visit victoria’s historic old burying ground (pioneer square) · the province of british columbia...

OldCemeteriesSocietyofVictoria www.oldcem.bc.ca

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia through BC150, aMinistryofTourism,CultureandtheArtsinitiativeandtheHeritageLegacyFundofBritishColumbia.

VisitVictoria’sHistoricOldBuryingGround(PioneerSquare)

Self­GuidedWalkingTourTheOldBuryingGround(PioneerSquare)isaCityofVictoriaparkandvisitorsareencouragedtoenjoyitshistoryandtranquilsetting.Theinformationbelowisaboutthemonumentsthatarestillstandingandsomeofthe1,300peoplewhoareburiedthere.Thenumbersaregivenforeaseofreference.Thereisnoparticularorderinwhichtoviewthemonumentsortakethetour.Enjoyyourvisit!InteractiveMap

OldCemeteriesSocietyofVictoria www.oldcem.bc.ca

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia through BC150, aMinistryofTourism,CultureandtheArtsinitiativeandtheHeritageLegacyFundofBritishColumbia.

1.PritchardTomb.ThomasPritchardwasasteamboatcaptainontheColumbiaRiverbeforeretiringtoVictoria.WhenhiswifeElizabethdiedin1871hehadthemonumenterectedwithtwoundergroundburialchambers.HewantedthemonumentmovedtoRossBayCemeteryaftertheOldBuryingGroundclosedin1873,butthisneverhappened.CaptainPritchardwasburiedbesidehiswifewhenhediedin1883.2.AndrewPhillipsObelisk.PhillipswasborninScotlandanddiedin1870.Inthe1860shewasownerandcaptainoftheschoonerAlphawhichwaswreckednearBarclaySound.Masonicsymbols,includingthesquareandcalipers,theall‐seeingeyeandtheplumbbob,attesttohismembershipintheFreemasons.3.ThomasCarterBenchTomb.ThetopofCarter’ssandstonebenchtombbearsMasonicinsignia.HewasfromCountyArmagh,IrelandandwasemployedonJohnWork’sHillsideFarmwhenhediedin1869aftercatchingcoldatafuneralafewweeksbefore.4.HistoricalMarker.In1958,theyearoftheFraserRiverGoldRushCentennial,agraniteboulderwasinstalledfacingQuadraStreetwiththehistoryoftheOldBuryingGroundcarvedontoit.Theinformationisaccurateexceptforonesmalldetail:theOldBuryingGroundopenedin1855,not1858.5.JamesMurrayYaleGrave.AsmallconcretetabletatthebaseofamassiveGarryoaktreemarkstherestingplaceofthisHudson’sBayCompanychieftraderwhoservedatmanyfur‐tradingposts,notablyFortLangley.YaleontheFraserRiverisnamedforhim.HediedatStromnessFarm,Victoria,in1871.6.RoyalNavyandPoliceMemorial.ThisareaoftheOldBuryingGroundisknownas“NavalCorner”becausemanymonumentscommemoratingRoyalNavypersonneloncestoodhere.Onlytwooftheoldstonesarestillinplace,butthisoneerectedin1993bytheRoyalCanadianNavalAssociationhonoursfifty‐fiveRoyalNavypeopleandoneVictoriapolicemanwhodiedbetween1846and1868.7.SutlejObelisk.HMSSutlejwasaRoyalNavyshipstationedatEsquimaltfrom1863to1867.ThisobeliskwaserectedwhentheshipreturnedtoEngland.Thenameshavenowcrumbledaway,butincludedthoseofmanymenwhowereburiedatseawhileservinghere,plusthenameofMaggieSutlej,aFirstNationsorphangirlwhowascaredforbythewifeofAdmiralDenmanaboardtheship.8.CharlesRufusRobsonGrave.OnlythebaseofamuchlargermonumentremainsonRobson’sgrave.WhilecommanderofthegunboatForwardin1860herescuedthecrewsoftwoshipsoffthewestcoastofVancouverIsland,butlessthanayearlaterhediedafterfallingoffhishorseinVictoria.Acarvedbrokenmast,symbolizingasailor’slifecutshort,oncestoodabovethepedestal.9.CridgeChildren’sGrave.EdwardCridgecametoFortVictoriain1855asHudson’sBayCompanychaplain.LaterhewasdeanofChristChurchCathedral,theprecursorofthelarge

