Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Just South of Aunt Sally

I was going through some old cemetery books and came across this entry from 1920.  Apparently William Rowley purchased two lots, "south of Aunt Sallie."  Well, that tells me all I need to know, just like "Unknown Man Sunday."  If any of the readers of this blog wonder why we don't know where all these folks have been put, this is what we're up against.  These old entries don't have the lot or grave numbers, and "Aunt Sallie" never was identified.  The formers owners of the cemetery, Mr. & Mrs. Dorsey had their own special way of identifying of the burial places of incoming residents.  The blocks were divided up into areas designated for the various undertaking firms who did business with the cemetery.  We know, for example, that J.P. Finley purchased most of blocks G & H at a discount then resold the graves to their customers at a slight profit.  Then there was Kenworthy, Miller & Tracey, Lerch, Holman, Mt. Scott and many others who brought their charges to lay in the earth of Multnomah Park.  Unfortunately for us, the records of block, lot and grave assignment are missing or incomplete.  This has caused some big headaches in the past when a grave, thought to be vacant,  was sold, opened and . . . . whoops . . . bones!!!!  which were then carefully put back and the grave closed.  This is one reason why Multnomah Park is closed to new grave sales.  It all has to do with Aunt Sallie . . where ever she is. 

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