Thanks for this info, Carin. It's amazing to me that the people of Ventura had so little respect not only for their earliest pioneer residents, but for the history their presence in the cemetery continued to offer. Many cities now offer tours of their beautiful historic cemeteries. In Amador County, the Chamber of Commerce did a survey a few years ago and found that 11% of tourists said they visited the old cemeteries. How shortsighted the stampede for progress and modern amentieies has been. Sue ----- Original Message ----- From: "Darren Fine" <cdfine@earthlink.net> To: <CAVENTUR-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, November 09, 2003 4:58 PM Subject: [CAVentura] Ventura Cemetery aka Cemetery Park > Hi there, > I just had to get involved in this conversation. My husband's ggg & > gg-granmothers are buried there. His gg-grandmother was one of the last to > be buried there, if not *the* last, in 1943. I first found out about this > cemetery from a transcription I found on the web back in 1999. I wanted to > find out where this cemetery was. I called everywhere and finally ended up > talking to a very nice man at the Ventura Historical Society Research > Library who told me the story of this cemetery. He said that in the 60's, > they (can't remember if it was the city or county of Ventura) decided to > dismantle the cemetery and make a park. They very quietly sent letters to > all last known next of kin. If they got a response, they moved the bodies, > if not, then they did nothing. The stones were removed and tossed in a > canyon somewhere (he didn't know specifically where.) He even told me where > their burial site was...Block 8 Lot 3, "it's near the bridge". I guess they > have a map. The sad thing is that if they gave just a little more effort, > the family would have been able to move Frances & Minnie. > > As for the transcription, there is a link on the Ventura Co website, but I > can't get it to work. I did print it out back in 99, though. And I don't > know who originally posted it, there wasn't a name. There are about 60 > names on it. I actually don't know if it is a complete list of burials or > if they are the ones that were not moved. I never thought of that until > this moment. Looking at the list, the first burial is 1866 and the last is > 1943. > > I think that's about all the light I can shed from my notes from the > conversation. It also seemed that although it wasn't widely publicized, > everyone basically knew, but nothing was done to oppose it. It's very sad. > If I had the money, I would see about having them moved, if it's not too > late. Maybe someday. > > Thanks for listening! :) > Carin Fine > > > > > > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 >

Hi there, I just had to get involved in this conversation. My husband's ggg & gg-granmothers are buried there. His gg-grandmother was one of the last to be buried there, if not *the* last, in 1943. I first found out about this cemetery from a transcription I found on the web back in 1999. I wanted to find out where this cemetery was. I called everywhere and finally ended up talking to a very nice man at the Ventura Historical Society Research Library who told me the story of this cemetery. He said that in the 60's, they (can't remember if it was the city or county of Ventura) decided to dismantle the cemetery and make a park. They very quietly sent letters to all last known next of kin. If they got a response, they moved the bodies, if not, then they did nothing. The stones were removed and tossed in a canyon somewhere (he didn't know specifically where.) He even told me where their burial site was...Block 8 Lot 3, "it's near the bridge". I guess they have a map. The sad thing is that if they gave just a little more effort, the family would have been able to move Frances & Minnie. As for the transcription, there is a link on the Ventura Co website, but I can't get it to work. I did print it out back in 99, though. And I don't know who originally posted it, there wasn't a name. There are about 60 names on it. I actually don't know if it is a complete list of burials or if they are the ones that were not moved. I never thought of that until this moment. Looking at the list, the first burial is 1866 and the last is 1943. I think that's about all the light I can shed from my notes from the conversation. It also seemed that although it wasn't widely publicized, everyone basically knew, but nothing was done to oppose it. It's very sad. If I had the money, I would see about having them moved, if it's not too late. Maybe someday. Thanks for listening! :) Carin Fine

IF this is the cemetery on Main near the intersection with Santa Clara, then this was done back in the late 1950's early 1960's. I graduated high school in 1964. The city build a rec center on the west side of the old cemetery property as we used to go to dances there. Then the ground started sinking and I think they tore it down. The old headstones were dumped up (I think) Hall canyon, north and east of Ventura High School football stadium. Not too far up, seems near a locked gate, maybe less than 1/4 mile past the last house. I remember seeing them dumped over the east side of the road, just over a berm. Hope that helps someone in their search. http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?country=US&addtohistory=&address=seaward+ ave%2F+poli&city=ventura&state=ca&zipcode=&homesubmit=Get+Map Hall Canyon Rd. is on this site Ron

