Welcome to Pioneers' Cemetery Association
RESEARCH - PRESERVE - EDUCATE
About Phoenix & Territorial Arizona History
About Phoenix & Territorial Arizona History
The Mission of the Pioneers' Cemetery Association, Inc. is to conserve and protect the historic physical remains, grave markers, artifacts, and buildings of Pioneer & Military Memorial Park and provide a safe, accessible community resource for present and future generations; to acknowledge, celebrate, and promote Arizona's Pioneer History, represented by those interred in Arizona historic cemeteries, through research, education, conservation, preservation, and community engagement.
The Pioneers' Cemetery Association, Inc. is a non-profit organization with IRS 501(c)(3) status.
The Pioneers' Cemetery Association, Inc. is a non-profit organization with IRS 501(c)(3) status.
Our historic cemeteries are open by appointment on Thursdays 10 AM - 2 PM for self-guided tours.
Tours of historic Smurthwaite House are available on Thursdays 10 AM - 2 PM by appointment only.
Please contact us at pioneercem@yahoo.com for arrangements.
Great Time to Join PCA!
Join Today to Preserve Phoenix History!
Many hands make light work!
Membership enables Pioneers' Cemetery Association to preserve the
stories and heritage of territorial Arizona and Phoenix
as caretakers of the historic 7 cemeteries of Pioneer & Military Memorial Park and
historic Smurthwaite House.
Join our efforts today as a member and volunteer!
Become a member today!
Many hands make light work!
Membership enables Pioneers' Cemetery Association to preserve the
stories and heritage of territorial Arizona and Phoenix
as caretakers of the historic 7 cemeteries of Pioneer & Military Memorial Park and
historic Smurthwaite House.
Join our efforts today as a member and volunteer!
Become a member today!
Jacob Waltz Gravesite Improvement Donation Drive
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Donations are needed to help a dream become reality!
Pioneers' Cemetery Association Invites Our Community to be a part of our efforts to improve the Jacob Waltz gravesite located in Loosley Cemetery, in the historic cemeteries of Pioneer & Military Memorial Park. Jacob Waltz - the Lost Dutchman - is legendary in Arizona's history for his mining in the Superstition Mountains and his still undiscovered treasure. Visitors from around the world visit this gravesite. With your assistance, Pioneers' Cemetery Association aims to add to the current gravesite with a large granite monument, similar to what we have with our Chinese Memorial, which will include educational features. Plans also include adding gravel to the area, possibly fencing, and creating additional education features along with ongoing maintenance of the site. |
Donations may be made online in our Gift Shop in increments of $25 or $100. A small convenience fee is added for credit card usage to maximize your intended donation.
If you prefer to send a check for any amount, please send to:
Jacob Waltz Committee
c/o Pioneers' Cemetery Association
P.O. Box 33192
Phoenix, AZ 85067
Any monies raised above what is needed will go toward ongoing care and maintenance of this monument and cemetery.
If you prefer to send a check for any amount, please send to:
Jacob Waltz Committee
c/o Pioneers' Cemetery Association
P.O. Box 33192
Phoenix, AZ 85067
Any monies raised above what is needed will go toward ongoing care and maintenance of this monument and cemetery.
History of the Jacob Waltz Legend & Gravesite
If you'd like to learn more about heritage of Jacob Waltz and his gravesite, please enjoy the items below with thanks to the PCA Jacob Waltz Committee and historian Ed Dobbins for their efforts to share the history. You can learn more about Phoenix history on Ed's YouTube channel!
Murder Mystery - Thank You for Attending!
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We Appreciate Your Support!
Thanks to all who made our first-ever Murder Mystery such a fun event! We're hopeful to offer future mystery theater events as community interest prevails. A special thank you to Val Wilson for her creativity to envision the entire project, write the multiple scripts including characters with clues to decipher, and more! Thanks to the committee that made it all possible - Val Wilson, Patty Gault, Kim Kasper, Denise Foster, Donna Carr, and Lezlee Alexander. |
Dia de Los Muertos - Thank You for Attending!
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Thanks for Supporting Grave Marker Preservation!
Guests enjoyed redesigning dolls and clay pots into Dia de Los Muertos appropriate styles! It was fun to see the creativity at work. There were even raffle baskets available! Our thanks to Cindy Lee, Debe Branning, and their committee for leading this project! Guests also enjoyed a history lesson about the holiday. We're looking forward to seeing you again next September! |
Thank You, Anasazi Chapter DAR!
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Our thanks to Anasazi Chapter DAR for choosing Pioneers' Cemetery Association as the recipient of your DAR Day of Service project time!
DAR and PCA members teamed up to give the upstairs of historic Smurthwaite House a good fall cleaning to be ready for the tour and event season. We're grateful for all of our volunteer organizations who think of us when they're considering service projects! We often work with Boy Scouts of America's Eagle Scouts candidates on projects around the historic house and cemeteries. Contact us at pioneercem@yahoo.com with your next service project idea! We'd love to work with you! |
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Frank Barrios - April 1942 - September 2023
Vaya con Dios, Frank - You Will Be Missed
With a heavy heart we must tell of the passing of one of our
beloved members and mentors,
Frank Barrios.
We remember Frank as a historian and a generous man.
