{"id":16684,"date":"2015-04-06T17:40:12","date_gmt":"2015-04-06T17:40:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rahs.org\/?post_type=portfolio_page&p=16684"},"modified":"2020-04-17T00:16:56","modified_gmt":"2020-04-17T00:16:56","slug":"hillside-cemetery","status":"publish","type":"awards","link":"https:\/\/rahs.org\/awards\/hillside-cemetery\/","title":{"rendered":"Hillside Cemetery"},"content":{"rendered":"

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2008\u00a0HERITAGE AWARD RECIPIENT<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Redlands Area Historical Society<\/em><\/h4>\n

Hillside Cemetery<\/strong><\/p>\n

1540 Alessandro Road<\/strong><\/p>\n

1886<\/p>\n

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In 1880, early Redlands developers, Edward G. Judson<\/a> and Frank Elwood Brown<\/a> bought land for the City of Redlands site and began selling property the next year.\u00a0 The success of their venture brought nearly a 1,000 individuals to the East San Bernardino Valley.\u00a0 Judson and Brown conceived their land and water project while living in Crafton at the Crafton Retreat, owned by Myron<\/a> and Elizabeth P. Robbins Crafts<\/a>. The Craft family bought land in Crafton and settled there in 1860.<\/p>\n

In September of 1886, Myron died of pneumonia in Crafton and was buried at the base of the Crafton hills south of the Crafton Retreat home.\u00a0 Discussion began in earnest about a more suitable burial for the well-known Myron Crafts.\u00a0 Judson and Brown suggested the hilltop land of south Redlands, which they had just purchased for $3.50 per acre from the Southern Pacific Railroad.<\/p>\n

Brown knew his new \u201cHigh Line\u201d taking water from the Santa Ana River would not deliver water to the proposed site until 1890 or soon thereafter.\u00a0 His plans to deliver Bear Valley water to the San Jacinto Valley (Moreno) required a lengthy pipeline that would skirt the bluffs of the Crafton Hills and cross Redlands Heights on the pipe\u2019s journey south.<\/p>\n

Mr. Brown suggested that Crafton, Lugonia and Redlands water companies donate water for a cemetery.\u00a0 The source of water for most of these water companies was the Santa Ana River and its tributary, Mill Creek.\u00a0 Just when water could be brought to Hillside was not a looming concern, but a proper site for Myron Crafts was for many in Crafton, Lugonia and now Redlands.\u00a0 Several deaths had taken place in the eastern valley with burials taking place in San Bernardino.\u00a0 This issue played on community pride and independence from the larger San Bernardino to the west.<\/p>\n

So on June 8, 1886 the Judson and Brown real estate firm donated 22 acres to the new Hillside Cemetery Association and created its five-member board of directors.\u00a0 John W. Edwards<\/a> was the first secretary and grocery owner in Redlands.\u00a0 Edward G. Judson, Charles Putnam, A.L. Park, K.C. Wells<\/a>, a pioneer banker, and J.S. Edwards<\/a> served on the first board.\u00a0 J.S. Edwards was the first cemetery superintendent and was assisted by his business packing house partner, Wilbur N. Chamblin.\u00a0 They both plotted the drives and lots for the cemetery.<\/p>\n

The bleak forlorn treeless hillside received its first occupant, Charles H. Gothier, on June 12, 1887. The Reverend Gothier was the first settler of the future Smiley Heights in April of 1883.\u00a0 Gothier was a health-seeker from Tennessee, who spent the winter of \u201982 on the Barton Ranch domiciled in the comfortable Barton Villa.\u00a0 Homesteading on the heights meant trudging all his water from the distant Zanja.\u00a0 His death from consumption was not unexpected.\u00a0 The marker on his grave is etched \u201cFirst Civil War burial\u201d instead of first burial in Hillside Cemetery.\u00a0 He did serve as a chaplain in the Civil War and is joined by 151 other Civil War veterans now.\u00a0 Myron Crafts was also moved from Crafton to Hillside and given a prominent granite spire marking the grave.<\/p>\n

The City elected to take over the cemetery operations in 1918.\u00a0 Taxes could be used to supplement the operation that never met operating expenses.
\nDevelopment of the cemetery progressed well into the 1920\u2019s with four interesting projects.\u00a0 Caroline Phelps-Stokes died in April of 1909 and her sister, Olivia decided to honor her memory by constructing the entrance gate off of Alessandro Road in 1910.\u00a0 The stone and steel gateway was constructed with Bedford, Indiana limestone dressed in New York and constructed by the Bly Brothers Stone Company of Los Angeles.\u00a0 The gate was designed by Miss Stokes\u2019 nephew in Philadelphia.\u00a0 When Olivia died in 1927, she bequeathed to the City the matching gate on Sunset Drive inscribed \u201cMay the ladies Stokes rest in peace at Hillside Park in their adopted hometown.\u201d<\/p>\n

The third project was the combination office and comfort station in 1922. The Daily Facts announced on December 7, 1922 the $4,000 building located near the Sunset Avenue entrance.\u00a0 Today the office houses the cemetery records and staff offices.<\/p>\n

The fourth accomplishment was the 1928 mausoleum crafted in Egyptian architecture.\u00a0 The 31 x 86 foot structure is designed to hold 250 crypts and cost $60,000.\u00a0 Marble for the mausoleum arrived from Alaska in July 1928.\u00a0 The dedication in August 1928 revealed the finished building cost $70,000.\u00a0 In 1922 the grave of King Tut was located in Egypt and the mummy made a tour in the United States sparking interest in all things Egyptian.<\/p>\n

Plans for a new mausoleum were announced in April 1937.\u00a0 In the midst of the Great Depression the project was stalled for two decades.\u00a0 However, the W.P.A. and the California Emergency Relief Administration bestowed permanent construction projects that grace the cemetery today dating from the 1930\u2019s.\u00a0 New stone walls with cobblestone construction were added to the Sunset Drive side of the cemetery.\u00a0 The W.P.A. placed several bronze plaques marking their work in the cemetery.<\/p>\n

Expansion of the cemetery was successful in 1947 with Cemetery Superintendent Franklin acquiring 900 more gravesites.\u00a0 The City announced new cemetery lot prices in January 1950 with new operation rules and a 25% increase in lot prices.\u00a0 The increase was intended to gather additional funds to build the 1958 Mausoleum, which contains 768 crypt spaces.\u00a0 Another addition to the 1958 mausoleum in 1972 added 350 new crypt spaces.\u00a0 The Babyland statue was donated by Mr. E.W. Raley in 1963.\u00a0 The cemetery has not acquired new property since January 1961.<\/p>\n

Most recently John Paul Frehner undertook an Eagle Scout project consisting of cleaning and painting the exterior of the new mausoleum, relandscaping the courtyard and the installation of several benches in the cremation garden.\u00a0 The project involved over 400 volunteer hours.\u00a0 Approximately $15,000 in funds and in-kind donations were raised.<\/p>\n

In the late 1990\u2019s the Friends of Hillside Cemetery was established.\u00a0 The committee, headed by Dr. Harold Hill hopes to establish an endowment fund for the cemetery and foster continual maintenance and upkeep of the cemetery.\u00a0 Hillside Cemetery is the oldest continuous operated business in the City of Redlands and predates the City by two years.\u00a0 The cemetery has some 30,000 graves and continue with space available for another 100 years.<\/p>\n

The Redlands Area Historical Society wishes to commend the City Staff and Friends of Hillside for their continued efforts in maintaining and preserving this unique and historic resource of the City.<\/p>\n

Researched by Tom Atchley and Ron Running<\/em><\/p>\n

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