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Bringing
the Dead to Life:
Learning to Understand and Love Our Cemeteries
Movie makers often depict cemeteries as places of evil and horror. For
local historians, however, cemeteries are rich with clues about how
our communities developed. Our cemeteries are filled with folks who
can be brought to life through research and analysis. You’ve probably
driven by these places for years and wondered about who’s buried
there?
Usually, the only time we visit a cemetery is while attending a funeral.
This will be an opportunity to take the time to explore these wonderful
social documents. The arrangement and location of grave markers can
help us understand the social position of particular groups. The grave
markers themselves often have numerous clues about the lives of those
buried beneath them. Cemeteries not only reflect the different practices
of ethnic and religious groups but also the relative positions of those
groups in society. Nineteenth century groups that were segregated and
ostracized in life were usually segregated in death. Along the way you
will meet some of the famous and not so famous people who have influenced
the history of the region.
Our visits to the cemeteries will answer
the basic questions:
1) Who owns the cemetery?
2) Who cares for the cemetery?
3) How does one get to
be buried there?
4) How old is the cemetery?
5) Is there still room?
6) Who are some of the
famous or infamous people buried there?
7) Are there records for
these cemeteries? If so, where are they?
We will take three daylong Sunday motor coach tours visiting and learning
to hear the voices of those buried in the cemeteries.
Part 1
The Cemeteries of Santa Cruz
Sunday February 6, 9:00 – 5:00 PM.
A daylong exploration of the cemeteries west of Soquel, including Evergreen,
Santa Cruz Memorial Park (IOOF), Holy Cross, Felton and Home of Peace.
These cemeteries can help us understand the early history of the county,
including the impact of the Franciscan Missions, the coming of statehood,
the risks of working local industries, epidemics such as smallpox (1868)
and influenza (1918), and the racism directed against the early Chinese.
 The IOOF cemetery across the San Lorenzo River from Santa Cruz. Most folks buzz past this cemetery on Graham Hill Rd. without giving it a second thought. We’ll give it a second and third during our visit. |
 Memorial at the IOOF cemetery. This is an excellent example of the type of thing we’ll be doing during these adventures. There’s no indication on this large monument that it contains the remains of a group of workers at the California Powder Works who were blown to bits in an explosion at the powder works in April of 1898. We’ll share some of the hidden stories that lie within our cemeteries. |
 Chinese section of Evergreen Cemetery, Santa Cruz. You will learn how Chinese used their traditional funerary ovens (this is a replica), and why the Chinese section of the cemetery is so far from the main gate. |
 Home of Peace Jewish Cemetery, Santa Cruz. Most Santa Cruzans don’t even know this cemetery exists, much less the remarkable history behind it. |
Part 2
The Cemeteries of the Monterey Peninsula and Carmel,
Sunday, February 27, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
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The region’s oldest cemetery, the San Carlos in Monterey, is often called the Dennis the Menace Cemetery as it is located just south of the playground. |
A daylong exploration of the cemeteries of the Monterey Peninsula including the region’s oldest cemetery, San Carlos in Monterey, the Carmel Mission cemetery, and the Carmelo Cemetery in Pacific Grove. San Carlos Cemetery (aka the Dennis the Menace Cemetery because of the proximity of the playground of the same name) in Monterey is a sprawling textbook of the region’s early history, and we will wander from burials made during the Mission Era, past the Sicilians who came to fish in Monterey in 1900, all the way across to the Chinese and Japanese section in the far distant corner.
 The San Carlos Cemetery has one of the largest and most active Chinese sections, including this well-preserved funerary oven and memorial. As they are in all the region’s cemeteries, the Chinese are in the far far corner of the San Carlos cemetery. |
 F rancis Doud came to Monterey County from County Mayo in Ireland, and he and his descendants left not only their names on local roads and businesses (Doud Center in Carmel-by-the-sea, for example), but they also are clustered near each other in San Carlos Cemetery. |
 The international flavor and connections in Monterey’s history is apparent throughout San Carlos Cemetery. Here is a section of the cemetery devoted to the city’s Russian Orthodox community. Note the distinctive crosses. |
 The Sicilian community that came to Monterey following the 1906 earthquake is represented in an impressive area of granite headstones and crypts. |
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One of the most understated grave markers is that of the David Jacks family. In this photograph, the peak named for David Jacks is visible over the shoulder of the grave marker. We will discuss the infamous curse that was supposedly put on Jacks because of his aggressive business practices. Also, we’ll illuminate David Jacks’ connection with the now famous Monterey Jack cheese. |
The
Mission San Carlos de Borromeo Cemetery
The mission San Carlos de Borromeo – most often referred to as
the Carmel Mission – has thousands of people buried both within
the church walls beneath the floor, and in the cemetery located on the
north side of the church.
