American Pioneer & Cemetery Research Project

Internet Presentation

Version 020608-1

 

BLACK ROCK MINE CEMETERY

 

February 6, 2008 Restoration Team

 

 

APCRP Volunteers turned out to assist with the final stages for the restoration of the almost lost cemeteries at or near the Black Rock Mine.

 

There have been no records found that would give a clue as to who the people buried in these six cemeteries are. The cemeteries range in interments from 3 to 46. Speculation is they are mine workers or ranch hands that may have been in the area.

 

Overview of some of the 46 graves at the Black Rock Mine Cemetery

Photo by: Kevin Hart 02/06/08

 

Allan Hall had found researched and worked on this site, marking and clearing, for the past year. Originally finding graves near an old arrastre on the banks of Slim Jim Creek. As he worked the area additional graves were found and identified reaching a number of 6 individual locations for burials. In total the amount of interments could reach close to 75.

 

Black Rock Mine on hill to right. Some of the grave outlines.

Photo by: Neal Du Shane

 

Nothing is known about any of these Pioneers other than the physical evidence of the graves. In an effort to restore dignity and honor to the final resting place of these individuals an effort has been on going to try and bring back these cemeteries.

 

Moseying Through . . .

Prospector and his 3 horse caravan walked through the project on their way to wealth and fortune.

Photo by: Bonnie Helten

 

I’m constantly amazed at what you encounter in the back country of Arizona. Just when you think you are living in the Jet age here comes the past and kicks you into reality.

 

As we were working on this restoration project, an old prospector came strolling through with his three horses, with nothing more or less than a “howdy”.

 

Obviously content with his solitary life style, this is very likely more people than he as seen in a year, no doubt to his liking. “Damn out of staters” messing up my life style was very likely the translating of his mumbling’s as he waked away as fast as he walked in. Didn’t miss a step or “What you doing?”. It was obvious he knew where he had been and where is was going and didn’t much care what we were doing.

 

No headstones or markers have been found, which is the norm in these remote locations.

 

Sad but true, Pioneers didn’t have the luxury of marble or granite markers as they were too expensive and took too long to get. Many of these Pioneers were single and had left their families back east to seek their fortunes and had no relatives in Arizona to place a marker. Nor was there a formal structure to the cemeteries in that they were no laid out with any formality. Graves seem to be placed where they had space.

 

Rocks were placed by the volunteers to identify the outline of the graves we had found. In some cases a “M” or “F” was placed in rock to identify a male or female grave if known.

 

 

American Pioneer & Cemetery Research Project

Internet Presentation

Version 020608-1

 

WebMaster: Neal Du Shane

 

n.j.duhane@apcrp.org

 

 

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