The Graveyard Rabbit of the California Central Coast

What Better Day Than Halloween...

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 15:10:00 +0000

...for a Graveyard Rabbit to celebrate a blogiversary?

Back in 2008, I was pleased and honored to be asked by the late Terry Thornton to be a charter member of his new project, The Association of Graveyard Rabbits.

What is a Graveyard Rabbit? From About The GYRabbit Association:

Welcome to The Association Of Graveyard Rabbits – an association dedicated to the academic promotion of the historical importance of cemeteries, grave markers, and the family history to be learned from a study of burial customs, burying grounds, and tombstones; and the social promotion of the study of cemeteries, the preservation of cemeteries, and the transcription of genealogical/historical information written in cemeteries.

The Association Of Graveyard Rabbits was founded by Terry Thornton (Mississippi) with assistance from footnoteMaven (Washington) and Bob Franks (Mississippi). The Association Of Graveyard Rabbits is authored by Terry Thornton of The GYRabbit of The Hill Country. It features a weekly article with links to all of the articles written by the membership and a weekly feature devoted to the introduction of one of the members. Members are in contact with each other through their blogs, through a frequent Graveyard Rabbit e-Letter, and through interaction at the Graveyard Rabbit Group at Facebook. Additional publications planned include an e-Quarterly and an e-Annual.

The Association publication is implementing an articles and links library created with the contributions of its members. Discussions are ongoing about a Cemetery of the Year Award sponsored by The Association of Graveyard Rabbits.

WHY THE ASSOCIATION OF GRAVEYARD RABBITS?

The Association was named for Frank Lebby Stanton's poem, The Graveyard Rabbit. Although the poem is about superstitions associated with graveyard rabbits, Stanton also establishes that such rabbits have a charmingly intimate knowledge of graveyards and a loving association with the dead. These traits are the motivation of the human beings interested in this group.

I have only lived on the Central Coast for 7 years, but I have to say, the cemeteries here are gorgeous! I mean, who wouldn't want to be buried here?

It's true: the dead at the Santa Barbara Cemetery have a better view of the ocean than most of the living. I've already told my husband to bury me there, but at $20k+ per plot, I sincerely doubt that will happen!

And during my cemetery research and travels, I was surprised to discover a member of my own extended family buried in the Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura. As a 2nd generation Californian, it's not often that I find family I didn't know about buried here, especially on the Central Coast (most of my family migrated to the Inland Empire).

Although life has kept me busy, and I've often neglected this blog, my commitment to cemeteries and the history they preserve has never wavered. I hope that I have honored Mr. Thornton's memory by continuing to participate as a member of his project.

If you love cemeteries and would like to join the Association, please visit The Association of Graveyard Rabbits and click the JOIN button to fill out the application.

Thank you for hopping by today!

Calif. cemetery-turned-dog park keeps tombstone from burial site

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 14:44:00 +0000

There's an interesting story this morning from CBS News about a woman from Carson City, Nevada, who tried to return a Spanish American War soldier's grave marker to the "cemetery" where he is buried:

A tombstone honoring a Spanish-American war soldier remains separated from the ground where the man's body was buried because that cemetery has been converted into a dog park.

CBS Los Angeles reports that a decades-long controversy over a recreational park continued when Cindy Southerland of Carson City Nevada traveled miles to Ventura, Calif. To return a tombstone her husband found in a canyon in the mid-1960's.

The headstone honored Edward Baker, a veteran of the Spanish-American war who died at 44 in 1913.

He was buried at St. Mary's Cemetery, but that land was turned into a recreational space about five decades ago.

Today, dogs and pedestrians play above nearly 3,000 bodies that remain buried at the grave site.

Read the rest of the story here. (Emphasis above added by me.)

Video from KCAL9

If you haven't heard the sad story of St. Mary's Cemetery, you can learn more at Restore St. Mary's Cemetery. What is truly unfortunate is that the majority of area residents prefer that the property be used as a dog park rather than it's intended purpose of a cemetery.

