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Deterioration and Closing of Calvary Cemetery Calvary Cemetery was rededicated in 1939, after the adobe wall was built and the cemetery grounds were cleaned up. The City of San Diego took over the cemetery from the Catholic Church. In 1941, a caretaker was hired. He was given no funding to take care of the cemetery except for his own salary. His job was to keep the area clean and safe. He was soon moved to another cemetery and Calvary Cemetery started to deteriorate. At this same time a fire occurred in the caretaker’s house. The fire destroyed all of the cemetery records except for one book written in 1894. City officials were able to remap the cemetery grounds, but many of the gravesites could not be identified. An Air Force base was also set up on these grounds during World War II. The Cemetery Falls into Disuse Once again vandals destroyed the cemetery by throwing eggs and crushing the tombstones. Even though some burials were continuing, littering and deterioration was at its worst. Current Mission Hills residents who were children at this time remember running and jumping through the gravesites. It was so bad that the residents of Mission Hills united and once again demanded a change from the City Council. In 1950, one resident, Albert A. Gabbs, stated, “Even the ghosts would be afraid to go there at night.” Another example of the strong feelings from Mission Hills residents is from Mrs. John Vann who described the cemetery as a “rat- infested, kleenex strewn, rubbled, broken stoned Calvary Cemetery.”
Aerial view of cemetery in 1957 The Cemetery Closes California law states that if no more than 10 burials have occurred in 5 years, the Government may declare the cemetery abandoned. The law also says that the cemetery then can be dedicated as a Pioneer Park. The last person to be buried in Calvary Cemetery was Rose Wilson Mallicoat in March 16, 1960. In 1961, the request for a new plan was submitted to the City of San Diego’s Park and Recreation Department. Resolution #193616 was made on May 7, 1968 officially declaring Calvary Cemetery abandoned and the cemetery was closed. After the closing, everyone who owned a plot was automatically guaranteed a plot in the Mt. Hope Cemetery. Later, in February 1969, Calvary Cemetery was declared a historical site. New plans for renovation and restoration were to be developed. This process took the residents of Mission Hills approximately 35 years to complete. by Lauren and Kelley |
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| © 2005 Grant Elementary School |
