CALIFORNIA GENERAL: A preliminary report on pioneer Jewish cemeteries and communities of the California Mother Lode; Levinson, Robert E.; Oakland, Calif., Commission for the Preservation of Pioneer Jewish Cemeteries and Landmarks, Magnes Memorial Museum,c1964. F870.J5 L4 Somewhere around the late 1800s, the city of San Francisco decided that no further burials would take place in the city and they assigned all burials for the area to a town called Colma, about 10 miles or so south of the city. Those buried in the city could remain there, but all new burials had to take place in Colma. A few years later, the city fathers backed off from that position and decided that everyone had to go; i.e., remains had to be relocated to Colma. This was an expensive city and there was little room to be spent on corpses. So the Jewish cememteries, like all others, began relocations. How many bodies actually got moved (as opposed to stones, all of which were moved) is a matter of conjecture. In heavy rains, old cemetery locations in San Francisco proper wash up human remains, particularly those areas where the Chinese immigrants were buried. Records of the moving were not great. It is, occasionally, hard to find a reposing soul. So SF is not the easiest place in the world to find the stone (read: grave) of a deceased ancestor. Anyone planning on doing so is advised to allow for several days of research at the 4 large Jewish cemeteries in Colma. During the gold rush, Jewish cemeteries were also established in the mining towns of Tuolemne, Mokulemne, etc. These languished for many years as the Jewish populations of these towns went to zero, but recent research has turned up the location of several, all of which have been restored. Information on these cemeteries is available from the Judah Magnes museum in Berkeley, CA. GOLD RUSH AREA: The following four cemeteries were used during the days of the gold rush. Recently, all were restored to good condition following years of abandonment. A pamphlet about these cemeteries, their rediscovery, and locations was available from the Judah Magnes Museum in Berkeley, Ca. Sonora: Near Yosemite National Park on route 108. Nearest large city is Stockton, approx. 40 miles west on 108/120. Cemetery identified as "Jewish Cemetery" on AAA map of Sonora. Entrance from Oak Street on Yaney Avenue. Is within walking distance of court house. Jackson: Approximately 40 miles NW of Sonora. Nearest large city is Sacramento, approx. 40 miles nw on route 16. Cemetery identified on AAA map of Jackson. Entrance on an unpaved road off North Main Street near Serbian Orthodox Church. Mokelumne Hill: Approximately 10 mi. se of Jackson, approx. equidistant from both Sacramento and Stockton. Entrance off route 49 after leaving city limits of Mokelumne Hill. Enter Mikelumne Hill Protestant Cemtery. Jewish cemetery beyond. Placerville: Approximately 30 miles east of Sacramento on US 50. Cemetery identified on AAA map of Placerville. Exit US 50 on Canal Street to Wentworth Way. Since the research which identified these old and abandoned Jewish cemeteries, at least two others have been found, one in genuine uninhabited wilderness, though not so remote from civilization as to preclude occasional use. Research still continuing in this little known aspect of Jewish/American histroy; i.e., the role played by Jews during the gold rush of the late 1800s in California. San Jose: old cemetery Yreka: old cemetery The above submitted by Dan Leeson (leeson@admin.fhda.edu) ------------------------------------------------- LOS ANGELES: The following Jewish cemeteries are located in the Boyle Heights area of Los Angeles: Home of Peace Agudath Achim 4334 Whittier Boulevard 1022 S. Downey Road Los Angeles, CA 90023 Los Angeles, CA 90023 (213) 776-1931 (213) 653-8886 Opened in 1902 Opened in 1896 Beth Israel Cemetery Mount Zion Cemetery 1068 S. Downey Road 1068 S. Downey Road Los Angeles, CA 90023 Los Angeles, CA 90068 (213) 653-8886 (213) 852-1234 Opened in 1896 Opened in 1896 While not exactly in Boyle Heights, two other east Los Angeles cemeteries are: Mount Carmel Cemetery Mout Olive Cemetery 6506 E. Gage Avenue 7231 E. Slauson Avenue City of Commerce, CA 90040 Los Angeles, CA 90040 (213) 653-8886 (213) 721-4729 or 208-7511 SAN PEDRO (LA area) Green Hills Memorial Park 27501 Western Ave. San Pedro, Calif. The Jewish area here is used by Temple Beth El (reform), 7th St., San Pedro and Beth Ami? (conservative). Less than 10 years old. SANTA CRUZ: Cemetery: Temple Beth El, Home of Peace Address: 401 Meder, Santa Cruz, CA 95062 Telephone: 408-479-3444 Hours: Always Open Contact: Arnold Levine Date founded: 1876 Date chartered: 1876-7 Date closed: not closed Approximate size (acres): 2.5 Approximate number of burials: 185 Approximate number of Jewish burials: 175 Afflilated temple: Temple Beth El, 3055 Porter Gulch Rd, Aptos, CA, 408-479-3444 (office closed Mondays) Physical condition of cemetery: excellent Stones legigble: yes Vandalism: minor Financial condition: unknown Mortuaries associated: none Information acquired by Bill Firestone Information obtained from Arnold Levine, 8/1/93 Details of burials available on another file (ending lst) but that is in WP only. It will be available for phase 2.