OldCemeteriesSocietyofVictoria www.oldcem.bc.ca

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia through BC150, aMinistryofTourism,CultureandtheArtsinitiativeandtheHeritageLegacyFundofBritishColumbia.

stoneedificebesidetheOldBuryingGround.Thisheadstonebearsthenamesoffourofhisinfantchildrenwhodiedofdiphtheriain1864and1865.10.RoyalCanadianAirForceCairn.Thismonumentwaserectedin2008torememberCanadianairpersonnelwhoservedandfellinWorldWarI,WorldWarII,theKoreanWarandmanyUnitedNationspeacekeepingmissionsaroundtheworld.ItisinscribedwiththeAirForce’sLatinmotto:perarduaadastra(throughadversitytothestars).11.LucySandersBench.LucycametoCanadafromSouthAfricain1911.HerdaughtermarriedJimCarneyandlivedinShanghaiinthe1930s.TheCarneys’twintoddlerswereevacuatedjustbeforetheJapaneseoccupiedthecityin1937.OneofthosechildrenwasSenatorPatCarney.Lucydiedin1947andrequestedthatabenchshouldbeplacedwherepeoplecouldstopandrest.12.HelmckenBenchTomb.UnderthistombisaburialvaultcontainingtheashesofDr.JohnSebastianHelmckenandtheremainsofhiswifeCeciliaandthreeoftheirinfantchildren.HelmckenarrivedatFortVictoriafromEnglandin1850.Cecilia’sfatherwasJamesDouglas,chieffactorofthefortandlatergovernorofthecolony.Ceciliadiedin1865;herhusband’sasheswereentombedin1920,longaftertheburyinggroundhadofficiallyclosed.13.CameronBenchTomb.UnderthistombrestDavidCameron,chiefjusticeoftheColonyofVancouverIsland,andhiswifeCecilia,sisterofGovernorJamesDouglas.In1853theymovedtoFortVictoriafromtheirBritishGuianasugarplantation.14.WallaceObelisk.HerelieKateWallaceandthreeofherchildren.ShewasthedaughterofHudson’sBayCompanychieffactor,JohnWork.HermarriagetoCharlesWentworthWallacewasunhappypartlybecausehesquanderedtheirmoney.Aftertheyhadtoselltheirhomein1869Katediedofconsumption.15.CharlesDoddBenchTomb.DoddwasaHudson’sBayCompanychieffactorandshipcaptainalongthecoastofBritishColumbiaandAlaska.Hisknowledgeofnativelanguageswasamajorasset.HeretiredinVictoriawherehediedin1860.Thetopofhistombissupportedbyintricatelycarvedfish.16.JohnWorkBenchTomb.AsandstonebenchtombontopofaburialvaultcommemoratestheHonourableJohnWork,aHudson’sBayCompanychieffactorwhodiedin1861.Ononeendofthetombareshamrocksandabeaver,representingWork’sIrishbirthandhisarrivalinCanadain1814tojointhefurtrade.HeownedalargeestateinVictoriacalledHillsideFarm.17.CanadianScottishRegimentalCenotaph.Thestonecenotaphreplacesawoodenoneonthesamesite.TheCanadianScottish(PrincessMary’s)RegimentisanoldandrespectedoneinVictoriaandabroad.Themonumenthonoursthemembersoftheregimentwhoservedanddiedinmanyconflicts.

OldCemeteriesSocietyofVictoria www.oldcem.bc.ca

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia through BC150, aMinistryofTourism,CultureandtheArtsinitiativeandtheHeritageLegacyFundofBritishColumbia.

