Memorial Wall at Butterfield Stage Park

Wes SpeakeVice PresidentCorona Historic Preservation Society

Overview•By May 1968, 7 of Corona’s sons had died

during in Vietnam war. (Average age, 20 years old)

• In late 1968, A Memorial Wall was proposed by Mayor Rena Parker as part of 20- acre Memorial Section of Butterfield Stage Park and championed the effort

•Oct 3rd 1968 design selection announced•Designed by City planning staff

Overview (cont.)•“Real adobe brick” chosen over slump stone

block to “appear” more original to pioneer days”

•Use of Adobe questioned•The design featured a Bell and two seating

areas for meditation.•Plaques were to be placed in remembrance

of war dead. $1,800 contract awarded to Weir Bros of Escondido.

•Formally dedicated Memorial Day 1969

History•Corona’s First Woman Mayor Rena Parker

championed project.•Funds provided by City and Community

groups •Dedicated Memorial Day 1969•Used in celebrations in the early 70’s•Wall was Vandalized repeatedly•Bell Stolen 5 months after placement•Site was abandoned by mid 70’s

Then and Now

1969 Dedication

Rena Parker at the 1969 Dedication

Rena Parker and her Sante Fe RailroadBell

Memorial Day 1970

Bell Stolen Oct 1969

Now Photos

Now Photos

Now Photos

Repair/Replace/Relocate/Preserve?• Repair in place-utilize existing base and rebuild-cost

estimates $25-40K • Replace- complete tear down (not an option)• Relocate to a better location- too brittle to be moved • Preserve- Preserve in place, seal structure and

smooth edges. New cracks have made this not a viable choice

• All Plans Included ▫Consists of excavation, fencing and retaining walls and▫A plaque will be placed noting the story and Rena

Parker accomplishment as Corona’s first female Mayor

Help us, Preserve the Butterfield Memorial Wall

• All Donations are Tax Deductible • Bricks are $100 each, however, any amount is

welcome.• Go to http://corona-history.org/• Membership in the Society is $20 a year http://

corona-history.org/assets/membership.pdf• CHPS has been a 501(c)3 non-profit since 1983

Questions?

Branch, Rank and Name DatesVietnam Wall Branch, Rank and Name Dates

Vietnam Wall

  Born: June 05, 1947 Panel: 07E   Born: July 10, 1947 Panel: 58E  Died: May 12, 1966 Row: 053   Died: May 11, 1968 Row: 025

Private First Class, Marine Corps Age at Death: 19   Corporal, Army Age at Death: 21  

           Robert Emmett Jones     Archie James Roberts Jr    

Corona, California     Corona, California      Born: August 24, 1946 Panel: 08E   Born: August 03, 1931 Panel: 45W

  Died: June 15, 1966 Row: 050   Died: August 31, 1968 Row: 017 Private First Class, Army Age at Death: 20   Staff Sergeant, Army Age at Death: 37  

           Charles Gordon Woods     Robert Lee Wilkes    

Corona, California     Corona, California    

  Born: November 23, 1945 Panel: 23E   Born: March 21, 1948 Panel: 23W

  Died: July 20, 1967 Row: 093   Died: June 07, 1969 Row: 107

Lance Corporal, Marine Corps Age at Death: 22   Private First Class, Marine Corps Age at Death: 21  

           Miguel Zaragoza Contreras     Joseph Trejo Jr    

Corona, California     Corona, California      Born: August 03, 1946 Panel: 23E   Born: July 21, 1950 Panel: 07W

  Died: July 21, 1967 Row: 101   Died: September 03, 1970 Row: 036

Private First Class, Army Age at Death: 21   Private First Class, Army Age at Death: 20             

Frank Daniel Leal     Edward Gerard Mathern    Corona, California     Corona, California      Born: May 11, 1948 Panel: 25E

  Died: August 18, 1967 Row: 013 Private First Class, Army Age at Death: 19  

     Larry J Orosco    

Corona, California