----- Original Message ----- From: "K Haddad" <haddad1940@yahoo.com> To: <CEMETERY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, November 07, 2003 3:48 PM Subject: Re: [Old Bones CEMETERY-L] Ventura CA Cemetary > Join the "club." Many of us are fighting similar desecrations. Thousands of pioneer graves in the middle of fields have been plowed under just to get another 20 sq. feet for crops. Headstones have been removed to use a stepping stones across muddy yards, walls for cellars, etc., etc. > > I asked the lady if she knew where the headstones in Ventura were dumped, but she did not know. Does anyone else know? Is it on SavingGraves? > > Katheryn > > "St. Claire Family" <aaf@ais.net> wrote: > I don't understand why someone/some entity would do such > a thing. It doesn't matter whether there are descendants or not, > it is still an evil thing. I don't use the word "evil" lightly. > > Is there nothing that can be done now? If the headstones were > dumped, might they be recoverable? > > If nothing else, this prompts me to be more aware of the cemetaries > near me. > > Tracy St. Claire > "Saving Bibles" most of the time > http://www.biblerecords.com > > > ==== CEMETERY Mailing List ==== > This list is for Cemetery RESTORATION and PRESERVATION > NOT a surname search list > Our website is at: > http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Falls/7965/cemlistp.htm > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > > > --------------------------------- > Do you Yahoo!? > Protect your identity with Yahoo! Mail AddressGuard > > > ==== CEMETERY Mailing List ==== > If you are on DIGEST mail mode and wish to unsubscribe from the list, > send a message to Cemetery-D-request@rootsweb.com > In the body of the message type: UNSUBSCRIBE > These directions are for DIGEST MODE mail ONLY > NOT REGULAR MODE > Roots Web's computer will send you a message stating YOU ARE NOT ON > THE LIST if you try unsubbing yourself from the REGULAR mode mail when > you are actually on digest. THIS IS A COMPUTER GENERATED MESSAGE. > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 >

----- Original Message ----- From: "St. Claire Family" <aaf@ais.net> To: <CEMETERY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, November 07, 2003 5:16 AM Subject: [Old Bones CEMETERY-L] Ventura CA Cemetary > I don't understand why someone/some entity would do such > a thing. It doesn't matter whether there are descendants or not, > it is still an evil thing. I don't use the word "evil" lightly. > > Is there nothing that can be done now? If the headstones were > dumped, might they be recoverable? > > If nothing else, this prompts me to be more aware of the cemetaries > near me. > > Tracy St. Claire > "Saving Bibles" most of the time > http://www.biblerecords.com > > > ==== CEMETERY Mailing List ==== > This list is for Cemetery RESTORATION and PRESERVATION > NOT a surname search list > Our website is at: > http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Falls/7965/cemlistp.htm > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 >