18.CharlesRossPlaque.Apolishedstoneplaqueerectedin1943marksthesecondrestingplaceofCharlesRosswhowasinchargeofbuildingFortVictoriain1843.ThenextyearhediedofacuteappendicitisandwasburiedattheFortVictoriaGraveyard,butwasmovedhereaftertheOldBuryingGroundopened.19.PaulMedanaObelisk.Medana,arealestateownerandinvestor,wasfromItaly.Medana’sGrove,hislandinJamesBay,wasafavouritepicnicspotinthe1800sandwasconsideredasasitetoreplacetheOldBuryingGround,butRossBayCemeterywaschoseninstead.20.CarrollMonument.Whenerectedinthe1860sthismonumentwasoneofthemostimpressiveinthecolony,butitscarvingscrumbledtodustyearsago.JohnCarrollwhodiedin1861wastheowneroftheBrownJugSaloon.Alsoburiedherearehisfirstwifeandthreeofhisinfantchildren.21.TombstoneGroup.In1908theCityofVictoriaclearedtheOldBuryingGround.Afewstoneswereleftinplace,manywerediscarded,buriedordestroyed,butabout150wererelocatedtotheeasternedgeofthenewpark.Erosion,vandalismandfallingtreeshavetakentheirtollonmostofthem.Beginninginthe1980sabout100stones,eitherintactordamaged,wereputinsafestorage.OnestillstandingisforHannahEstes,ablackwomanbornintoslaveryinMissouri,whodiedinVictoriain1868.22.ChineseSection.WhentheOldBuryingGroundopenedin1855noChineselivedatFortVictoria,butin1858manybegantoarrivefortheFraserRiverGoldRush.Asectionofthecemeterywassetasidefortheiruse,butthisisoneareawherethebodiesarenolongerpresent.TheChinesecustomwastointerthebodiesforsevenyears,thenexhumethebonesandsendthemtoChina.ThelastChineseexhumationsintheOldBuryingGroundtookplaceinthe1880s.BackgroundFortVictoriawasfoundedin1843asaHudson’sBayCompanyfurtradingpost.In1849whentheColonyofVancouverIslandwascreateditbecamethecapital.AtthattimeburialsofcompanyemployeesandtheirfamiliestookplaceintheFortVictoriaGraveyard,asitenowoccupiedbyabuildingatthecornerofDouglasandJohnsonstreets.In1855theoldgraveyardwasclosedandtheOldBuryingGround(PioneerSquare)wasestablishedtoreplaceit.Atthetimeitwassurroundedbyforestsandfields.Oneblockawaythefirstchurchinthecolonywasbuilt(wheretheLawCourtsareatthecornerofBlanshardStreetandBurdettAvenue).ItwastheprecursortoChristChurchCathedral,themassivestoneedificebuiltinthe1920srightnextdoortotheOldBuryingGround.Inspiteoftheirphysicalproximity,however,thechurchandcemeterywerealwaysseparateentities.TheOldBuryingGroundoriginallywasdividedintoareasfortheChurchofEngland,theRomanCatholicChurchandtheRoyalNavy.In1858thefirstofmanygoldrushesbroughttensofthousandsofpeopletotheregion.Anewcolony,BritishColumbia,wascreatedandVictoriagrewquicklytoserveasitssupply

OldCemeteriesSocietyofVictoria www.oldcem.bc.ca

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia through BC150, aMinistryofTourism,CultureandtheArtsinitiativeandtheHeritageLegacyFundofBritishColumbia.