So... how would you feel to discover that your ancestor's final resting place was now a public potty for dogs?

Sunday October 28, 2012 is "Visit a Cemetery Day"

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 17:47:00 +0000

I received the following press release from mysendoff.com yesterday. It appears to be legitimate; although my first thought was that Mr. Colin Firth must be having trouble finding work in the movie industry. It's obviously a different Colin Firth... anyway, check it out for yourself. At any rate, the Cemetery Search game looks like fun, and I may drag my family out to play it (good reading practice for my kid).

* * *

"Visit a Cemetery Day" is a day in which everyone comes together to show their support for the historical and social importance cemeteries have in their community. Not only are cemeteries the best place to learn about the rich history of a community, they are also a place where a person can trace their ancestry through the generations.

"Visit a Cemetery Day" isn't just a day to commemorate those who came before, but rather it encourages people to embrace the celebration of life and to learn about the people who've helped shape each and every community across North America.

Whether it’s to bring flowers, wreaths or other tributes to the final resting places of family members and friends, take a quiet walk along the paths, photograph headstones and mausoleums, or study the engravings etched on headstones, "Visit A Cemetery Day" is also a wonderful opportunity to spend a beautiful autumn day with family and friends and visit the gravesites of ancestors and departed friends, before the cooler temperatures of winter arrive.

On "Visit A Cemetery Day," everyone is encouraged to take the time to visit a local cemetery to show their respect to those who came before and also enjoy an interesting and memorable day with family and friends, because every life is worth celebrating and remembering.

For further information please visit www.mysendoff.com/visitacemeteryday or contact mysendoff.com founder Colin Firth at colinfirth@mysendoff.com for more information.

Upcoming Event: Celebrate Day of the Dead at Mission San Antonio de Padua

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 12:30:00 +0000

Mission San Antonio de Padua as it appears today.

Join historian Daniel Krieger for a rare opportunity to experience a traditional religious ceremony celebrating the Day of the Dead at California's third-oldest and most remote mission, San Antonio de Padua, at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, October 29, 2011.

The mass will be the same Latin Mass that was celebrated on that site in 1771. There will be prayers chanted in the Salinan language by tribal elders and children.

An especially joyful part of the liturgy will be the music by Remie Campomenosi, John Warren, the choir from Mission San Miguel and guest singers.

The "Angus Dei" (Lamb of God) is from "La Misa en Sol," composed by Padre Juan Bautista Sancho, O.F.M. (1772-1830), who led the best-known of mission orchestras at Mission San Antonio. Father Sancho is buried at the foot of Mission San Antonio's altar.

Mission San Antonio is about 30 miles northwest of Camp Roberts along Monterey County Road G-18, reached at the Jolon turnoff.

Be sure to carry your auto registration and proof of insurance, as well as identification for all passengers, to enter Fort Hunter-Liggett, which surrounds the mission. MAP.

For more information, see Dan Krieger: Past lives at mission on Day of the Dead.

* * *

Daniel E. Krieger Ph.D. is Professor Emeritus of history at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and past president of the California Mission Studies Association. He is the author of TIMES PAST, Historical Features Column, San Luis Obispo County Telegram-Tribune, a weekly column dealing with Central Coast History which has run uninterrupted since January, 1984.

Photo from Wikipedia Commons.

Upcoming Event: Old Mission San Luis Obispo Cemetery Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 18:14:00 +0000

Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa c. 1909

Families and individuals are invited to join historian Daniel Krieger this Halloween, Monday, October 31, 2011, at 4:30 P.M., for a free tour of the Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa Old Cemetery.

Meet at the Bridge Street entrance, near the intersection of Beebe and Bridge, in back of the Pacific Coast Center.

You will be taking a look at the last resting places of San Luis Obispo's pioneers Ah Louis, Josefa Carrillo Dana and her husband, William Godwin Dana, Pierre Hypolite Dallidet, and many more final resting places of San Luis Obispo's "gone but not forgotten."