----- Original Message ----- From: "K Haddad" <haddad1940@yahoo.com> To: <CEMETERY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, November 07, 2003 3:12 AM Subject: Re: [Old Bones CEMETERY-L] Ventura, CA, cemetery desecrated to turn into a park > Did anyone write down the names on the tombstones before creating a dump for the tombstones? Where would those names be? I think I have ancestors there. > > Did anyone contact the California attorney general? > > Was no one in Ventura County interested? If no one knew they had ancestors there, I suppose they wouldn't be interested enough to devote the time and emotional energy required to save a cemetery (which is almost impossible when you're "fighting city hall"). > > I wonder if the American Civil Liberties Union ever defends the dead.... > > Katheryn > > Sue Silver <ssilver1951@jps.net> wrote: > Greetings, > > The subject of this cemetery was covered by a reporter from the LA Times > late last year (don't hold me to that time period). I was interviewed for > the article and have gone on record as saying I believe what the City did > what they did illegally. It was not then, nor is it now, lawful to create a > "park" out of a cemetery as long as there are bodies in the ground. > > There is law (California Health and Safety Code Sections 8825-8829) that > allows COUNTY boards of supervisors to declare a cemetery NOT owned by them > to be abandoned and to close them to future interments. The process to be > followed includes public notice and QUIETING TITLE to the land so as to > create a PIONEER MEMORIAL PARK. > > Any cemetery ornamentation found to be hazardous to the public is allowed to > be removed thereafter. The county MUST also thereafter maintain the Pioneer > Memorial Park FOREVER. > > California laws sets out that land continues to be DEDICATED to CEMETERY > PURPOSES as long as there are human remains still within the land. A city > park is NOT a cemetery. A cemetery MAY NOT BE USED as a city park. > > A Pioneer Memorial PARK is a name given by the legislature supposedly for > lack of a better term. But it is NOT A PARK for playing or walking dogs so > they can urinate and defecate on the graves of our state's earliest pioneer > citizens. > > I stand by my opinion. The City of Ventura has violated not only the spirit > and intent of this law, but the graves of the earliest residents of their > town. > > I agree - SHAME ON THEM. And, since I help many people with problems with > cemeteries, I'm sorry to say that my feeling is SHAME on the people of the > City of Ventura who allow this kind of cemetery desecration to continue. > > If anyone would like further information, please contact me direct at > ssilver1951@jps.net. > > Sincerely, > > Sue Silver, State Coordinator > California Saving Graves > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "K Haddad" > To: > Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2003 4:29 PM > Subject: [Old Bones CEMETERY-L] Ventura, CA, cemetery desecrated to turn > into a park > > > > > > A very nice lady from RAOGK (Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness) who did > a cemetery lookup for me in Ventura Co., CA, wrote me this: Cemetery Park > is a cemetery in Ventura, CA, that was desecrated by the city to turn it > into a park. > > > > "Cemetery Park is just that. So sad. The City of Ventura took all the > headstones and dumped them in a canyon in back of town. This was done 4 or 5 > years ago. I had not read anything about it in our local paper till after > the fact. > > > > "Our newspaper said, the city tried to contact families of those buried > there. > > > > "I have lived here nearly all my life, (my Mom was born in Ojai) and I use > to walk that cemetery as a kid (we all did) it was so interesting to read > the headstones. To me it is a sad looking place now. > > > > "The listing for who is buried there I got from our City Clerk. The > listing was done in the early 1940's and she had it on a floppy and was kind > enough to share it with me. > > Our city council should be ashamed of themselves." > > > > > > "Ojai City Hall 805-646-5581 > > 401 S. Ventura, Ojai CA > > 93023 > > > > Hallie > > > > Does anyone on our list live near Ventura that would be interested in > investigating this? > > > > Katheryn Maddox Haddad > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > Do you Yahoo!? > > Protect your identity with Yahoo! Mail AddressGuard > > > > > > ==== CEMETERY Mailing List ==== > > If you are on DIGEST mail mode and wish to unsubscribe from the list, > > send a message to Cemetery-D-request@rootsweb.com > > In the body of the message type: UNSUBSCRIBE > > These directions are for DIGEST MODE mail ONLY > > NOT REGULAR MODE > > Roots Web's computer will send you a message stating YOU ARE NOT ON > > THE LIST if you try unsubbing yourself from the REGULAR mode mail when > > you are actually on digest. THIS IS A COMPUTER GENERATED MESSAGE. > > > > ============================== > > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, > go to: > > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > > > > > > ==== CEMETERY Mailing List ==== > If you are on DIGEST mail mode and wish to unsubscribe from the list, > send a message to Cemetery-D-request@rootsweb.com > In the body of the message type: UNSUBSCRIBE > These directions are for DIGEST MODE mail ONLY > NOT REGULAR MODE > Roots Web's computer will send you a message stating YOU ARE NOT ON > THE LIST if you try unsubbing yourself from the REGULAR mode mail when > you are actually on digest. THIS IS A COMPUTER GENERATED MESSAGE. > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > > > --------------------------------- > Do you Yahoo!? > Protect your identity with Yahoo! Mail AddressGuard > > > ==== CEMETERY Mailing List ==== > If you are on DIGEST mail mode and wish to unsubscribe from the list, > send a message to Cemetery-D-request@rootsweb.com > In the body of the message type: UNSUBSCRIBE > These directions are for DIGEST MODE mail ONLY > NOT REGULAR MODE > Roots Web's computer will send you a message stating YOU ARE NOT ON > THE LIST if you try unsubbing yourself from the REGULAR mode mail when > you are actually on digest. THIS IS A COMPUTER GENERATED MESSAGE. > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > >

----- Original Message ----- From: "Sue Silver" <ssilver1951@jps.net> To: <CEMETERY-L@rootsweb.com> Cc: <webmaster@savinggraves.org>; "CA Historic Cem Alliance" <chca@winfirst.com> Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2003 11:32 PM Subject: Re: [Old Bones CEMETERY-L] Ventura, CA, cemetery desecrated to turn into a park > Greetings, > > The subject of this cemetery was covered by a reporter from the LA Times > late last year (don't hold me to that time period). I was interviewed for > the article and have gone on record as saying I believe what the City did > what they did illegally. It was not then, nor is it now, lawful to create a > "park" out of a cemetery as long as there are bodies in the ground. > > There is law (California Health and Safety Code Sections 8825-8829) that > allows COUNTY boards of supervisors to declare a cemetery NOT owned by them > to be abandoned and to close them to future interments. The process to be > followed includes public notice and QUIETING TITLE to the land so as to > create a PIONEER MEMORIAL PARK. > > Any cemetery ornamentation found to be hazardous to the public is allowed to > be removed thereafter. The county MUST also thereafter maintain the Pioneer > Memorial Park FOREVER. > > California laws sets out that land continues to be DEDICATED to CEMETERY > PURPOSES as long as there are human remains still within the land. A city > park is NOT a cemetery. A cemetery MAY NOT BE USED as a city park. > > A Pioneer Memorial PARK is a name given by the legislature supposedly for > lack of a better term. But it is NOT A PARK for playing or walking dogs so > they can urinate and defecate on the graves of our state's earliest pioneer > citizens. > > I stand by my opinion. The City of Ventura has violated not only the spirit > and intent of this law, but the graves of the earliest residents of their > town. > > I agree - SHAME ON THEM. And, since I help many people with problems with > cemeteries, I'm sorry to say that my feeling is SHAME on the people of the > City of Ventura who allow this kind of cemetery desecration to continue. > > If anyone would like further information, please contact me direct at > ssilver1951@jps.net. > > Sincerely, > > Sue Silver, State Coordinator > California Saving Graves > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "K Haddad" <haddad1940@yahoo.com> > To: <CEMETERY-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2003 4:29 PM > Subject: [Old Bones CEMETERY-L] Ventura, CA, cemetery desecrated to turn > into a park > > > > > > A very nice lady from RAOGK (Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness) who did > a cemetery lookup for me in Ventura Co., CA, wrote me this: Cemetery Park > is a cemetery in Ventura, CA, that was desecrated by the city to turn it > into a park. > > > > "Cemetery Park is just that. So sad. The City of Ventura took all the > headstones and dumped them in a canyon in back of town. This was done 4 or 5 > years ago. I had not read anything about it in our local paper till after > the fact. > > > > "Our newspaper said, the city tried to contact families of those buried > there. > > > > "I have lived here nearly all my life, (my Mom was born in Ojai) and I use > to walk that cemetery as a kid (we all did) it was so interesting to read > the headstones. To me it is a sad looking place now. > > > > "The listing for who is buried there I got from our City Clerk. The > listing was done in the early 1940's and she had it on a floppy and was kind > enough to share it with me. > > Our city council should be ashamed of themselves." > > > > > > "Ojai City Hall 805-646-5581 > > 401 S. Ventura, Ojai CA > > 93023 > > > > Hallie > > > > Does anyone on our list live near Ventura that would be interested in > investigating this? > > > > Katheryn Maddox Haddad > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > Do you Yahoo!? > > Protect your identity with Yahoo! Mail AddressGuard > > > > > > ==== CEMETERY Mailing List ==== > > If you are on DIGEST mail mode and wish to unsubscribe from the list, > > send a message to Cemetery-D-request@rootsweb.com > > In the body of the message type: UNSUBSCRIBE > > These directions are for DIGEST MODE mail ONLY > > NOT REGULAR MODE > > Roots Web's computer will send you a message stating YOU ARE NOT ON > > THE LIST if you try unsubbing yourself from the REGULAR mode mail when > > you are actually on digest. THIS IS A COMPUTER GENERATED MESSAGE. > > > > ============================== > > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, > go to: > > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > > >

