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Deterioration and Rededication of Calvary Cemetery By 1919, Calvary Cemetery was barely used. After 1920 no more burial plots were sold, but anyone owning a plot could be buried in Calvary Cemetery. The Catholic Church was still in control of Calvary Cemetery, but it was used rarely because another cemetery had opened. Calvary Cemetery fell victim to vandals and disrepair. There was no money for care, so it became overgrown with weeds. Winter weather eroded names off of gravestones. People threw their litter in the cemetery. Some people even rode motorcycles in the cemetery. Boys pushed the gravestones off their bases. Children threw eggs at the gravestones because of a myth saying that it would make the person buried there come back to life. There is not much information for 1920 to 1930. The cemetery seems to have been forgotten by everyone except the Mission Hills neighbors. In the late 1930’s, the city of San Diego got $7,668 from W.P.A. with approval from President Roosevelt to hire workers to help restore Calvary Cemetery. The city decided to clean up the cemetery with help of a restoration committee led by Albert V. Mayrhofer, who raised $500 for materials. The plan, drawn by William P. Lodge and Gilbert Reynolds, was to build a 5 foot adobe brick wall with a gate to keep out vandals. Parts of the wall still stand today. At that time the city hired a caretaker. His job was to pick up trash and pull weeds. There was still no money for perpetual care so family members were expected to maintain the gravesites. On November 26, 1938, Calvary Cemetery was rededicated with a solemn mass led by Rev. Charles Francis Buddy and followed by a civil program with an address from Mayor Percy J. Benbough. Donors, members of the Historical Society, and other interested people gathered at 10:30 A.M. to see the rehabilitation of Calvary Cemetery. A stone listing the donors was put up as a memorial. by Kamala and Gabrielle |
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| © 2005 Grant Elementary School |
