as of 01 June 2024

Partial map of Cloverdale

Off Crocker Road, right before the River in Cloverdale, CA, this cemetery has burials from the early 1800's to the late 1900's, with the majority in the first half of the 1900's. Of great interest, are those graves listing the hometown, state or country of the occupant.

While most of the markers are legible, there are quite a few unmarked graves and plots of 4 to 6 outlined and/or cemented graves with no markers. There appears to have been some vandalism, as stones are broken at some graves, and some seem to being missing statues, etc. But, there are even still a few wooden grave markers, looking rather like old short fence planks, with no discernable writing.

Due to the steep hills, the graveyard is split into approximately 9 areas each containing about 100 graves, some perched up high with gorgeous views of the valley. The gate is chained and locked, but there is a small parking area to the right of the gate, and a small opening to the left to enter. The road in is mostly dirt, but there is some pathways of degraded asphalt and several sets of cement stairs. Only when you get to the very top is the walk through the graves somewhat difficult, but well worth the effort.

Historical survey map(dated December 1931) of Riverside Cemetery at the Cloverdale Historical Society & Museum(on the second floor - in the Research Library). The museum is open 4 days per week(Thurs thru Sunday) and is FREE + there's a knowledgeable staff of friendly volunteers on duty to help visitors find a grave.

Owned by the City of Cloverdale on land that was donated to the city in 1923 by the last private owner, the cemetery is open all day to walk-in visitors, every day of the year.

There's a large paved parking area just outside a gate that's always locked to vehicles.

It's about a 5+ minute easy hike, along a dirt service road, to the top of the hill.

Established in 1860, most of the tombstones throughout the cemetery are dated before 1920, but as family plots can still be used, there are some newer graves up until the 1960's, and beyond.

Unfortunately, there are no famous celebrities or otherwise notable persons buried at Cloverdale's historic cemetery.

Although, Lady Catherine Maria Oliphant(1809-1881) was the wife of a famous person, and she had a son who became famous.

Lady Catherine died suddenly in Cloverdale on October 25, 1881, while on her way to a local faith healer at The Geysers, as she was suffering from cancer. Her husband, Sir Anthony Oliphant(1793-1859), appointed as Chief Justice of Ceylon by Her Majesty's Government, was famous for being the first person to grow tea(smuggled in from China) on the island of Ceylon(now known as Sri Lanka), and her son, Laurence Oliphant(1829-1888), became a well-known author, international traveler, lawyer & Member of the House of Commons.

Her headstone that was broken, has been repaired, and is now standing upright again.

The cemtery's first burial was for Louis J. Hilt(1825-1860), the 34 year old stage driver between Cloverdale & Ukiah who drowned while crossing the Russian River on May 11, 1860.

His grave is somewhere on the property, probably in the unmarked section.

In October, the museum sponsor's an annual walking tour of the cemetery for anyone who's interested in local history.

To account for its crumbling burial plot retaining walls, sunken graves + fallen & broken monuments, the cemetery is a favorite habitat for moles that like to dig under the caskets, and then whenever it rains, water washes out the loose soil, causing the ground above to sink & the tombstones to topple. There's also an active earthquake fault on each side of the hill.

And according to a recent news report concerning the cemetery's restoration, a geological inspection determined that the shifting ground(due to the moles, rain & earthquakes) is what has caused much of the damage to the headstones, graves & burial plot retaining walls at the cemetery.

During the past five years, thanks to the efforts of a group of dedicated volunteers from the museum, about 100 of the broken monuments have been restored by using a special archival epoxy, that's the same product used on Egyptian antiquities, and won't crack the marble over time.

Apparently, there is no "cemetery fund" for emergency repairs to the 100+ year old burial plot retaining walls that occasionally, due to age & original poor construction, fall over and crush an aging headstone, but thanks again to the museum's hard working volunteers the overall condition of the cemetery is now much improved.

Double rainbow @ Cloverdale Cemetery ~ 2016