Thought some of you doing Ventura research might like to follow some of these emails. Sue Silver, State Coordinator California Saving Grave ----- Original Message ----- From: "K Haddad" <haddad1940@yahoo.com> To: <CEMETERY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2003 4:29 PM Subject: [Old Bones CEMETERY-L] Ventura, CA, cemetery desecrated to turn into a park > > A very nice lady from RAOGK (Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness) who did a cemetery lookup for me in Ventura Co., CA, wrote me this: Cemetery Park is a cemetery in Ventura, CA, that was desecrated by the city to turn it into a park. > > "Cemetery Park is just that. So sad. The City of Ventura took all the headstones and dumped them in a canyon in back of town. This was done 4 or 5 years ago. I had not read anything about it in our local paper till after the fact. > > "Our newspaper said, the city tried to contact families of those buried there. > > "I have lived here nearly all my life, (my Mom was born in Ojai) and I use to walk that cemetery as a kid (we all did) it was so interesting to read the headstones. To me it is a sad looking place now. > > "The listing for who is buried there I got from our City Clerk. The listing was done in the early 1940's and she had it on a floppy and was kind enough to share it with me. > Our city council should be ashamed of themselves." > > > "Ojai City Hall 805-646-5581 > 401 S. Ventura, Ojai CA > 93023 > > Hallie > > Does anyone on our list live near Ventura that would be interested in investigating this? > > Katheryn Maddox Haddad > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > Do you Yahoo!? > Protect your identity with Yahoo! Mail AddressGuard > > > ==== CEMETERY Mailing List ==== > If you are on DIGEST mail mode and wish to unsubscribe from the list, > send a message to Cemetery-D-request@rootsweb.com > In the body of the message type: UNSUBSCRIBE > These directions are for DIGEST MODE mail ONLY > NOT REGULAR MODE > Roots Web's computer will send you a message stating YOU ARE NOT ON > THE LIST if you try unsubbing yourself from the REGULAR mode mail when > you are actually on digest. THIS IS A COMPUTER GENERATED MESSAGE. > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 >

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Beyers Eichblatt Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/CY.2ADI/576 Message Board Post: My granfather's sister, Sidney Elizabeth Beyers, was married to Emil Joseph Eichblatt, b. February 27, 1907, son of Paul A. Eichblatt and Ethel Johnson. Emil died in January 1976 in Las Vegas. Sidney Elizabeth died October 17, 1990 in Ventura, California. Records show the birth of children, Emil Joseph and David. I did not learn of these people until after the death of my grandfather and am looking for any further information. Thank you, Peggy McAlpine

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/CY.2ADI/575 Message Board Post: I am trying to contact an old friend of mine named Dee. She will be between 54 and 56 and worked as a cocktail waitress in Ventura in 1970. I don't remember her last name or where she worked. She can contact me at my e-mail address. Thanks anyone.

Am willing to do Chicago IL Tribune obit lookups in trade for obit lookups that I need. I need obit lookups for the following Cook, Fanny Fern d) 10/10/1992 in CA-Santa Paula, Ventura Co Marler, Ona Call d) 7/9/1996 in CA-Ventura, Ventura Co Jim Dlask 4538 N Avers Chicago IL 60625

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Dassey, Goyette, Phelan Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/CY.2ADI/574 Message Board Post: Joseph Dassey b 07/01/1904 d. 11/14/1988 Santa Monico Harriett Dassey b 09/05/1903 d. 09/21/1993 Thank you, Chris