This is a "non-scary" (great for children) look at how graveyards reflect periods of history such as the sentimentality of the Victorian era and the role that the deceased played in the making of our community.

Bring flashlights and wear brightly colored clothes.

* * *

Upcoming Event: Santa Barbara Cemetery Talk and Tours

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:48:00 +0000

Founded in 1867, The Santa Barbara Cemetery is unique. It has not only passed through the five distinctive stages of cemetery development in the United States, but has melded these eras into the remarkably beautiful, functioning "Best Last Place." Author David Petry spent eight years researching, while traveling to over 1,000 cemeteries around the country and around the world.

He has given tours of the local cemetery since 1996, covering it's development as well as some of the many notables buried there including many Santa Barbara business, political, and arts leaders; captains of industry, writers, screen actors, and a princess.

Lecture and Reception at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum
136 East De La Guerra Street
October 27, 2011 at 5:30 p.m.
$25 Museum Members ~ $35 Guests

Walking Tours at the Santa Barbara Cemetery
901 Channel Drive
$10 Museum Members ~ $15 Guests

Saturday October 29, 2011 at 1:00 p.m.
~ or ~
Sunday October 30, 2011 at 10:00 a.m.

Walking tour notes:

Meet at the Cemetery Chapel

Tour is approx 2.5 hours, walking approx 1 mile.

Bring water, hats, and a camera.

Santa Barbara Historical Museum members, please call 805-966-1601

for reservations for the talk or walks.

Be sure to follow David's blog, Decomposing Santa Barbara!

Bernice (Faivre) WILLIAMSON (1892-1965)

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 19:07:00 +0000

BELOVED MOM

BERNICE WILLIAMSON

1892 - 1965

Bernice (Faivre) Williamson died on 14 March 1965, and is buried in Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura, Ventura County, California. She was 73 years old.

Born on 26 January 1892 in Mount Sterling, Brown County, Illinois, she was the daughter of Andrew and Louise (Rudity) Faivre. She became a resident of Ventura County in 1927.

My daughter at the grave of her 2nd great grandaunt.

At the time of her death, Bernice was married to Alen Elmo Williamson. He is not buried at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park, according to cemetery office records. At the time of her mother's death in 1942, she was married to a gentleman with the last name of Tripp. It is possible that she also had a marriage prior to Mr. Tripp. I do not know for certain if she had any children.

Bernice was my great grandaunt. I was not quite 2 years old when she died, and until recently, was unaware that a branch of this family made it out to California. I would love to connect with other members of this family; please contact me if you are a cousin!

Read more about Bernice and family on Little Bytes of Life.

* * *

Headstone of Bernice (Faivre) Williamson photographed by Elizabeth O'Neal on 9 December 2010, Ivy Lawn Memorial Park, Ventura, Ventura County, California.

Susan (Records) WALKER

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 22:27:00 +0000

SUSAN E.

Wife of

Rev. W. A. Walker,

and daughter of

T. B. & M. Records,

Died

Feb. 10, 1880

Aged

19 years and 2 mos.

Susan WALKER is buried in the Arroyo Grande Cemetery in Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo County, California.

Susan is found in the 1880 U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedule for Arroyo Grande, and is listed as having died from typhoid fever.

Click to enlarge

She had been married to Rev. Walker for just a little over a year before she died. According to a transcription taken from the San Luis Obispo Tribune, they married on 21 October 1878.

Click to enlarge

* * *

Headstone of Susan E. Walker photographed by Elizabeth O'Neal on 13 September 2008, Arroyo Grande Cemetery, San Luis Obispo County, California.

1880 U. S. Census, San Luis Obispo County, California, mortality schedule, ED 78, page 1, line 5, Susan Walker; digital image, Ancestry.com, from National Archives microfilm publication T655.

