Swedeen and Ewing

So interesting Diane,eddie,x

I think so, too, thanks!

I'm the sure the true explanation will be obvious and prosaic but we are unlikely ever to find out!

The simplest explanation is usually correct, whatever that might be. Thanks, Andy!

Stories left untold

As will mine be! ;-) Thanks, Pam!

Looking at the size grass and petals compared to the markers, I'm guessing that these are tiny markers -- so small I'm surprised you even noticed them. If it weren't for the published notice on John Neal, I would have assumed that the common dates reflected that these were annual burials of paupers.

Yes, very small, about 5-6" diameter, covered with a lot of debris and a lot of them in one section. There are several sections like this in the oldest parts of the cemetery. How would it have worked to have annual burials?

I knew about this because every few years the Los Angeles Times runs a story about the annual 'paupers burial.' The city is required to hold the bodies for a year and then there is an annual ritual. In the case of LA, the unclaimed or too poor to bury are cremated and then the ashes are interred in a common grave. (I've considered going to one of these services) Here's a story about the burials, from 2010: latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/12/ashes-of-1440-unclaimed-bodies-to-be-buried.html

I assume this is something every city/county morgue handles in some similar manner.

I remember seeing a documentary about that! I think it was in NYC and it was really poignant. I have a feeling this, at the time, very, very small town would not have had a crematorium. There would possibly have been dozens of unidentified or pauper deaths, because it was still a pretty rough kind of place even in the '40s, with transient loggers, mill workers and railroad workers, etc. I tried to find out something about this online, couldn't, but did find some amazing newspaper headlines (news reports to be read at the Co. Museum), such as:

Murderer’s forfeited bail finances first county courthouse, Aug. 17, 1940.
Six Japanese escorted from near Merrill by sheriff, April 1, 1942.
Riot ends Jehovah's Witnesses convention (photo), Sept. 21, 1942.
Jap camp store manager (Yaozo Hitomi) murdered at Tulelake, July 3, 1944.
List of WWII veterans qualified to apply for homesteads at Tule Lake, Dec. 18, 1946.
Picture of cattle drive on main street KFO Jan.26, 1948.

Holy moley. One of these days I'll drop in on the museum and ask a lot of questions.

Now that's what I miss by reading mainstream media, all those headlines of local 'horror'!

My favorite is the riot at the Jehovah's Witness convention. It's like something from The Onion.

Fascinating. Thank you Diane and Don.....enjoy your exploring!!