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!

A Rare Glimpse: Early Chinese Mason Funeral in 1880s Phoenix

 

By Patty -  Loosley Looking West

PCA Archives - Loosley Looking South

Back in the 1880s, Phoenix was still a dusty, growing frontier town. People from all over the world were building lives here, including a small Chinese community that brought its own rich traditions. One story we came across recently gives us a rare glimpse into that time: the early recorded Chinese Masonic funeral in Phoenix.

The funeral was for a former cook from the mining town of Seymour, Arizona, who had passed away from tuberculosis. His friends honored him with traditional Chinese funeral customs.  This consisted of incense burning, white mourning clothes, and even a hired mourner to wail in sorrow. The Phoenix Brass Band led a procession through the streets, and firecrackers popped in the air to scare away evil spirits.

It must have been an amazing sight for the people of Phoenix, many of whom had never seen anything like it before.

Sadly, while tradition called for the soul to return to China, frontier realities were different. Based on the timing, it’s very likely he was buried in Phoenix’s original town cemetery and remained there. When that cemetery was moved to what is now the Pioneer and Military Memorial Park, unclaimed graves were moved into a mass grave at Loosley Cemetery.

Today, we don’t know exactly where that mass grave is. It's one of many pieces of history that have been lost to time.  We hope he was sent back to China.  We just don't know.  

Still, stories like this remind us that Phoenix’s history has always been a rich tapestry of cultures, traditions, and untold journeys. Every life mattered and remembering them keeps their spirit alive.

Note - Chee Kung Tong (致公堂) were referred to as the Chinese Freemasons in Phoenix

Historical Source:
The Phoenix Herald (Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona Territory), August 13, 1880.

(Note: Some terminology and descriptions in the original article reflect the prejudices of the era.)

-Want to help us uncover more stories and preserve Phoenix’s earliest cemeteries?
www.azhistcemeteries.org

John Alsap, Phoenix's First Mayor - Narrated by Steve Schumacher, Phoenix Mayor's Office Official Historian

 

✨ Step back in time with The Phoenix Mayor's Office Official Historian, Steve Schumacher @phoenix_official_historian, as he tells the story of John Alsap. John is buried in Masons Cemetery at the PMMP, and was a man of many hats. 🏜️⚰️

Script and video created by PCA Treasurer Val! 

Watch now and uncover the past!

Happy "602 Day" Phoenix!

Val Wilson

On June 2, Phoenix will be celebrating "602 Day" as part of its city celebrations or events. The number "602" is the original area code for Phoenix.  It was assigned the area code in 1947. This is an opportunity for residents to support local businesses or organizations.  For more information, visit www.602day.com.