Evergreen Cemetery (Los Angeles) facts for kids
Breed family monument and Japanese tombstones
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| Details | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1877 |
| Location |
204 N. Evergreen Avenue
Los Angeles, California |
| Type | Private |
| Size | 67 acres (27 ha) |
| No. of graves | >300,000 |
Evergreen Memorial Park & Crematory is a large cemetery in the East Side area of Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, California. It is a special place where many important people from Southern California history are buried. You can find the graves of pioneers, politicians like former Mayors of Los Angeles, and even famous entertainers here. One part of the cemetery, called the Garden of the Pines, honors early Japanese pioneers.
Contents
History of Evergreen Cemetery
Evergreen Cemetery was started on August 23, 1877. It is the oldest and one of the biggest cemeteries in Los Angeles, with over 300,000 burials. A section near 1st and Lorena streets used to be a "potter's field," which is a burial ground for people who couldn't afford a private grave.
Evergreen is special because it never stopped African-Americans from being buried there. It also has separate sections for different groups of people, including Armenians, Japanese, early white settlers, and a large area for Mexican graves.
Burial Traditions and Memorials
Even though Evergreen welcomed people from different backgrounds, their burial areas were often kept separate. For example, first-generation Japanese immigrants, called Issei, had their own burial site. In 1949, a memorial was added for the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. This memorial honors Japanese-American soldiers who bravely fought and died in World War II. Every year during the Obon festival, families visit the cemetery to care for their relatives' gravestones and remember their spirits.
Many interesting people are buried at Evergreen. Biddy Mason, a nurse and generous helper of the community, was buried here in 1891. There's also a unique section called "Showmen’s Rest." This area is where about 400 carnival workers and circus performers are buried. It has a special memorial decorated with a lion, set up by the Pacific Coast Showmen’s Association in 1922.
What is a Potter's Field?
When Evergreen Cemetery was first created, its founders gave 9 acres of land to the City of Los Angeles. This land was used as a burial ground for people who were poor or had no family to pay for their funeral. This type of public burial ground is often called a "potter's field."
In 1917, the ownership of this public burial ground moved from the City to Los Angeles County. By 1924, there was no more space for burials in the potter's field. So, the county built a crematorium (a place to cremate bodies) at the site.
Evergreen Cemetery bought most of the 9-acre potter's field back from the county in 1964. They prepared the land for new burials by adding 8 feet of soil on top. The county only kept the crematorium building. In 2007, the ashes of over 1,700 people whose bodies were not claimed were buried in the cemetery.
Chinese Burials in the Potter's Field
For a long time, because of unfair rules, Chinese people were not allowed to be buried in most cemeteries, including Evergreen's main sections. The only place they could be buried was in the city's potter's field. Unlike others who were buried for free, Chinese families had to pay $10 for each burial.
The Chinese community was allowed to use a corner of the potter's field. In September 1888, they built a special shrine there. When Evergreen bought the potter's field in 1964, they left the shrine, but it became run down over the years. In 1992, the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California bought the shrine and the land around it. They restored it, and it is now a registered historic monument.
By 1917, the potter's field was running out of space. So, in 1922, the Chinese community bought their own land and opened the Chinese Cemetery. In 2005, during construction for the Metro L Line light rail, workers found the remains of 174 people near the old crematorium. Archaeologists believed this was the Chinese section of the potter's field. Most of the remains were Asian males, found with items like rice bowls and Chinese coins. These remains were reburied inside Evergreen Cemetery near the Chinese Shrine, and a new memorial was dedicated in 2010.
Memorial Day Celebrations
Since 1897, Evergreen has hosted special events every Memorial Day. Veterans, community groups, and families gather at the cemetery. Military organizations stand at different spots, and a Veterans Drum Corps leads a procession. Wreaths are placed on graves, and sometimes guest speakers share their thoughts. It's a day to honor those who served our country.
Jogging Track for the Community
There aren't many open spaces in Boyle Heights, so the Evergreen Jogging Path Coalition worked with city leaders to create a fitness area. In 2003, a 1.4-mile jogging track was finished, going all the way around the cemetery. The track has exercise stations, shady spots, and benches. It helps people from the area exercise regularly and is part of a project to make it easier to reach metro stations and fitness paths. The path is dedicated to the memory of a local activist named Lloyd Monserratt. In 2016, the track received new additions and updated facilities.
Notable People Buried Here
- Eddie Anderson (1905–1977), a funny actor known for playing Rochester.
