Several projects have been completed in the cemetery making things look fresh and new! Volunteers painstakingly put in many hours to care for and preserve parts of the cemetery. Grave Marker
Preservation had another successful year with the help of volunteers and our conservator, Joe Ferrannini of Grave Stone Matters. We completed 28 markers, including installing a new military marker.
These are just a few examples of the amazing work done at the PMMP!
Victorian mourning jewelry is a poignant and intricate
expression of grief prevalent during the 19th century. Crafted with exquisite
detail, these pieces served as both sentimental keepsakes and mementos of the
deceased. They often featured materials like jet, onyx, and gutta-percha, with
motifs such as weeping willows, urns, or skulls, symbolizing themes of sorrow,
remembrance, and mortality. Hairwork, wherein locks of a loved one's hair were
intricately woven into jewelry, was another common practice, serving as a
tangible connection to the departed. Victorian mourning jewelry not only
provided a tangible link to the deceased but also allowed individuals to
publicly display their mourning status and devotion, offering a unique blend of
fashion and sentimentality that continues to fascinate collectors and
historians to this day.
markers. Members of the Grave Marker Preservation Committee demonstrated proper methodology. They then put their new knowledge to work by cleaning markers in Rosedale Cemetery. We thank all of those who helped with this project.
Rosedale is our cemetery that borders the north side of our historic block, and faces Jefferson. Some famous burials in Rosedale are:
Noah Broadway, a lawman and Politician
Rose Gregory, a famous Phoenix madam
However, there are also many burials there, some typical and some tragic.
Below, you will see several clues to Rosedale.
The answers can be found on Find a Grave. Our volunteers have placed all of our interred on this platform. However, we do hope you will join us in Person soon.
Post Your Answers in the Reply Section. Good Luck!
One particularly striking type of mourning clothing from the Victorian era was the "widow's cap." This somber accessory was worn by grieving women and symbolized their widowhood. The widow's cap was a delicate and often lace-adorned headpiece that covered the hair entirely, concealing it from view. Its purpose was to signify the woman's loss and her withdrawal from society. These caps came in various styles and sizes, with some being more modest and plain, while others were more ornate, showcasing the skill of the seamstress. The widow's cap was a powerful visual symbol of mourning, and it was worn alongside the customary black attire, embodying the strict mourning etiquette and social expectations of the time. It serves as a poignant reminder of the complex rituals and customs surrounding grief and loss in the Victorian era.
the I.O.O.F. Cemetery was created after the independent order of odd fellows purchased a piece of land to bury their dead, as well as others.
Lindley Orme, a sheriff from one of our lawmen posts, is buried in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery.
Below, you will see several clues to the I.O.O.F.
The answers can be found on Find a Grave. Our volunteers have placed all of our interred on this platform. However, we do hope you will join us in Person soon.
Post Your Answers in the Reply Section. Good Luck!
1. What does I.O.O.F stand for?
2. Murdered on his way to Florence in 1873. Grave marker is a replica.
3. Born in 1876. Father made coffins. Buried with his mother.
4. Owned the Phoenix Illuminating Gas and Electric Company. Born in 1847.
5. Stabbed by a knife in 1879. Was originally buried in the 1st City Cemetery.
During the 1800s, pyrotechnics used for fireworks displays
were primarily based on gunpowder and a few other chemicals. While the specific
formulations varied, here are some of the key pyrotechnic compositions commonly
used:
Gunpowder (Black Powder): Gunpowder was the fundamental
ingredient in most fireworks during that time. It consists of a mixture of
sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate (saltpeter). This composition, when
ignited, burns rapidly, creating the explosive effects and propulsive force
needed for various types of fireworks.
Stars: Stars were small spherical or cylindrical pellets
made from a mixture of gunpowder and various chemicals. These chemicals
produced different colored flames or sparks when ignited. Common substances
used to create colored stars included metal salts, such as strontium for red,
barium for green, and copper for blue.
Bursting Charges: Bursting charges were pyrotechnic
compositions placed inside rockets or other aerial fireworks. These charges
contained a mix of gunpowder and other chemicals that would explode upon
ignition, creating the vibrant bursts of sparks and colors seen in the sky.
Whistles and Crackling Compositions: Pyrotechnic mixtures
were used to produce sound effects in fireworks. Whistles were created by
adding a composition that produced a high-pitched whistling noise when ignited.
Crackling compositions contained substances that rapidly burned and crackled,
generating a series of popping sounds.