 The Carmel Mission is best known for the three important Spanish personages buried in the front of the church beside the altar. Junipero Serra, Juan Crespi and Fermin Lasuen all played major roles in the early development of Spanish California. |
 There are also lesser folks buried beneath the floor, including Spanish-born Manuel Butron who received the very first land grant in the history of California. |
 Thousands of Indians are buried in unmarked graves on the north side of the mission church. We will discuss how many are here and why they died. |
 Harry Downie, the man who almost single-handedly restored all of the region’s mission churches, is buried beside the north wall of the mission church beside his beloved wife, Mabel. |
Part 3
The Cemeteries from Soquel to the Pajaro Valley,
Sunday March 20, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
A daylong exploration of the Soquel cemetery and those located east,
including Mount Carmel (Aptos), Pioneer Cemetery, St. Francis, and Pajaro
Valley Memorial Park. These cemeteries include large numbers of European
immigrants including the Irish, Croations, Italians, and Azoreans along
with more recent groups such as the Filipinos, Mexicans and Latinos.
We will also explore the Chinese and Japanese sections of the Pajaro
Valley cemeteries.
 Many of the founding mothers and fathers of Soquel are buried here. |
 John and Sarah Daubenbis were some of the earliest and most influential of Soquel’s immigrants. |
 Rafael and Soledad Castro are buried beneath this marker and you’ll learn why the pavement continues to buckle above them. The Aptos cemetery has been recently renovated following the construction of the new Resurrection Church next door. |
 Watsonville’s Pioneer Cemetery continues to reflect the racial and ethnic tensions that existed in the Pajaro Valley in the 19th century. Here you can see the Chinese section that is way off in a corner of the cemetery. That’s another Chinese funerary oven, similar to the one in Evergreen and San Carlos. |
 The Valley Catholic Cemetery reflects the early influence of the Irish and Croatian immigrants together with the more recent immigrants from Mexico. |
 In death as in life, the various immigrant groups continue to jostle and posture, each trying to outdo the other. The family crypts are not only the last resting places for loved ones, they are statements of economic and political status. |
The
Technical and Logistical Details
Walking: We will do considerable
walking during each of the three days, so you should wear comfortable
shoes.
Bring a lunch: Most of
the cemeteries are located at some distance from commercial establishments,
so you should come to this class as self-contained as possible.
Restroom Facilities: Some
of the more evolved cemeteries have restroom facilities (San Carlos
in Monterey, for example) but most do not. However, there will be a
restroom on board the bus.
Note: Due to the subject
matter of the courses, children under 18 may not register or take the
classes.
Cemetery Section 1 – Santa Cruz Cemeteries
Date: Sun., Feb. 6
Time: 9:00 AM to 5:00
PM
Pick up location: Parking
Lot E, Cabrillo College
Fee: $65 / $175 if you
sign up for all 3
Class: #01ERCT1-01
ONLINE
REGISTRATION HERE
Cemetery Section 2 – Monterey Peninsula Cemeteries
Date: Sun. February 27
Time: 9:00 AM to 5:00
PM
Pick up locations: Parking
Lot E, Cabrillo College. People living closer to Monterey will be able
to join the group at the San Carlos Cemetery gate c. 9:45 AM.
Fee: $65 / $175 if you
sign up for all 3
Class: #01ERCT1-02
ONLINE
REGISTRATION HERE
Cemetery Section 3 – Soquel, Aptos and Pajaro Valley Cemeteries
Date: Sun., March 20
Time: 9:00 AM to 5:00
PM
Pick up location: Parking
Lot E, Cabrillo College.
Fee: $65 / $175 if you
sign up for all 3
Class: #01ERCT1-03
ONLINE
REGISTRATION HERE
How to Register: You must
register through Cabrillo College Extension. You can download a pdf
registration form HERE
or you can register directly on-line. Click here to go directly to the
Extension web site. You can also register by telephone by using a credit
card: Cabrillo Extension’s telephone number: 831-479-6331.