Many of us knew of his tireless work to preserve Arizona history and especially a little known cemetery in South Phoenix, Sotelo Heard.
But he also had a long work history with the Arizona Department of
Water Resources and the CAP.
He had a vast knowledge about water conservation and
worked to preserve what water we see today.
We're honored to have known you, Frank.
Thank you for your time, mentorship, experience, and leadership.
With a heavy heart we must tell of the passing of one of our
beloved members and mentors,
Frank Barrios.
We remember Frank as a historian and a generous man.
Many of us knew of his tireless work to preserve Arizona history and especially a little known cemetery in South Phoenix, Sotelo Heard.
But he also had a long work history with the Arizona Department of
Water Resources and the CAP.
He had a vast knowledge about water conservation and
worked to preserve what water we see today.
We're honored to have known you, Frank.
Thank you for your time, mentorship, experience, and leadership.
Rep. Stanton Reads Congressional Record Honoring Frank Barrios
Memorial Day 2023 Remembrance
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Thanks to all who joined us on our first return to a Memorial Day program since 2019!
Special thanks to Steve Schumacher, Mayor's Office Official Historian, for providing the program for the day. Thanks to the groups who made the time to process and pay their respects to our fallen heroes. Sincere thanks to James Witherspoon for playing TAPS to close our time together. Many thanks to all of the volunteers who made this possible! |
Blog Posts Honor Our Interred
Be sure to stop by our Pioneer Biographies page to see stories of some of our interred. Stories currently posted celebrate Black History Month (February), Asian-Pacific Islander Month (May), and Immigrant Heritage Month (June)! (sharing stories of our Chinese heritage in Phoenix)
NEW BOOK - "Gold Mountain in the Desert"
Available NOW!
Don't miss this opportunity to pick up your copy featuring two of our Pioneers' Cemetery Association volunteers as authors!
This is available in both
hard and soft cover editions.
You may purchase your copy online and pick it up at Smurthwaite House
any Thursday, 10a.m-2p.m or at our events,
or you may prefer to have it mailed to you.
Purchase the book through our Gift Shop -
add postage to your order if you wish it mailed to you.
Enjoy this collaboration bringing the history of our Chinese community to life!
Don't miss this opportunity to pick up your copy featuring two of our Pioneers' Cemetery Association volunteers as authors!
This is available in both
hard and soft cover editions.
You may purchase your copy online and pick it up at Smurthwaite House
any Thursday, 10a.m-2p.m or at our events,
or you may prefer to have it mailed to you.
Purchase the book through our Gift Shop -
add postage to your order if you wish it mailed to you.
Enjoy this collaboration bringing the history of our Chinese community to life!
NEW! Calendar Updates
We're celebrating our 40th Year of Service!
Head to our Calendar page to see the exciting events on our horizon! Become a Member today!
Head to our Calendar page to see the exciting events on our horizon! Become a Member today!
Thank You, American Association of
State and Local History!
Cindy Lee, Vice President, accepting AASLH award - Sept. 2022
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The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) has notified us that Pioneers’ Cemetery Association has received an Award of Excellence for our project highlighting Women and Children of Pioneer & Military Memorial Park. "The Award of Excellence is part of the AASLH Leadership in History Awards, the most prestigious recognition for achievement in the preservation of state and local history." See more of the notice in the attached photo. We are so proud of all our volunteers and the hard work they do to preserve history.
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NEW Walking Tour Brochures Available
Our thanks to Arizona Humanities for a 2021 grant enabling us to create a number of walking tour brochures to share more stories of our Arizona history! Shown is one side of one brochure Pioneers' Cemetery Association is making available to the public. You may download these as pdfs to read the brief stories of our interred, share with loved ones as you do family research, or print to have ready for your own self-guided tour of our historic cemeteries! You can find all of our available brochures on Our Cemeteries page.
Learn more about our grave marker preservation here, with our thanks to Cronkite News and Sam Chow, aired February 17, 2022.
Follow Us on Facebook & Instagram!
Join our team as we share short video stories about some of early Arizona pioneers! "Like" or "Follow" us on our social media sites by clicking the icons below! And you can ALWAYS send us email at pioneercem@yahoo.com - it's the best and fastest way to reach us! (click the envelope)
Smurthwaite House Video
Many thanks to City of Phoenix's Nathalie Gage as well as Pioneers' Cemetery Association's own Judy Smith and Vivia Strang for their time and talents!
Location & HoursSmurthwaite House and the cemeteries of Pioneer & Military Memorial Park are open to the public every THURSDAY from 10 AM - 2 PM, on the fourth Saturday of the month September through May at scheduled times, and for special events as posted. The facilities are supervised by an all-volunteer team. Your cooperation to coordinate your activity at available times is greatly appreciated.
Mailing Address Pioneers' Cemetery Association P.O. Box 33192 Phoenix, AZ 85067 Smurthwaite House & P&MMP 1317 W. Jefferson St. Phoenix, AZ 85007 pioneercem@yahoo.com THURSDAYS ONLY - BY APPOINTMENT ONLY BEGINNING JANUARY 2021 - Contact pioneercem@yahoo.com for details 10 AM-2 PM |
Pioneers' Cemetery Association - Phoenix, Arizona
Copyright © 2017-2023 Website last updated December 6, 2023
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