Amos G. Randal was born in Cattaragues County, New York, between 1825 and 1828. He was in San Francisco when he married his second wife in 1862. Owing to his interest in mining, he even lived in South America for a time. In later years, he became an undertaker and moved to Arizona. He was overseeing the funeral of a Confederate veteran in City/Loosley Cemetery on December 1, 1897, when he unexpectedly collapsed and died. Randal was buried in Porter Cemetery.
In these moments of reflection and celebration, we find comfort and joy in the enduring ties that connect us to our past and shape our future. In remembrance we will be highlighting 12 graves that are at the PMMP to honor 12 lives of Phoenix past.
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 13th 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 13th 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.
Even with rain threatening, our Holiday Party Saturday was a great success. Thank all of you for coming. Also thanks goes to the young men of Masons DeMolay for helping with setup. Thank you to the culinary program at Metro Tech High School for the sheet cake celebrating PCA's 40th Anniversary! It was white with Bavarian cream filling! Oh YEAH! Finally thank you to the students of the floral program at Metro Tech for the centerpieces. So pretty and festive.
What force and strength cannot get through
I with a gentle touch can do;And many in the streets would stand,Were I not, as friend, at hand.
Donations are needed to help a dream become reality! Pioneers' Cemetery Association Invites Our Community to be a part of our efforts to improve the Jacob Waltz gravesite located in Loosley Cemetery, in the historic cemeteries of Pioneer & Military Memorial Park.
We had a great time at our Murder at the Ranch event today.
Thanks to all our suspects for coming. Our Murder Mystery was a new Fundraising
Event. those who came to the event assumed a "suspect" role and had
to figure out who among the party was the murderer. There were tons of laughs
and lots of fun! Stay tuned for our next Murder mystery. Maybe the guilty party
will be you!
