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An abundance of history is there to be found at the Alpine City Cemetery. Walking the grounds can be an adventure, but there is a layer of history that is as of yet unseen.
A portion of the cemetery once had grave markers that were constructed out of wood. A fire swept through the cemetery in the early twentieth century destroying the wooden markers that were never replaced.
Alpine Cemetery Commission president Ula Hemingway said that the commission plans on having scientists from Brigham Young University come to the grounds to scan the area to determine where the missing graves are located.
Once this happens, a new marker will be installed noting that some person was laid to rest at that location. There is no way to figure out with certainty which person is buried in each unmarked grave.
The cemetery contains a statue, which is located at the top of the hill that was placed in 1997 to commemorate the Sesquicentennial of the pioneers arriving in Alpine.
Most of the older graves are located on the hill and represent some significant history. There are graves of people who converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while in their native country of England. These people then came to the United States and traveled across the country to settle in Alpine.
While walking the grounds one might run across some of the staff who take care of the grounds. One such person is known as "Cemetery Worker Chuck," who works on projects while wearing a blue jumpsuit and sunglasses.
A conversation with Chuck would reveal some of the unseen features of the cemetery. You could learn about the pair of vultures that live in a big pine tree next to Grove Drive. People often mistake them for hawks according to Chuck, but he has witnessed the vultures doing what they are famous for.
Occasionally, while digging a new grave for someone, Chuck has discovered the neighboring grave was dug slightly cockeyed so an adjustment has to be made. The cemetery was not always operated with today's stringent standards in mind.
While traveling around the grounds you might also come across a herd of deer that live on the grounds and hide in the more brushy areas.
A number of Eagle Scout projects have been done by Alpine citizens to help beautify and serve in the cemetery. A current project involves supplying flagpoles and flags to mark the sites of veteran burials during national holidays such as Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veterans Day. Another proposed project is to build a shed to store the flags and equipment during the remainder of the year.
The commission has put together a pamphlet that can be picked up at City Hall which recounts the history of the cemetery. The Alpine City Cemetery is open to the public from dawn to 9 p.m. every day of the year. |
