We have been in the vicinity of San Diego’s second oldest cemetery, El Campo Santo, our entire lives and we never even knew it was there. From 1849 to 1897, 477 early San Diegans, from varied backgrounds, were buried here.
Distinguished members of Old San Diego rest in The Holy Field. Among these are Don Miguel de Pedrorena, educated in Madrid and Oxford; Juan Maria Osuna, the first alcalde of San Diego; as well as the Bandini family; the Estudillos; and the Aguierres. Truly a Who's Who of early California.
By 1889, a streetcar line was built through part of the cemetery. In 1942 that path was paved over, being known as San Diego Avenue. More than 20 bodies remain buried beneath the pavement. In 1993, the location of the bodies was determined using ground penetrating radar. Their location is now marked by the placement of these small round metal discs which we found in the street and sidewalk. It was a unique scavenger hunt. Wild.This wooden cross marks the grave of an Indian Maiden.The sign on Jesus' grave was written by Priest Juan Pujol, "Died December 1879. I have given ecclesiastical burial to Jesus, Indian 25 years, who died of a blow to the head without receiving the sacraments. They told me that he was completely drunk and thus I command him to be buried near the gate of the cemetery."The white marble stones and wrought iron fences are all that are left of the original funeral decorations. Wood fencing, crosses and headboards are not original but have been under constant renovation throughout the years with the intent to duplicate original features and period style as much as possible.Steve is standing in front of the final resting place for Rosa Serrano de Cassidy who, at age 21, died in 1869. Her husband, Andrew Cassidy, a native of Ireland, helped establish and operate the U.S. Tidal Gauge in present day Point Loma. Hers is one of the few remaining original headstones in the cemetery.Another historic grave is that of Honorable Edward Lynch Greene who died in 1872 at age 38. "Edward was a native of Ireland who came to California in 1852 to be a miner. He became a member of the State Legislature when he was elected to the Assembly from Calaveras County in 1869. He was staying in San Diego at the Era House when he died from Consumption. He had been ill for the past 18 months prior to his death. On his person at the time of his death was a gold watch that was presented to him by his constituents. He was reportedly well known throughout the state. He left behind his young wife, Ann Greene."This epitaph was quite unique, "Sacred to the Memory of John Stiles who came to his death from a bullet from a revolver. It was one of the old-fashioned kind & brass mounted. Such is the kingdom of heaven."And how about Thomas Tanner who "ran an acting troupe that performed on the second floor of the Whaley House in December 1868. Tanner's troupe offered moral, chaste, and versatile entertainment consisting of drama, farce, comedy, singing, and dancing. Unfortunately, Tanner died 17 days after his troupe opened."We then strolled to the Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, an area which presents the opportunity to experience the history of early San Diego by providing a connection to the past (Mexican and early American periods of 1821 to 1872).
This prefabricated wood-frame structure probably arrived from the East Coast by ship in 1851. The building was reassembled in Old Town San Diego. In 1868, it was used by Colonel William Jefferson "Jeff" Gatewood, Edward "Ned" Bushyhead, and José Narciso Briseño to start The San Diego Union newspaper. The first edition was printed that October, and they printed the Union in this building until 1870 when they moved operations to "New Town," which is now called Downtown San Diego. The newspaper managed to survive and is still printed today, more than 170 years later, though it is now called The San Diego Union-Tribune.
Lunch was at a sidewalk table at our favorite San Diego cantina.
Mexican Proverb: El que busca encuentra.
Meaning: If you search you will find.
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