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Archiver > NORCAL > 2006-01 > 1137249423


From: "A. Mason Design" <>
Subject: Re: [NORCAL] regarding Odd Fellows
Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2006 06:37:03 -0800
References: <145.54a38d1e.30f97a51@cs.com>


Hi Folks,

Burial in an International Organization of Odd Fellows [IOOF] Cemetery
does not necessarily mean the person was a member of the Odd Fellows. If
I remember correctly the organization was started in England in the
early 1800s. It started as a beneficial group whose purpose was to
assist the poor, particularly widows and orphans.

In Monterey County, the Odd Fellows established the first two "public"
cemeteries in the early 1870s, shortly after the lodges themselves were
organized. At that time there was no place to bury non-Catholic
townspeople. The large ranches had small family plots and the Catholic
Church had a few established burial grounds, but there was no place to
lay to rest anyone who lived in the newly formed towns.

Both cemeteries are now owned by government entities. The cemeteries
have always accepted anyone of any denomination, ethnicity, and economic
level. The Salinas IOOF even went so far as to set aside some land
exclusively for Jewish burials.

The same California state law that placed restrictions on public records
also impacted funeral homes. Once the law passed, funeral homes in
Monterey County started refusing access to their records.

Hope this helps,
Anita C
Monterey County

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