Spark Compositions: Spark compositions were used in
sparklers and certain types of fireworks. These compositions typically involved
a mix of metal powders (such as iron, aluminum, or magnesium) and oxidizers.
When ignited, these compositions produced bright sparks that added visual appeal
to the fireworks display.
pyrotechnic compositions during the 1800s were simpler compared to the wide range of modern chemicals and effects available today. But they still provided an awe-inspiring display of light, color, and sound, creating a sense of celebration and wonder during Fourth of July festivities.
The Fourth of July, also known as Independence Day, is one of the most significant holidays in the United States. It marks the anniversary of the country's declaration of independence from British rule in 1776. As fireworks light up the night sky and families gather for barbecues, it's important to understand the historical and cultural significance of this cherished holiday.
The Birth of a Nation: On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, a document proclaiming the American colonies' independence from Great Britain. This historic event paved the way for the formation of the United States as a sovereign nation, establishing the fundamental principles of liberty, equality, and self-governance.
Time-Honored Traditions: Over the years, various traditions
have emerged as part of Fourth of July celebrations. These include:
Reflection on Values: Independence Day offers an opportunity
for individuals to reflect on the core values that define the nation. It
encourages contemplation of the ongoing pursuit of freedom, justice, and
equality for all. It serves as a reminder to cherish the hard-fought liberties
and to actively engage in upholding them.
We at PCA wish you a very happy July 4th. Be safe:-)
Why don't scientists trust atoms?
Because they make up everything!
**the concept of atoms was around during ancient greece. the first modern evidence of atoms occurred in the early 1800s when John Dalton, a chemist, discovered that chemicals always contain whole number ratios of atoms.
Joannes Baptiste Steyaert was born 7 October 1859 in
Evergen, Belgium—avery small village. He and his wife, Matilda Van
Damme, had a total of eight children, whose birthplaces provide a map of the
family’s journey from Belgium to Arizona.
The three eldest children—Marie Victoria, Emil Johan and
Augustine Bernard--were born in Belgium. The fourth child, Marie
Leona, and the fifth child, Benjamin Paul, arrived in 1890 and 1891 while the
family was living in Winnipeg, Canada. The Steyaerts seem to have
gravitated to heavily forested areas, suggesting occupations associated with
lumber.
By the time the seventh and eighth children, Medard
Tracy and Joseph Julius, were born in 1894 and 1897, the family was in De Pere,
Wisconsin. In the summer of 1897, the Steyaert family left Wisconsin
for Arizona with newborn Joseph. Within just a few weeks of their
arrival, Joannes fell desperately ill. After a protracted bout
with typhoid which exhausted the family’s financial resources, he died on July
21, 1897, and was buried in the Loosley Cemetery. His daughter Marie
Victoria died of pneumonia a few months later, on November 21, 1897, and was
buried in the same cemetery.
This left Matilda Steyaert destitute, with seven children to
support. They ranged from Emil, almost 12, to Joseph, a mere babe in
arms. The local newspaper, the Arizona Republican, appealed to its
readership to assist the family. The Steyaerts were listed
intermittently as indigent between 1898 and 1900.
In time, however, the Steyaert children became old enough to
support themselves. In 1913, the boys built a fine house, designed
by Howard B. Claflin, for their mother at 1021 East Washington. The
ten-room brick bungalow is said to have had screened sleeping porches and much
built-in cabinetry. Owing to the use of an innovative truss, the
front porch offered an unobstructed view of the street.
Ben and Gus Steyaert became locomotive engineers for
the Santa Fe Railway and the Southern Pacific Railroad
respectively. Emil was by turns a miner, prospector and truck driver
for Union Oil. Joseph Julius worked as a heavy equipment
operator. Only Medard and Frank carried on the family tradition of
working with wood. In 1928, Medard was managing a planing mill at
1501 South Central, which made cabinets and office furniture.
With her children grown up, Matilda converted her bungalow
on East Washington into a boarding house and rented rooms to guests regardless
of race. After her death on 27 July 1941, the house was sold to
Golden and Elvira Swindall, who continued Matilda’s legacy of providing
accommodations to African American guests who were not welcome at the
segregated hotels in downtown Phoenix. The Swindall Tourist Inn was
listed in the famous ‘Green Book’ for Negro travelers; Count Basie,
Dizzy Gillespie and Jackie Robinson are believed to have stayed
there. Bought in 1996 to serve as the headquarters for the Desert
Mashies golf club, the house is now on the National Register of Historic
Places.
-by Donna Carr
check out our website at Pioneers' Cemetery Assocation.