Extract from the San Luis Obispo Tribune from the "Stereopticon," provided by the San Luis Obispo County Genealogical Society.

John Leslie ZEYEN (1899-1968)

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 19:20:00 +0000

JOHN LESLIE ZEYEN

MISSOURI

CPL 305 FIELD RMT SQ QMC

WORLD WAR I

APRIL 15 1899 NOV 12 1968

John Leslie ZEYEN was born 15 April 1899 in Oklahoma and died 12 November 1968 in Ventura, California. He is buried in the Ivy Lawn Cemetery in Ventura.

* * *

Headstone of John Leslie Zeyen photographed by Elizabeth O'Neal, December 9, 2010, Ivy Lawn Cemetery, Ventura, Ventura County, California.

Killed in Service to His Country: Clarence H. Ballagh, WWII

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 20:55:00 +0000

CLARENCE H BALLAGH

CALIFORNIA

1 LIEUT 813 AAF BOMB SQ

WORLD WAR II

MAY 16 1921 SEPT 14 1945

On September 14, 1943, after being reassigned to the 813th Bombardment Squadron of the 482nd Bombardment Group USAAF, B17E 41-9051 crashed nose-first into Skiddaw Mountain, near Keswick, in Northern UK, while on a flight from Alconbury in Huntingdonshire to Turnhouse, Edinburgh.

All 10 men on board were killed instantly.

* * *

Clarence Henry Ballagh, son of Leland E. Ballagh and Bernice (Keeler) Ballagh, was born in Santa Maria on May 16, 1921. He graduated from Arroyo Grande Union High School in 1938, and from the University of California, Berkeley in May 1942. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army Air Force, and left for service on May 23, 1942.

Following his death, 1st Lieut Ballagh was buried in the Brookwood American National Cemetery until his body could be returned home for burial. He was finally laid to rest in his home town of Arroyo Grande on January 15, 1948. He was survived by his wife Frances and baby daughter Enid.

1st Lieut Ballagh's name is listed on the Faces of Freedom Veterans Memorial in Atascadero.

* * *

Headstone of Clarence H. Ballagh photographed by Elizabeth O'Neal, October 11, 2008, Arroyo Grande Cemetery, Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo County, California.

Guadalupe Cemetery displays beauty, peace

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 20:33:00 +0000

The beatific stone guardians stand in the tidy, historic Guadalupe Cemetery at the corner of Highway 1 (Guadalupe Street) and Highway 166 (Main Street).

They’re a landmark, even a tourist attraction.

Nearby, Amtrak trains zip by regularly. Yet the cemetery, which celebrates its 136th birthday this year, is a peaceful oasis in the busy industrial-agricultural community.

Here, loved ones aren't forgotten. On a recent day, the extraordinarily well-tended graveyard was filled with bouquets in reds, pinks, whites, even yellow daffodils and purple iris, plus an occasional American flag, giving the cemetery a park-like look.

Soldier's remains will stay at Ventura's Cemetery Park

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 20:40:00 +0000

The remains of a decorated war hero are staying put at Ventura's Cemetery Memorial Park. At least until a court orders otherwise.

The Ventura City Council on Monday overwhelmingly rejected a request to exhume the remains of Medal of Honor recipient Pvt. James Sumner, saying the British-born veteran is integral to Ventura’s history and should remain as the city works to better recognize an estimated 3,000 people buried at the hillside cemetery-turned-city park.

"He is an important part of our community," Councilman Carl Morehouse said.

Upcoming Event: Halloween Walking Tour of the Santa Barbara Cemetery

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 16:38:00 +0000

Resignation by Ettore Cadorin (Petry)

"It's Halloween and Dia de los Muertos and All Souls. The veil between the worlds thins, and its time once again, to recall, to visit, to glide through, the Santa Barbara Cemetery."

David Petry, author of the book The Best Last Place: A History of the Santa Barbara Cemetery, will be your guide through this fascinating place in Santa Barbara history.

