Chinese Graveyard

[Rob_Hugo@PortNW]

On an afternoon drive with my husband, out of the blue he asks me if I have ever been to the historic Chinese grave yard. I told him I didn’t think so but remembered reading something about it in the paper. He drove me around the back side of the cemetery and there it was, next to the Jewish section. The Chinese section looked very old and in need of repair. There was writing on an archway that led into the squared off section and rows of circular dots.
In the 1950s and 60s, some new houses were built in the south, now center part of town. As neighbors began to lay down roots and establish their homes and land, people began finding human bones. One woman found a skull and leg bone as she dug down about a foot or so to plant roses. As word got out of the findings, it was determined that this new development was built on top of a Chinese grave yard. The people who were buried in this “cemetery” were mostly workers that had come alone and did not have any family with them. After these findings, the Chinese community raised money, traded land, and began relocating the remains to the new site that is now behind the Historic Union Cemetery. The local Chinese Confucius church and Chinese Benevolent Association have cared for and maintain the cemetery at its new location.
In the 1990’s, bones were found for a second time near this location and local law enforcement was called out for a possible double homicide until they realized the connection. The third time bones were found, the CSUB Archeological group came out and then turned over the bones to the Chinese community.
Dr. Patrick Leung stated that many of these Chinese immigrants came in the 1800’s to work in the oil, rail, and mining industries. It is Chinese tradition to honor ancestors, even those not named, and pay respects. "We still go to the cemetery over there and pay respects to the early pioneers two times a year," Leung said. A group from the Confucius church meets at the small plot, bringing food and flowers. They light incense and clear any weeds.
The article that provided this information was written in 2014, but I was disheartened to see the shape the cemetery is now in. In all fairness, we are experiencing a drought and there are limitations on water use, but some paint and repair would add to the beauty of such a unique place that is the home of Chinese immigrants that contributed to the community that I call home.

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