centre.PeoplearrivedfromeverypartoftheworldandsoontheOldBuryingGroundhadhousesandhomesteadsallaroundit.ProvisionwasmadeforChinesetobeburiedinonesectionandPresbyterians,Methodists,Baptists,Congregationalistsandotherstobeaccommodatedaswell.Victoria’slargeJewishpopulationestablisheditsowncemeteryandFirstNationslivingonreservesusuallyburiedtheirdeadonthereserves.Between1855and1873theOldBuryingGroundreceivedapproximately1,300intermentsandbecameverycrowded.In1873theOldBuryingGroundofficiallyclosedandanewciviccemeteryopenedatRossBay.Ahandfulofburialsweremovedtothenewcemetery,butalmostallwereleftintheoldone.MaintenanceattheOldBuryingGroundbecameaproblem.Graduallythefencesrotted,grassandbramblesgrewthickly,vandalsdesecratedheadstonesandfiresburnedmanywoodenheadboardsandfences.In1908,afteryearsofreceivingcomplaints,theCityofVictoriatookthedrasticstepofremovingmostofthetombstonesandgradingandgrassingtheoldcemeterytoturnitintoaparktobecalledPioneerSquare.ItisoneofthefewgreenspacesindowntownVictoriaandisafavouriteplaceforresidentsandofficeworkerstorelaxin.Sadly,however,vandalismandnaturalweatheringhavetakentheirtollonthemonuments.Onlyasmallfractionoftheonesthatsurvivedthe1908clearancearestillinplace.WhoLooksaftertheOldBuyingGroundTheOldBuryingGround(PioneerSquare)isowned,maintainedandmanagedbytheCityofVictoria.Citystaffmowthelawns,trimthetreesandpickupthelitter.TheOldCemeteriesSocietyofVictoriaTheOldCemeteriesSociety(OCS)isaregisterednon‐profitsocietyandcharitableorganizationthatcanreceivedonationsandissuereceiptsforincometaxpurposes.Ourgoalsaretoencouragetheresearch,preservationandappreciationofVictoria’s20heritagecemeteries.Sincethemid‐1980sattheOldBuryingGroundwehavecataloguedthemonuments,createdasearchableon‐linedatabaseofallitsknownburials,commissionedreportsaboutstoneconservation,salvagedmonumentsthathadbeendiscardedorlost,placedmanyintosafeandsecurestoragetopreventfurthervandalism,conductedhistoricalandarchaeologicalresearch,givenguidedtoursandcompletedamajorconservationprojectonthePritchardTomb.VisittheOldBuryingGroundWebsiteFindoutmoreabouttheOldBuryingGround’shistoryandthepeopleburiedthere.TraceyourancestorsorfindapersonfromBC’shistoryintheOldBuryingGrounddatabase,whichispartoftheOCSwebsite.Activitysuggestionsforteachers,detailsabouttheconservationofstonemonumentsanddocumentationabouttheconservationofthePritchardTombarealsoincluded.VisittheOldBuryingGround

OldCemeteriesSocietyofVictoria www.oldcem.bc.ca

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia through BC150, aMinistryofTourism,CultureandtheArtsinitiativeandtheHeritageLegacyFundofBritishColumbia.

PicturesquelynestledbesideChristChurchCathedral,Victoria’sOldBuryingGroundisanoasisofgreeneryandhistoryintheheartofthecity.Mosttombstoneshavebeenremoved,buttheonesthatremainareuniqueonthewestcoast,representingrarelyseenexamplesofbenchtombs,obelisksandelaborateVictorianmonuments.OnTuesdayeveningandSundaymorningthebellsatChristChurchCathedralarerung.HowtoGettotheOldBuryingGroundTheOldBuryingGround(PioneerSquare)isontheedgeofdowntownVictoria,justa10‐minutewalkfromtheEmpressHotelandtheInnerHarbour.ItislocatedonQuadraStreetbetweenRocklandAvenueandMearesStreet,oneblocksouthofFortStreet.ThemassivetwinstonetowersofChristChurchCathedralarerightnextdoorandarealandmarktoguideyouthere.ParkingisavailableonthestreetssurroundingtheOldBuryingGround,butthereisnovehicleaccesstotheparkitself.Pedestrianpathwaysareclearlyvisibleandarewheelchairaccessible.TheOldBuryingGroundisopentothepublic24hoursaday,everyday.