Saturday, October 30, 2010, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

~ or ~

Sunday, October 31, 2010, 1:00 - 3:30 p.m.

Santa Barbara Cemetery

901 Channel Drive

Santa Barbara, California

$15 per person

Please RSVP to dlpetry@gmail.com

Bring water, a hat, a camera, and your curiosity!

* * *

From one of Mr. Petry's previous press releases:

Issac Sparks marker, 1867. His initial
burial in a broken-down Westside
cemetery is the reason the Santa
Barbara Cemetery exists today.
(Petry)

The Santa Barbara Cemetery is unique among cemeteries. Overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the cemetery is home to actors, industrialists, authors, musicians, sports stars, and many of the town’s founders and leaders. It was, for the duration of the Reagan presidency, the chosen site for the Reagan’s burial plot. The Cemetery Chapel is the only sacred structure designed by famed architect George Washington Smith; inside are the only completed murals of Mexican muralist Alfredo Ramos Martinez. Where most cemeteries are corporate-, church-, or government-owned, the Santa Barbara Cemetery is owned and operated by a nonprofit board whose by-laws were originally drafted in 1867.

But more importantly, the Santa Barbara Cemetery has transcended five separate incarnations: as a dusty and geometric town cemetery, as a rudely conceived rural cemetery, as a fitful lawn park cemetery, as an over-achieving memorial park, and as a local columbarium. The Santa Barbara Cemetery has embraced each of these phases and has built upon them, becoming in the end, a modern cemetery that is better than any of the models it followed.

Be sure to sign up for The Best Last Place group on Facebook!

* * *

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with Mr. Petry's book or business in any way. I do own a copy of the book, and I think it is excellent.

Tuesday's Children: Louisa & Lenna HESS

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 22:45:00 +0000

Children of

M. & S. HESS

LOUISA E. HESS

Died

SEPT. 28, 1881,

Aged

5 years and 10 mos.

LENNA A. HESS

Died

Oct. 4, 1881,

Aged

1 year and 6 days

Louisa and Lenna HESS are buried in the Arroyo Grande Cemetery in Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo County, California.


Click to enlarge.

My guess is that the Hess girls were part of the Henry and Susan HESS family, found here in the 1880 U.S. Census, despite the fact that their headstone says "children of M. & S. HESS." The initial for the mother, Susan, would be correct, the age of Louisa would be correct, and Lenna would not have been born at the time this census was taken.

There are several others with the surname HESS buried in the Arroyo Grande Cemetery; however, none appear to have been from this family.

What a tragedy to lose two small children in such a short time.

* * *

Headstone of Louisa and Lenna Hess photographed by Elizabeth O'Neal on September 13, 2008, Arroyo Grande Cemetery, San Luis Obispo County, California.

1880 U. S. Census, San Luis Obispo County, California, population schedule, ED 78, page 327C (stamped), dwelling 82, family 122, Henry Hess; digital image, Ancestry.com; from National Archives microfilm publication T9, roll 80.

Tuesday's Children: Russell & Morris VAN CLIEF

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 19:30:00 +0000

RUSSELL

VANCLIEF

Sep. 18, 1897

July 28, 1900

MORRIS

VANCLIEF

Jan. 7, 1900

Oct. 13, 1900

Russell and Morris VANCLIEF are buried in the Lompoc Evergreen Cemetery, Lompoc, Santa Barbara County, California.

Click to Enlarge

I believe that Russell and Morris were part of the George W. and Alice E. Van Clief family. They are found in Lompoc, California in the 1900 U.S. Census listed as "George R." and "David M." The birth dates given in the census would be correct, and since this census was enumerated on July 9, 1900, both boys would still have been alive at that time.

George W. Van Clief is also buried in the Lompoc Evergreen Cemetery. He died on October 21, 1936. It does not appear that Alice is buried in this cemetery.

* * *

Headstone of Russell and Morris VanClief photographed by Elizabeth O'Neal, November 23, 2007, Lompoc Evergreen Cemetery, Lompoc, Santa Barbara County, California.

