"Standing at
Hillside Cemetery
and looking toward
downtown, you can see
why Reno"s earlier
inhabitants chose this
spot for honoring
those that
have passed on.
Now its our turn to
honor Nevadas heritage by
protecting this
important resource"
David Bobzien
Nevada State Assemblyman
For more information contact
Hillside Cemetery Foundation
P.O. Box 5962
Reno, NV 89513
(775) 746-8186
lanay@gbis.com
Photos by
Marilyn Newton
|
Hillside Cemetery — Reno, Washoe County
Summary
Despite decades of neglect, there is still hope that the spirit of preservation will rescue Reno's Hillside Cemetery, the final resting spot for about 1,400 people, that dates back to 1879. The graveyard perched
on a hill overlooking downtown Reno is a monument to the early pioneers and original settlers.
Historically and culturally signifcant, the oldest cemetery in Reno contains the names of those who helped shape and develop the city. Frank Orr, George Peckham and Edmund Plumb are buried here. These names are instantly recognized by locals because of the sites and streets that bear those names today.
Lack of maintenance coupled with vandalism of the 127-year-old graveyard has created a public nuisance and eyesore in the minds of some. The historic five-acre site provides a link to the past that should not be forgotten.
The Landscape
The privately owned cemetery is located in an older neighborhood established in 1876 and surrounded by a residential mix of large stately homes, small bungalows and apartments.  Many of the single-family residences and apartments typically serve the population of nearby University of Nevada, Reno.
The Hillside Cemetery remains one of the few open spaces in the area with an incredible view of downtown
Reno and majestic Mt. Rose.
The cemetery was recorded with the County Assessor as a “tract” in 1882, a unique feature for graveyards.
Individual plots were sold and deeded to the buyers. The original owner of the property was W. Saunders, but after his death in 1904, no one managed the property and no provision was made for perpetual care. During the years, the graveyard fell into ruin and portions were sold, creating three additional cemeteries: the Knights of Pythius Cemetery, the Hebrew Cemetery and the Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery.
The Threat
Commercial development that would require disinterment of the remains is a looming threat. Lack of care and failure to resolve the rights of deeded plots are also obstacles that have slowed efforts to preserve or protect the cemetery. There also is frustration and concern by the community that the Hillside Cemetery will
continue to be an eyesore rather than an asset to the surrounding neighborhood. Without community involvement and oversight, the dilapidation of this property will continue.
The Solution
The Old Northwest Neighborhood Advisory Board continues to make the Hillside Cemetery a top priority. It was included in long-range planning approved by the Reno City Council in 2005, resulting in the creation of
the Hillside Cemetery Foundation. Through extensive research, foundation members learned about action to save historic cemeteries. In the South, for example, activists renovated a slave cemetery, changing it from an eyesore to a source of community pride.
The best course of action to preserve the Hillside
Cemetery is to:
- Gain the protection derived from historical designations;
- Mediate an acceptable solution for stakeholders;
- Initiate actions that will stop the further decay of the site;
- Prevent commercial development; and encourage public involvement in all decisions concerning the Hillside Cemetery.
|
