the major news.. the following is an update as to my contacts with the city, county & state officials... City of Stockton sent it to the city Attorney (probably to make sure they don't have any worries); city attorney said it's a District Attorney thing.. DA says call Stockton Police to the site, file a criminal complaint, since I think it was a crime (branded me a loony, don't you think?). Barbara Matthew's office is following up & has forwarded to other offices. Pombo's office forwarded it to others (not his district). Calif Archives said they would get back to me months ago, so I wrote them again today. Stockton/SJC planning commission has it, not sure what's happening there.. will call them again... think they gave it to someone else, City Attorney I think. Mike Machado's office has it, and I sent Patty there a copy of the letter from the gentleman I mentioned above, and she is yet to return my calls.. she is working on the Cemetery Regulations side of it, to see if there indeed is a problem. Patty & Mike Machado are the best bet to date. I was at the property yesterday, no change.. for sale sign that CRichard Ellis company have up & promised to remove is still there, the place is still strewn with trash, old car seats, a washer or dryer, junk... I was thinking of taking hubby's truck out and cleaning it a bit (have a nephew I can pay to help), but the transients are still in a tent there ( I never reported them, hey, we have to live) so I won't go out there by myself & don't want them to accost my nephew, as he has a short fuse. And, besides, it's not my place to clean the place up for a real estate company who does not even know who the owner is, right? I may do so soon, but would like a city/county/state official to view the property as it is first. We have excellent grounds to get the records released, and more if we chose to do so. It is not my intent to make the owners of the buildings (Beverly Manor Care home, and medical offices) remove them. I just want the names released so folks will know where their ancestor's are buried. There are no markers of any kind, so finding grave would be hap hazard after all these years anyway. The money & time would be better spent erecting a monument & giving public a place to check for names of ancestor's who are buried at the old site. Best we can do with all that has transpired. We have the law on our side, and with the information we now have on how the zone change was done.. it is my feeling the State holds the ball, and it is up to them to right things. I was also thinking of posting a sign on the site.. Stockton State Hospital Cemetery, etc... with contact phone number for those interested in the site. I would have to find a sign to use, or could just post it onto the for sale sign.. hey, if they forgot it was there... then they abandoned the sign, right? (I will call them again today to see if they mind if I attach a sign to theirs)... or they can take theirs down & have the owner call me.. he/they could sue the state & get lots of money.. right, our money... we taxpayers just can't win, but the land would go back to the state.. so they could leave as a cemetery.. hmmmm. Well, that is where things are at the moment. And I apologize if I sound trite, but it's laugh or cry.. and I get a headache when I cry.. so life goes on. Marge Campbell Lodi, CA http://www.rootsweb.com/~moiron2 Iron County MO Web Page http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~mcampbel/home.htm Margie Campbell's Web Page HERMES surname maillist host WENSTRÖM surname maillist host