1900 U. S. Census, Santa Barbara County, California, population schedule, ED 158, page 11B, dwelling 247, family 247, George VanClief; digital image, Ancestry.com; from National Archives microfilm publication T623, roll 110.

Central Coast Cemetery Scavenger Hunt!

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 18:37:00 +0000

If you're like me, you probably haven't participated in a scavenger hunt since you were a kid. In this cemetery scavenger hunt, 15 items were found at various cemeteries around the Central Coast.

CROSS - Found at Santa Barbara Cemetery, Santa Barbara, California.

HEART - Found at Oak Hill Cemetery, Ballard, California.

FRATERNAL SYMBOL (Masons) - Found at Goleta Cemetery, Goleta, California.

MONUMENT - Found at Oak Hill Cemetery, Ballard, California.

FLOWER - Found at Arroyo Grande Cemetery, Arroyo Grande, California.

HAND - Found at Lompoc Cemetery, Lompoc, California.

ANGEL - Found at Santa Barbara Mission Cemetery, Santa Barbara, California.

BIRD - Found at Santa Maria Cemetery, Santa Maria, California.

TREE - Found at Santa Barbara Cemetery, Santa Barbara, California.

STAR - Found at Santa Maria Cemetery, Santa Maria, California

OBELISK - Found at Santa Barbara Cemetery, Santa Barbara, California.

FOUR-LEGGED ANIMAL (front) - Found at Oak Hill Cemetery, Ballard, California.

FOUR-LEGGED ANIMAL (back)

PHOTO - Found at Oak Hill Cemetery, Ballard, California.

MILITARY GRAVESTONE - Found at Arroyo Grande Cemetery, Arroyo Grande, California.

MAUSOLEUM - Found at Santa Barbara Mission Cemetery, Santa Barbara, California.

This post was composed for the July 2010 Edition of the Graveyard Rabbits Carnival: Scavenger Hunt.

All photos in this post by Elizabeth or Ben O'Neal, photographed on various dates..

Tombstone Tuesday: Two Veterans... and Fathers

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 23:57:00 +0000

I recently spent a morning at Santa Maria Cemetery putting flags on the graves of veterans. I was struck by these two graves sitting next to each other: both veterans of different wars, and both fathers.

On the left:

K C

LONG

US AIR FORCE

VIETNAM

JAN 31 1942

JUN 14 1998

BELOVED FATHER

On the right:

ROBERT W

MILLER

US NAVY

MAR 5 1932

APR 18 2005

LOVING FATHER

AND

COMPANION

Both K.C. (Kenneth C.) LONG and Robert W. MILLER are buried in the Santa Maria Cemetery, in Santa Maria, California.

Headstone of K.C. Long and Robert W. Miller photographed by Elizabeth O'Neal, May 29, 2010, Santa Maria Cemetery, Santa Maria, Santa Barbara County, California.

Upcoming Event: Historic Walking Tour of the Santa Barbara Cemetery

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Wed, 26 May 2010 21:37:00 +0000

Resignation by Ettore Cadorin (Petry)

I received the following announcement yesterday from David Petry.

* * *

Historic Walking Tour of the Santa Barbara Cemetery with Historian, David Petry, author of The Best Last Place: a History of the Santa Barbara Cemetery.

Sunday, May 30, 2010, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Rain or Shine!)
Meet at the Cemetery Chapel, 901 Channel Drive.
$25 per person. Pay at the door.

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of Mr. Petry's excellent history of the cemetery, The Best Last Place: A History of the Santa Barbara Cemetery, the book is discounted to $15 (retail $30). Payment in cash or personal check is accepted.

