Crystal Valley Cemetery

Crystal Valley Cemetery is a cemetery located on Plainview Place in Manitou Springs, Colorado. Since its establishment in 1882, it has been the principal cemetery in Manitou Springs. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Crystal Valley Cemetery
Crystal Valley Cemetery is located in Colorado
Crystal Valley Cemetery
Crystal Valley Cemetery is located in the United States
Crystal Valley Cemetery
LocationPlainview Avenue, Manitou Springs, Colorado
Coordinates38°51′6″N 104°54′11″W
NRHP reference No.82001015
CSRHP No.5EP167
Significant dates
Added to NRHP1982[1]
Designated CSRHP1980[2]

Overview

The land for the cemetery was provided by Dr. Isaac Davis in 1882[3] and the cemetery was laid out that year.[2][nb 1] In 1890, the cemetery was established and graves from the original town cemetery on Pawnee Avenue were moved to the new cemetery.[4] Since its establishment, it has served as Manitou Springs's principal cemetery.[2] It is maintained by the Manitou Springs Parks Department.[5]

The cemetery lies within a valley, with several ridges, and its elevation increases to 6,600 feet (2,000 m). It is arranged "in curvilinear fashion", following the local topography, and combines natural vegetation and landscaping, including gardens of irises, lilies, and roses. Its streets are lined with pairs of conifers and silver maples.[2]

Enclosure and retaining walls are made from locally quarried green sandstone. The same material is used for several of the cemetery's buildings, including the chapel and maintenance building.[2]

Architectural styles include Picturesque, Rustic, and Egyptian Revival. The Richards Mausoleum, made of green sandstone, is described as "probably the purist [sic] example of Egyptian Revival architecture to be found in the state".[2]

An unusual monument in the cemetery is that of Freddie Schnieder, who died in 1887 before he reached the age of 3. He "was laid to rest... beneath a Kinney cast iron grave fence designed to look like a child's bed. The round marble 'pillow' inscribed with Freddie's identification, and the cast iron tassels hanging from draped chains to suggest bed hangings provide additional visual interest."[6]

Historical significance

According to the Colorado Preservation Office, the cemetery is "significant for architecture, landscape architecture, and for the important local persons interred there."[2] In 1982, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.[7]

Tours

Tours of the cemetery are conducted in the summers by reservation through Miramont Castle: "The guests will be given an introduction to Victorian mourning, their beliefs and superstitions by the Lady in Black."[3]

Notable people

Charles Adams (1840–1885), was a Civil War general, Colorado Indian agent, and secretary to Territorial Governor Edward M. McCook.[4]

Mabel Jane Willie, the first female mayor of Manitou Springs, is buried at the cemetery.[4] Emma Crawford is interred at the cemetery. Every October coffin races are held in Manitou Springs in her name based upon the legend that her coffin slid down Red Mountain after a heavy rain.[8][9][10] Another local legendary woman is Theresa M. Kenny (1859 Austria – 1943); She built and stuccoed her own mausoleum in the 1930s and enjoyed rocking a chair alongside her completed project.[11]

  • The Richards Mausoleum
    The Richards Mausoleum
  • Emma Crawford's headstone
    Emma Crawford's headstone

See also

Notes
  1. The land for the cemetery is also claimed to have been purchased in the late 1880s.[4]

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. "Crystal Valley Cemetery – Architectural/Historical Component Form". Colorado Preservation Office. Retrieved May 20, 2013.
  3. Crystal Valley Cemetery Tours. Miramont Castle. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  4. Linda Wommack (1998). From the Grave: A Roadside Guide to Colorado's Pioneer Cemeteries. Caxton Press. p. 341. ISBN 978-0870045653. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  5. Parks Archived 2013-07-01 at the Wayback Machine. City of Manitou Springs. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  6. Annette Stott (2008). Pioneer cemeteries: sculpture gardens of the Old West. U of Nebraska Press. p. 249. ISBN 978-0803216082. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
  7. National Register of Historic Places in El Paso County, Colorado. Archived June 1, 2013, at the Wayback Machine American Dreams. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  8. Tim Blevins; Dennis Daily; Sydne Dean; Chris Nicholl; Michael L. Olsen; Katherine Scott Sturdevant; Amy Ziegler (2012). Doctors, Disease, and Dying in the Pikes Peak Region. Pikes Peak Library District. p. 321. ISBN 978-1567352818. Retrieved May 19, 2013.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. Janet Kolb. "Manitou Springs: Arts, history, entertainment founded on pure mineral water [July 21, 2002. Corrected 08/14/02]." Colorado Springs: The Gazette. 2002. HighBeam Research. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
  10. Travis Duncan. "Calendar Benefits Library; Work of 17 local artists is showcased in '09 'Historic Manitou Springs' calendar." Colorado Springs: The Gazette. September 28, 2008. HighBeam Research. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
  11. Linda Wommack (1998). From the Grave: A Roadside Guide to Colorado's Pioneer Cemeteries. Caxton Press. p. 343. ISBN 978-0870045653. Retrieved May 19, 2013.

Further reading

Media related to Crystal Valley Cemetery at Wikimedia Commons

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