14451 Bledsoe Street, Sylmar, CA 91342 Map
1874
Plot of San Fernando Township filed at Los Angeles Hall of Records by Senator Charles Maclay. Area included in the filing was from the surrounding mountains to approximately Roscoe and Osborne wash. The land is set on a gentle slope north of town. Forty (40) acres were set aside for the cemetery.
1894
The area was growing rapidly. Maclay interests sold hillside lots, cutting cemetery to 10 acres.
1905
San Fernando businessmen formed the San Fernando Cemetery Association, and sold lots in the cemetery.
1911
The San Fernando Council and voters formed the City of San Fernando, refusing the 1874 plot plan and limiting San Fernando city limits to 2 miles in area. This cut off the cemetery and also the San Fernando Mission from within the city limits of San Fernando.
1923
The San Fernando Cemetery Association was dissolved.
1927
The dissolved Association sold 3.8 acres of the cemetery to mortician Will G. Noble. How and when the 5.3 portion was sold remains an unsolved mystery. The State of California took .9 acres to widen Foothill Boulevard.
1939
August 25 was the date of the last official burial at the cemetery. Will Noble died that same year, and no one took over the care of the cemetery.
1958
Native Daughters of the Golden West, San Fernando Mission Parlor No. 280, began a drive to restore the cemetery. Carolyn Riggs became chairman and the start of a long 31 year association with the cemetery.
1959
On June 6, title to the cemetery was granted by Nellie S. Noble, widow of Will Noble, to the Native Daughters of the Golden West, San Fernando Mission Parlor No. 280
On December 6, Publication was filed, declaring the cemetery closed to burials and abandoned.
1961
On April 30, the San Fernando Pioneer Memorial Cemetery became State Historical Landmark No. 753. Land had been cleared, water piping installed, a flag pole erected, and trees planted.
1961-1970
Work parties cleared, planted, and watered the cemetery weekly, but as fast as plantings and work was finished, it was torn up by vandals. Horses were ridden over the area, and water pipes were pulled up. Head stones were stolen, knocked down, and broken.
1971
The Sylmar earthquake hits the area severely. The monument sign was toppled. The flag pole was bent into a ¾ circle. The monument was replaced, and the cemetery cleared again, but water pipes were still stolen.
1979
In order to obtain a permit to construct apartments on the former 5.3 cemetery acres, the builder had to agree to construct an ornamental stone wall with iron bars.
1980
Native Daughters of the Golden West, San Fernando Mission Parlor No. 280 agrees to turn management of the care of the cemetery to the Sylmar Civic Association. Native Daughter Edith Reber, living in Sylmar, a member of both organizations, proceeded with beautification plans.
1982
Less vandalism was recorded, but the fence was knocked down again. Dirt from nearby building excavation was dumped in the cemetery.
1986-1988
San Fernando Cemetery becomes a project for Sierra-Cahuenga District No. 15 (of the California Federation of Women's Clubs). The San Fernando Women's Club adopts it as a Civic Improvement Project (CIP). Donations and grants begin to arrive at the Sylmar Chamber of Commerce. The Los Angeles Department of Water & Power installs meter of sufficient size to handle watering system. Water piping and valves were installed. Electricity for lighting, and a new flag pole was donated. Flags continued to be cut down and stolen.
1988 to 1989
CIP still continued for the San Fernando Women's Club. 1,550 hours were put in by Edith Reber, writing letters, weeding, attending meetings, clearing up dumped refuse, and watering the more than 50 trees growing in the cemetery.
Promised for the future, a memorial wall with the names of all those who are buried in the cemetery. A rest area and cement walkways were installed, with each load of cement costing $500. Mission College was to assist.
The City of Los Angeles proposed to install sidewalks along Foothill Boulevard and Bledsoe, to take place sometime in 1990-1991. The Native Daughters granted space outside the fence to offset the cost of improvement.
San Fernando Women's Club members hoped that this year would see the completion of this project. They are resigned to follow the project until it is completed.
2002
Native Daughters of the Golden West, San Fernando Mission Parlor No. 280 deeds over the cemetery property (through quit claim deed) to the San Fernando Valley Historical Society. Recorded by the Los Angeles County Recorder's Office on October 1, 2002 at 1:41 p.m.
2003
Edith Reber, 92, is honored for her preservation efforts to save Pioneer Cemetery at Memorial Day ceremonies held at the cemetery, and on June 26 by the Conference of California Historical Societies.
First meeting of the Pioneer Cemetery Committee of the San Fernando Valley Historical Society is held June 23 to devise improvement plans.
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San Fernando Valley Historical Society
Andres Pico Adobe * Box 7039/10940 Sepulveda Blvd., Mission Hills, CA 91346 * 818 365-7810