Issac Sparks marker, 1867. His initial
burial in a broken-down Westside
cemetery is the reason the Santa Barbara
Cemetery exists today. (Petry)

The Santa Barbara Cemetery is unique among cemeteries. Overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the cemetery is home to actors, industrialists, authors, musicians, sports stars, and many of the town’s founders and leaders. It was, for the duration of the Reagan presidency, the chosen site for the Reagan’s burial plot. The Cemetery Chapel is the only sacred structure designed by famed architect George Washington Smith; inside are the only completed murals of Mexican muralist Alfredo Ramos Martinez. Where most cemeteries are corporate-, church-, or government-owned, the Santa Barbara Cemetery is owned and operated by a nonprofit board whose by-laws were originally drafted in 1867.

But more importantly, the Santa Barbara Cemetery has transcended five separate incarnations: as a dusty and geometric town cemetery, as a rudely conceived rural cemetery, as a fitful lawn park cemetery, as an over-achieving memorial park, and as a local columbarium. The Santa Barbara Cemetery has embraced each of these phases and has built upon them, becoming in the end, a modern cemetery that is better than any of the models it followed.

The tour provides a brief history of the cemetery and a 1-mile walking tour to the most interesting gravesites and sections of the cemetery. See the burial sites of town leaders Charles Fernald and Thomas More Storke, actors Ronald Colman, Laurence Harvey, and his daughter Domino, murderer Cyrus Barnard, gold magnate Augustus Sahlberg, business founders Jheri Redding, Sam Battistone, David Nancarrow, and George Oscar Mayer. Among many others.

Get a $10 discount on the tour if you sign up for The Best Last Place group on Facebook!

* * *

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with Mr. Petry's book or business in any way. I do have the book, and I think it is excellent.

Tuesday's Child: Tobias & Willie JAMISON

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Tue, 25 May 2010 09:37:00 +0000

Our darlings

TOBIAS DILLAN

Died

June 16, 1883

Aged

6 y'rs, 11 mos, 16 days

WILLIE LOUISA

Died

June 4, 1883

Aged

4 y'rs, 1 mo, 8 days

Children of

T.B. & M.E. Jamison

"Suffer little children to come unto me,

and forbid them not, for of such is

the Kingdom of Heaven."

Tobias and Willie JAMISON are buried in the Oak Hill Cemetery, Ballard, Santa Barbara County, California. Their parents are also buried in this cemetery.

Headstone of Tobias and Willie Jamison photographed by Elizabeth O'Neal, April 2, 2009, Oak Hill Cemetery, Ballard, Santa Barbara County, California.

The Beautiful and Unusual Headstone of Jim STULL

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Mon, 24 May 2010 22:01:00 +0000

The Oak Hill Cemetery in Ballard, California, is a place where a person can express his/her individuality, even in death. There are many beautiful, interesting, and downright unusual tombstones to be found here.

With the success of the movie Sideways, California's Central Coast became known for its excellent wines - particularly of the Pinot Noir variety. Northern Santa Barbara County and San Luis Obispo County are popular wine-tasting destinations for tourists from all over.

The unique headstone of Jim (and Rachel) Stull.

Detail of Jim's information.

STULL

Jim

2-21-1940

12-2-2004

(His wife Rachel is, presumably, still alive.)

I do not know if Mr. Stull was involved in the wine-making business, of if he just liked grapes. However, this unique tombstone is one that is not soon forgotten.

* * *

This post was composed for the June 2010 Edition of the Graveyard Rabbits Carnival: The Interesting, The Odd, The Beautiful.

Headstone of Jim Stull and detail photographed by Elizabeth O'Neal on April 2, 2009, Oak Hill Cemetery, Ballard, Santa Barbara Co., California.

Alexander Leslie Ellis

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Mon, 10 May 2010 22:16:00 +0000

In Memory of

Alexander

Leslie Ellis

Fourth son of

Robert Francis Ellis

of Macherymore

Wicklow, Ireland

Born Nov 6, 1856 Died Oct 17, 1914

at Santa Barbara

The Gift of God is

Eternal Life

Alexander Leslie ELLIS is buried in the Santa Barbara Cemetery, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Co., California, Ocean View section, Grave 1222.

