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From: "Sue Silver" <>
Subject: [CASantaClara] Re: Cumberland Presbyterian Church Cemetery History............................
Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2003 15:18:10 -0800
References: <3FAE69B8.2040407@sierratel.com>
Hi Carolyn,
Thank you so much for this post. May I use it on the California Saving Graves website in original or edited form?
It would be my opinion that what the City of Mountain View did was violate the law. As long as there are graves with human remains in the ground, the land may NOT be used for any other purpose. While the remains and graves exist in the ground the land is DEDICATED to CEMETERY PURPOSES and, by law, cannot be used for any other purpose - INCLUDING a CITY PARK.
Yet another example of our civil authorities violating the law without accountability. It does seem that the more we review what has happened with some of the cemeteries that the civil governments and agencies have been and continue to be the WORST OFFENDERS against our historic cemeteries.
By the way, in 1926 cemeteries became TAX EXEMPT under the STATE CONSTITUTION. Shame of the City of Mountain View and the County of Santa Clara for not having afforded the church that exemption! (It was not, however, the only cemetery that went to "delinquent tax" sale. That was why I have attempted to stop cemetery parcels from being sold for taxes by the language recently passed in SB 1059.)
Sorry about the soapbox. It just disturbs me so that we have become so cavalier about the remains of our state's earliest citizens. Them today, US tomorrow!
Sue Silver, State Coordinator
California Saving Graves
----- Original Message -----
From: carolyn
To: ; ;
Sent: Sunday, November 09, 2003 8:22 AM
Subject: Cumberland Presbyterian Church Cemetery History............................
A depressing situation............... Reading the history of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Mountain View
http://www.fpcmv.org/history.htm
it says that their cemetery was turned over to the City of Mountain View in exchange for tax relief- in part the article reads:
"The old cemetery became an issue that confronted the church because of the heavy taxes for paving and improvements on streets bordering the burial grounds. A special meeting of the congregation was held on February 20, 1927, to decide what should be done with the property. A final decision of the matter was deferred until the regular congregation meeting on April 8, when it was agreed that the church trustees should contact the town board about taking over the land. By 1930, the delinquent taxes constituted a great burden, coming at the time of the economic depression. The disposal of the old cemetery to the City of Mountain View took place in that year, when the city officials agreed to accept it in lieu of tax payment, and a deed to the land was given by the church to the city on September 19. At that time it was understood that the land would be used for a park, but it was to be many years before Pioneer Park became a reality."
The ultimate outcome is that the City of Mt View built the "Pioneer Park" and new City buildings over the cemetery---------
Pioneer Park is a beautiful, oak shaded green space tucked in between the library, city hall, and the performing arts center. It's a great place to unwind and relax.
What many modern park visitors don't know is that this peaceful spot is also the final resting places of many of Mountain View's early settlers...hence the name "Pioneer" park. This was Mountain View's Cemetery, created on land donated by a member of the Castro family. The tombstones, remains, and coffins weren't moved when the park was created in the 1960s, instead a layer of landscaping was added on top of them.
http://members.aol.com/GCSP/hauntedmv.htma
the park has been dug up numerous times to build parking garages and expand the civic center. The largest project was the construction of the new Mountain View Library. Archeological students from San Jose State uncovered remains and tombstones from the site. They were then blessed and reburied in a portion of the park close to Church Street. (when they say reburied- they mean that no headstones or any visable reminder that this is a cemetery exists at the ground level)
I would hope that a record/inventory of the information found on the headstones was made......................
BTW- anyone with an interest in California historic cemeteries should follow the legislation and preservation efforts of the California Saving Graves folks-lead by Sue Silver
www.usgennet.org/usa/ca/state/
Best, Carolyn Feroben
http://www.cagenweb.com/santaclara/
To make things worse, the park has
reburied in a portion of the park close to Church Street.
From: "Imogene Bennett" <>
Subject: [CASantaClara] Robert McGee KING, Death in Mountain View 1879
Date: Sat, 8 Nov 2003 11:47:16 -0600
Does anyone descend from Robert McGee KING and his wife Sarah H. BRALY?
Below is his obit. Is there a cemetery beside this Union Church or does the
obit mean his funeral service was held there and perhaps buried elsewhere?
From: The Cumberland Presbyterian, April 10, 1879, p 4
DEATH OF MINISTERS
San Jose, Cal., March 24
Rev. Robert McGee King, A.M., died yesterday morning at his late residence
in Mountain View. He was burried to-day from the old Union church, Mountain
View, where he last proclaimed publicly the word of life.
D. E. Bushnell.
Thanks a lot.
Imogene Bennett
Springfield, MO
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