- James Banning (1900–1933), a brave African American pilot.
- Florence Baker (1891–1913), an actress from the stage and silent films.
- Charlotta Bass (1874–1969), an educator, publisher, and civil rights activist.
- Louise Beavers (1902–1962), an actress.
- Matthew "Stymie" Beard (1925–1981), an actor.
- Jesse Belvin (1932–1960), a singer and songwriter.
- Jotham Bixby (1831–1917), known as the "father of Long Beach."
- Frank Braxton (1929–1969), a pioneering African-American animator and director.
- Kate Brousseau (1862–1938), who led the Psychology Department at Mills College.
- Everett Brown (1902–1953), an actor.
- Donaldina Cameron (1869–1968), a social reformer.
- Charles A. Canfield (1848–1913), an early oilman in California and Mexico.
- Alonzo "Lonnie" Clayton (1876–1917), the youngest jockey to win the Kentucky Derby.
- Pearlretta DuPuy (1871–1939), a musician.
- Mary Foy (1862–1962), the first female head librarian of the Los Angeles Public Library.
- Katherine Grant (1904–1937), a silent film actress.
- John Strother Griffin (1816–1898), a pioneer doctor and founder of East Los Angeles.
- LtC John Franklin "Frank" Godfrey (1839–1885), a Civil War veteran and Los Angeles city attorney.
- Joe Hayashi (1920–1945), a recipient of the Medal of Honor.
- Henry T. Hazard (1844–1921), the 28th Mayor of Los Angeles.
- John Edward Hollenbeck (1829–1885), a businessman who helped develop Los Angeles.
- Charles Price Jones (1865–1949), a minister, composer, and founder of the Church of Christ (Holiness).
- Isaac Lankershim (1818–1882), a German-born American landowner and California pioneer.
- Gilbert W. Lindsay (1900–1990), a Los Angeles City Councilman.
- Biz Mackey (1897–1965), a Baseball Hall of Famer from the Negro leagues.
- Bridget "Biddy" Mason (1818–1891), a former slave who became a nurse and successful real estate owner.
- Tōyō Miyatake (1896–1979), a photographer who documented the Japanese American internment.
- Sadao Munemori (1922–1945), a recipient of the Medal of Honor.
- Kiyoshi K. Muranaga (1922–1944), a recipient of the Medal of Honor.
- Bobby Nunn (1925–1986), a singer.
- Jimmie Noone (1895–1944), a clarinet player.
- Samuel Marshall Perry (1836–1898), a Los Angeles City councilman.
- William Hayes Perry (1832–1906), a lumber businessman and first president of LADWP.
- Frederick Madison Roberts (1879–1952), a California Assemblyman.
- Earl Rogers (1869–1922), an attorney.
- George Ralphs (1850–1914), a businessman.
- Nyogen Senzaki (1876–1958), a Zen monk and teacher.
- William J. Seymour (1870–1922), a religious leader.
- Edward F. Spence (1832–1892), the 25th Mayor of Los Angeles.
- Johnny St. Cyr (1890–1966), a musician.
- Dora A. Stearns (1883–1942), who ran for State Senator in 1923.
- Ted T. Tanouye (1919–1944), a recipient of the Medal of Honor.
- Cameron E. Thom (1825–1915), the 24th Mayor of Los Angeles and co-founder of Glendale, California.
- James R. Toberman (1836–1911), the 19th and 23rd Mayor of Los Angeles.
- Misak Torlakian (1892–1968), an Armenian revolutionary.
- Benjamin Cummings Truman (1835–1916), a writer.
- Hsi Tseng Tsiang (1899–1971), a writer and actor.
- Isaac Newton Van Nuys (1836–1912), a banker, real estate developer, and founder of Van Nuys.
- Gary Vinson (1936–1984), an actor.
- Phillip Walker (1937–2010), an electric blues guitarist.
- Kenny Washington (1918–1971), a professional American football player.
- Guilford Wiley Wells (1840–1909), a U.S. Congressman.
- Joseph Pomeroy Widney (1841–1938), the 2nd president of USC and co-founder of the Church of the Nazarene.
- Boyle Workman (1868–1942), a politician and businessman.
- William H. Workman (1839–1918), the 26th Mayor of Los Angeles.
- Hugo Zacchini (1898–1975), a daredevil known as the "human cannonball."
- Otto J. Zahn (1871–1965), a Los Angeles City Council member.