"Headstone of Alexander Leslie Ellis." Digital image. Photographed by Elizabeth O'Neal, July 19, 2008, Santa Barbara Cemetery, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Co., California.

Tombstone Tuesday: Patti LONG and Bertha DANIELS

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 16:52:00 +0000

Patricia Marie LONG was born on 11 December 1953 in San Mateo County, California. She died on June 4, 1969 at the age of 15 in Santa Barbara County, California.

Bertha Louise (Houx) DANIELS was born in California on 21 November 1902, and died on 19 May 1997 at the age of 94 in Santa Barbara County, California. Her parents were William Frederick HOUX and Eva Alice ROBERTS. She was married to Fred E. Goss, Herbert H. Booth, and (Unk) Daniels.

Bertha was a member of the Mission Canyon Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution.

I do not know why the date next to Bertha's name reads "11-21-02." Perhaps to commemorate that she would have been 100 years old on that date?

Both are buried in the Goleta Cemetery, Goleta, Santa Barbara County, California, Section 4 West, Lot 16, Spaces 4 (Bertha) and 5 (Patti).

____________________

Headstone of Patti Long and Bertha Daniels photographed by Elizabeth O'Neal.

Bring a Veterans Cemetery to the Central Coast

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:08:00 +0000

In Tuesday's Lompoc Record, there was an article by Denny Anderson, president of the Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau, regarding the possibility of locating a veterans cemetery on the Central Coast.

Why is a veterans cemetery needed on the Central Coast?

Some 1,600 "Greatest Generation" WWII veterans pass away every single day. There are approximately 24 million veterans in the U.S., including 9 million WWII and Korean War vets in need of final resting arrangements, and yet there is no National Cemetery within 100 miles of California's Central Coast cities. Even the recent Bakersfield and San Joaquin Valley National Cemeteries are out of range for Central Coast veteran families. In addition, interment at a National Cemetery saves veterans approximately $2,000 in burial fees alone, so the lack of a Central Coast National Cemetery is placing a significant burden on the shoulders of Central Coast veterans and their families.

The proposed Central Coast VA National Cemetery would be located near Vandenberg Air Force Base, and would serve veterans from the Central Coast counties of Kings, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura. There are an estimated 137,324 veterans in these counties today (if Los Angeles County is included in the mix, that brings the count up to over 345,000). The Veterans Administration estimates that there will be over 15,000 veteran deaths annually.

And let's not forget our troops currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. They will be veterans too, someday.

For more information, please visit the web site of the Central Coast National Cemetery. Click on "Get Involved" to download a petition to show your support.

Our Central Coast veterans need and deserve an affordable final resting place close to friends and family. Honor their service by helping to make this a reality with a Central Coast National Cemetery.

"Headstone of Wesley M. Houx." Digital image. Photographed by Elizabeth O'Neal, September 19, 2009, Goleta Cemetery, Goleta, Santa Barbara Co., California.

Tuesday's Child: Annie Grace YOUNG

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 10:42:00 +0000

ANNIE GRACE

YOUNG

Nov. 15, 1894

Apr. 26, 1896

Annie Grace YOUNG is buried in the Goleta Cemetery, Goleta, Santa Barbara Co., California, Section 1 East, Lot 3, Space 8.

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Headstone of Annie Grace Young." Digital image. Photographed by Elizabeth O'Neal, September 27, 2009.

Sarah E. YOUNG

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:09:00 +0000

SARAH E.

wife of

D. A. YOUNG

MARCH 26, 1854

JUNE 25, 1888

Sarah E. YOUNG is buried in the Goleta Cemetery, Goleta, Santa Barbara Co., California, Section 1 East, Lot 3, Space 1.

D.A. YOUNG does not appear to be buried in this cemetery.

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"Headstone of Sarah E. Young." Digital image. Photographed by Elizabeth O'Neal, September 27, 2009.