Greetings, I received a "news alert" from Forbes Magazine on the above topic. (See the link below to read the article.) After reading the article I felt the need to send the following letter to the editor. If you are having trouble finding funding to help care for the historic cemeteries of your communities, perhaps you will appreciate my message. Sue Silver, State Coordinator California Saving Graves Forbes.com Editor: Forbes coverage of the subject of the world's best cemeteries keyed into the cost of burial at these places. It focused on cemeteries based upon the most costly, prestigious, and well maintained. While this is all well and fine for the current rich and famous, we have to wonder why it is that Forbes has not discovered that in our own country there are literally thousands of abandoned and neglected historic cemeteries. These are the cemeteries of the people who built this great nation and the states and cities of this union. Yet, in a tragic turn of moral neglect, they are wasting away from lack of care, being bulldozed to make way for new generations of Americans, and being ignored by elected civil authorities. It says a lot about America that we will expend billions of dollars to help reconstruct Iraq but spend nothing on the care of the graves of our own forefathers. Sue Silver, State Coordinator California Saving Graves ----- Original Message ----- From: "Forbes.com Alerts" <alerts@forbesdigital.com> To: "Alerts Recipients" <alerts-rcpt@forbesdigital.com> Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2003 9:07 PM Subject: World's Best Cemeteries 2003 > World's Best Cemeteries 2003 > > On Halloween, graveyards are popular places, but both the dead and the living fill these cemeteries all year round. > > Click the link below to read the full story: > http://www.forbes.com/2003/10/31/cx_bs_1031home.html > > > This e-mail is sent to you because you selected to receive Forbes.com > News Alerts. If you have questions or need help, please contact > Forbes.com customer service at customerservice@forbes.net. > > Click below to manage your alerts: > http://www.forbes.com/membership/editprofile.jhtml#newsletters > You will be able to add and remove individual alerts and change news sources. > >

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Davis Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/CY.2ADI/573 Message Board Post: Would appreciate lookup on the obituary of Ruby (a/k/a Orene) Davis, who died on on 5/4/89.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/CY.2ADI/572 Message Board Post: Dear Friends, This is just a short update on our Pre-1905 CADI site www.rootsweb.com/~cabf1905 Our talented and dedicated transcribers are still hard at work. We hope to be able to finish Sacramento County soon after the first of the year. Meanwhile, some old records from Los Angelus and San Francisco are also “in the pipeline”, along with new counties’ records. As you may know, all of El Dorado County records were destroyed in a fire. We are extremely fortunate to have come into possession of some records from El Dorado area cemeteries. When they have been completed we will have them online quickly. We have had requests to bring PayPal to our site to make the donation process easier, and we have done just that. Even if you have never used PayPal before, you can use this vehicle with no trouble at all. And for those who frequent EBay, you are probably well versed with Pay Pal. Donations are gratefully received through PayPal. Please come and visit us…our door is always open, and we are available to assist in any way we can. Happy Hunting, Judie, Betty and Elvina Project Coordinators www.rootsweb.com/~cabf1905

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: ROSSI, POLETE, FISTOLERA, MARRAN, MARRON, STANLEY, HARMON, ROMINGER Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/CY.2ADI/568 Message Board Post: Delfino Paul Rossi Delfino Paul Rossi died at Stollwood Convalescent Hospital in Woodland on Monday, Oct. 13, 2003 at age 88. Born on March 4, 1915 in Ventura, Mr. Rossi attended school in Ventura. Mr. Rossi was involved with the Shriners and the Masons. Mr. Rossi is survived by his daughter Sharon Rossi, of Grass Valley, grandchildren Craig Polete, Joel Polete and Marisa Polete, all of Woodland; great-grandchildren Riley Polete of Woodland and Ryan Polete of Lodi. He is also survived by a brother Jimmie Fistolera, of Tracy; nephews Allen Fistolera, Larry Fistolera and Stephen Fistolera; nieces Geraldine Marran of Los Angeles, Cynthia Stanley of Michigan and Janice Fistolera of Tracy. Mr. Rossi was preceded in death by his wife Helen Harmon Rossi, his sister Genevieve Marron (sic) and his former wife Edna Suttle Rominger. McNary's Funeral Home of Woodland is assisting the family with arrangements. Services: A graveside service has been scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17, 2003 at Monument Hill. (Obituary from the Woodland "Daily Democrat," Thursday, October 16, 2003, (Woodland, Yolo County, California). Submitted with the permission of the "The Daily Democrat," 711 Main St., Woodland, CA 95695. <http://www.dailydemocrat.com/> Please note: I am not related to the family listed above, and I do not have any further information on this family.)

