A Bird’s-Eye View of History: Comparing PMMP from 1930 to 2025

 

A New View of Our History!

On April 25, 2025, a drone soared above Pioneer & Military Memorial Park, capturing stunning high-resolution aerial photographs of the entire cemetery from just 50–60 feet above ground. Using precise parallel flight paths, every inch of both the north and south cemeteries was documented in detail.

But the real magic? We're comparing these 2025 drone images to aerial photos dating as far back as the 1930s! Take a look at these shots and see how the landscape has changed!

Photographs: City of Phoenix

Early Old Phoenix Cemetery Monuments - Who Were They?

City Loosley Cemetery Looking East - PCA Archives

When settlers first arrived in the Salt River Valley in the 1860s and early 1870s, the area was still very much a frontier. In the early years, there were no formal cemeteries, no mapped burial grounds, and very little infrastructure beyond irrigation ditches and adobe homes. When someone died, they were often buried quickly in small, informal family plots, ranch sites, or near settlements along the canals and river. Graves might be marked with simple wooden crosses, piles of stones, or homemade markers, if marked at all.

These early burials reflected both the urgency and isolation of pioneer life. Disease, accidents, violence, and childbirth took lives unexpectedly, and there was no central burial ground to bring the community together in mourning. As the settlement that would become Phoenix began to grow with the construction of canals and a platted townsite, it became clear that the community needed a formal cemetery where loved ones could be laid to rest with respect and where families could visit and remember them.

By the early 1870s, town leaders recognized this need and selected land on what was then the southwestern edge of Phoenix, bounded by Seventh and Fifth Avenues and Jackson and Madison Streets.   By today's standards, it was rudimentary, as burials were not always mapped or marked, and records were sparse.  However, this first city cemetery provided a designated space for burials and included early pioneers of Phoenix.

Curious about who these early burials were, and how they were carefully moved to their new resting place (otherwise known as the Pioneer and Military Memorial Park)? Stay tuned for the next part of our story!

Smurthwaite House - Pioneer and Military Memorial Park

 

The Smurthwaite House sits on the grounds of the Pioneer and Military Memorial Park.  It serves as an educational and cultural center to the cemetery and the history of Phoenix.  Hear the story of Smurthwaite, and understand the necessity of preservation.

Come Learn About The Pioneer and Military Memorial Park! - June 15th, 2024!

By Val

Our Pioneers' Cemetery Association historian will talk about our Pioneer and Military Memorial Park, and its unusual and historically significant 19th Century history at the North Mountain Visitor's Center! Hope you can join us!

New Year's a Comin'- Old Can Become New

 

Cassie Smith - First Buriel at PMMP

When the decision was made in 1884 to move the old Phoenix cemetery to its present location, it was based on the fact that the original cemetery was “unprotected, barren and desolate” according to the Arizona Gazette.  Phoenix was growing, and to have an unkempt cemetery, viewed by newcomers arriving by train, was not a good recommendation for the city.

The cemetery was moved after much effort to 13^th Avenue and Madison Street.  What is now known as City/Loosley, Masons, Knights of Pythias, Independent Order of Odd Fellow, and Ancient Order of United Workmen came into being.

The article in the Arizona Gazette (July 21, 1884) described the cemetery ground as “easily irrigated and shade trees and shrubbery cultivated.”  Fencing was established around the perimeter.  Early photos of the cemetery show that the cemetery, even though in a desert, did contain numerous trees and plants.  Canals ran near the cemetery and water was more accessible.  The cemetery expanded up to Jefferson Street, adding Rosedale and Porter.

Time passed and neglect once again set in.  The cemeteries at 13^th Avenue and Jefferson closed in 1914.  What was once new, was now old and forgotten.  Interest in the cemetery faded.  Trees, shrubbery and water dried up.  The fencing slowly disappeared, along with many gravestones.  It became that unprotected and barren cemetery again.  The City even thought to move it in 1935, but found the expense was too great.

A group of citizens wanting to preserve the history of the cemetery started the original Pioneers’ Cemetery Association in 1938.  Without their early efforts to protect what remained of the cemetery and locate records, there would still be a forgotten cemetery.

Progress can be slow when you don’t have an unlimited budget and manpower.  Since 1938, we have slowly seen the cemeteries come to life again.  We are again seeing trees, fencing, and shrubbery added or replaced, along with gravestones being up-righted, repaired or replaced.  Interest in the cemetery has been a hard fought battle to maintain.

Cemeteries are a history of the place and its people, and the accomplishments and struggles that were overcome.  The struggle will always be to keep what is now new and fresh from becoming old and faded once again. -Patty G.