Location of Chinese cemetery in 1853?

greenspun.com : LUSENET : San Francisco History : One Thread

I have found a newspaper account of a Chinese religious observance that took place on April 4, 1853, in SF. The writer of the article clearly didn't understand the significance of what he was describing, but it was interesting, nonetheless, to note his observations. He describes a procession of "Celestials" to the "cemeteries of the departed," and describes in some detail the various things they did there. But it gives no indication where in SF this was located. Can anyone shed light on this for me? TIA.

-- dorothy (leland@dcn.davis.ca.us), February 26, 1999

Answers

One Chinese Cemetery was in Lincoln Park. As for 1853 can't realy say. Gladys Hansen gives some information in the S F almanac. Good Luck

-- kurt Iversen (iversenk@aol.com), March 02, 1999.

The Chinese cemetery was originally located --along with several others-- in the Lone Mountain area, at the rear of Laurel Hill Cemetery, from Parker Ave west. It was later moved to the Golden Gate Cemetery at Clement and 23rd. Sorry, don't have the dates offhand. However, the early date you cite (1853), along with the descriptions of a "procession" suggest that at the time the writer dealt with the subject, the cemetery was located at the Laurel Hill site. The Lone Mountain cemeteries were the destination of inumerable such processions in the city's early history, as many famous city characters, when they died, were carried out there, often with very large processional followings.

"It's good to be the king."

-- Chris Dichtel (cyberiad@earthlink.net), March 09, 1999.


The date of the observation is very interesting in and of itself. The number "4" to the Chinese is considered very bad luck...as in death. Hence April 4th (4/4) has some serious overtones to it.

-- Joe Fazio (jjfpi@msn.com), February 15, 2000.

The date is a Chinese holiday called "Tombsweeping Day" that is still observed the world over, every year. Chinese families gather at the memorial or grave site, clean it, and give offerings to the deceased.

Would love to read this article, since the City Cemetary is featured in my walk "Legends of Lands End".

-- Wolfgang Schubert (chouby@aol.com), April 20, 2000.


Moderation questions? read the FAQ