Greetings, once more, I recently posted a notice of recent obliteration of the El Dorado House Cemetery. The photos of the recent clearing activity do not properly show what those of us who have seen the Bentley-Parmeter family plot at the cemetery, know it to look like. I have posted additional photographs that were taken at a clean up of the Bentley-Parmeter plot in October of 2000. To access the Before and After photos of the clean up day, go to the following link: http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ca/state/Bentley-Parmeter_Plot_CleanUp.htm (These photos may be slow in loading.) The clean up was sponsored by the El Dorado County Pioneer Cemeteries Commission. Their website is at www.usgennet.org/usa/ca/county/eldorado1. Regards, Sue Silver, State Coordinator California Saving Graves www.usgennet.org/usa/ca/state/

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/CY.2ADI/567 Message Board Post: I am looking for any information on Robert Alfred Edman, born 1913 in Seattle Washington and died in Ventura CA 1989-04-22. Thank you!

Hello all, A small cemetery in El Dorado County is in imminent danger of total obliteration. To see more about the EL DORADO HOUSE CEMETERY, the cemetery of an 1850s era roadhouse on the old Placerville to Sacramento Road (part of the original Immigrant Road for wagons coming into to California from over the Plains), go to this link: http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ca/state/El_Dorado_House_Cemetery.htm There is also a page of photos showing what has recently occurred. If you have cemeteries in similar condition, I would certainly like to know about them. Sincerely, Sue Silver, State Coordinator California Saving Graves www.usgennet.org/usa/ca/state/

Greetings, As originally written SB 1059 included a provision that requires the county tax assessors to utilize a postcard method to contact cemetery authorities who file Cemetery Exemption Forms to receive tax exemption on cemetery properties. After the Bill was introduced I contacted the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee to inquire about adding something that might help prevent the historic cemeteries from being sold for delinquent taxes. Three years ago I had contacted Dean Andal of the Board of Equalization with the same request. With his help, we had started to work on developing some language that could be added to the Revenue and Tax Code. Someone at BOE dropped the ball and we never completed it. This time, however, the committee's consultant, Martin Helmke, and an attorney with the BOE, Rose Marie Kinnee, responded, and we were finally able to have something added that I hope will help, even if a little. It is not perfect, but it is a start. Since we did not have an existing definition for "historic cemetery", we chose to have this apply to cemeteries that began to be used previous to 1900. This, of course, includes a great many of the historic cemeteries in the state so that this new code section could feasibly apply to thousands of cemeteries. The sections within SB 1059 applicable to the cemeteries are 256.6 and 256.7, which reads as follows: 256.7. (a) Notwithstanding Sections 254, 256.5, and 256.6, an affidavit claiming the cemetery exemption, as provided for in subdivision (g) of Section 3 of Article XIII of the California Constitution and Section 204, is not required to be filed in order to receive the exemption for any cemetery that exists, or is discovered to exist, in the unincorporated area of a county for which the assessor is unable to identify the legal cemetery authority, as defined in Section 7018 of the Health and Safety Code, that may by law claim the exemption for that cemetery, if both of the following apply: (1) The cemetery was used by residents of the state prior to the year 1900. (2) The cemetery is no longer used for current or future interments. (b) Any tax, penalty, or interest imposed upon a cemetery subject to this section shall be canceled pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 4985) of Chapter 4 of Part 9, as if it had been levied or charged erroneously. Only time will tell if Sec. 256.7 will be of any benefit, but had it been in place in 1998 when the Cold Springs Cemetery in El Dorado County was about to be sold for delinquent taxes, perhaps the El Dorado County Pioneer Cemeteries Commission would not have had to claim "ownership" of that historic public cemetery through acceptance of a Quit Claim deed. In the past other historic cemeteries have been sold to satisfy delinquent property taxes. By law, the public acquired title to those cemeteries even though the boards of supervisors of the counties where they were situated did not officially claim the public's property. If your county has any "abandoned" cemeteries or cemeteries that may have no legal cemetery authority in attendance of it, you may want to contact your county tax assessor to advise that office that the cemetery may not be subject to taxation. Sue Silver, State Coordinator California Saving Graves www.usgennet.org/usa/ca/state/