February Update

There are several plans on the horizon for SJI & II.
First and foremost is news of the creation of an association for both San Jose cemeteries. As mentioned in the last post, the association (made up of four decedents of ancestors buried at San Jose I and II), will advocate for and organize the maintenance of these two cemeteries, as well as serve as the community voice for the resting place of our ancestors.

From now through spring, here is a developing list of goals:
1) Organize and prepare for the second clean-up of SJ II. This could also include the erection of a fence along the south-eastern side of the cemetery to stop persistent trespassing.
2) Hold the first JSMCA board meeting and establish by-laws
3) Complete phase one of the documentation of funeral home records for both cemeteries
4) Complete the collection of known SJ I and II death certificates
5) Attempt to contact as many family members as possible who have ancestral ties to both cemeteries
6) Perform a comprehensive survey of the SJ I cemetery
7) Complete a servey of SJ II
8) Apply and submit grants to provide funding to help develop both cemeteries
9) Begin fundraising efforts (eg: design and sell tee-shirts)
Please note that this list will be open to modification.

There are also other issues and goals to be addressed, but for now, the ones above appear to be the priority.

Over the short term, there will be a lot of attention directed toward San Jose II Cemetery because it is most need of attention. Spring will soon arrive and without taking advantage the winter's effect on the cemetery, invasive trees, plants and poison oak will return making work more challenging. One objective to be accomplished is to create a drivable path way through the cemetery. A clear entrance and exit point is in need of being established. Time permitting there is also a need for several other smaller walkable pathways to be created.

Longer term SJ II goals would be:
1) Re-establish the original entrance way into the cemetery
2) Work with the city to move the Ella Lane street sign to it's proper place
3) Again, working with the city, establish the parameters of what exactly comprises Ella Lane and how much of it falls under the city to maintain
4) Address problematic drainage issues along the south-western fence line of the cemetery
5) Design an optimum lay out for the cemetery
6) Resume burials at SJ II
7) Work toward historical designation.

Stay tuned.