LOWER LAKE — Lower Lake Cemetery will celebrate 160 years alongside the annual Avenue of Flags celebration on Memorial Day, May 31. The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with Veterans of Foreign Wars No. 2337 members” traditional recognition at Veterans” Bridge in Lower Lake preceding the celebration.
“This cemetery has been the final resting place for many generations. We have pre-Civil War and Spanish/American War veterans buried here; pioneers and many who forged the way for Lake County. The family that came over with the Donners are buried here,” Eric Pearson, cemetery sexton/manager said. “Keeping this cemetery tranquil and serene is the best way to honor the people of our community.”
The Memorial Day celebration will provide an opportunity to peruse the 25-acre grounds, learn more about the history of the cemetery and obtain information on burials. On the grounds a is section dedicated to veterans. Pearson said efforts are ongoing to designate an additional section specifically honoring those who have served this country. “It”s kind of a big deal,” he said. “We”ve been throwing ideas around for awhile and there are many organizations contributing to the effort.”
Pearson said Lower Lake Cemetery is one of the oldest cemeteries in California with reports of its first known use in 1850. However, unconfirmed records indicate that the earliest burial in the cemetery is John Bainbridge, who died in March 1824. He said the earliest confirmed burial is Sophia Bower, a young girl who died on May 29, 1957.
Pearson said throughout history, the cemetery was referred to by many names. “At one point it was called the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) Cemetery, Lake View Cemetery and the Catholic Cemetery,” he said. “In 1939, a petition of J.W. Constable was approved and granted by the County of Lake establishing and organizing what is now known as the Lower Lake Cemetery District.”
The Lower Lake Cemetery Districts serves the communities of Lower Lake, the City of Clearlake, Clearlake Park, Clearlake Oaks and Glenhaven.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
