Santa Cruz Memorial Park

Santa Cruz Memorial Park Odd Fellows Cemetery IOOF Cemetery
Details
Established	1862;163 years ago (1862)
Location	1927 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz, California, U.S.
Coordinates	36°59′26″N122°01′42″W / 36.99050°N 122.02830°W / 36.99050; -122.02830
Owned by	Independent Order of Odd Fellows
Website	scmemorial.com
Find a Grave	Santa Cruz Memorial Park Odd Fellows Cemetery IOOF Cemetery

Santa Cruz Memorial Park is a cemetery founded in 1862 and located at 1927 Ocean Street in Santa Cruz, California. ^{[1] [2]} It is also known as the Odd Fellows Cemetery, and the IOOF Cemetery. ^[1] The site contains a historical marker erected by the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. ^[3]

History

The cemetery was founded in 1862 by Santa Cruz Lodge No.96 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF). ^[3] The Oakwood Memorial Park in Santa Cruz, is also owned and managed by the IOOF. ^[4]

Some local events have caused an increase of burials at Santa Cruz Memorial Park, including the 1876–1877 diphtheria epidemic in California, and the 1898 California Powder Works explosions. ^{[5] [6]}

Notable internments

• Elihu Anthony (1818–1905) alcalde , blacksmith, industrialist, abolitionist, postmaster, and minister; considered the "founding father" of Santa Cruz ^{[1] [7] [8]}
• Vera McKenna Clayton (1896–1978) music teacher ^[9]
• Howard Wayne "Red" Hickey (1917–2006) professional football player and coach
• Frederick A. Hihn (1829–1913) German-born American businessman, land developer, real estate investor, and politician ^{[1] [10]}
• Velma Huskey (1917–1991) pioneer in early computing, author, computing historian ^[11]
• Georgiana Bruce Kirby (1818–1887) English-born American teacher and writer noted for her work in women's suffrage ^[1]
• Benjamin Knight (1836–1905) politician, physician
• William T. Jeter (1850–1930) politician and lawyer ^[12]
• Joseph Smallwood (1814–1880) African American pioneer of Santa Cruz County ^[1]

See also

• List of Odd Fellows buildings
• List of cemeteries in California

References

1. Chase, John; Gregory, Daniel Platt (2005). The Sidewalk Companion to Santa Cruz Architecture. Kestrel Press. p. 192. ISBN   978-0-940283-14-5.
2. De Give, Michael (July 28, 2002). "New Life for Mortuaries". Santa Cruz Sentinel . p. 41. Retrieved September 10, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
3. "Santa Cruz Memorial Park". Historical Marker Database (HMDB).
4. "Funerals: Marketing gives new life to an age-old industry". Santa Cruz Sentinel . July 28, 2002. p. 50. Retrieved September 10, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
5. Reader, Phil (1993). Voices of the Heart: Memorial Poems from the Diphtheria Epidemic of 1876–78. Santa Cruz, California: Cliffside Publishing.
6. "Powder Mills Blown Up (Published 1898)" . The New York Times . April 27, 1898. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved September 10, 2025.
7. Rowland, Leon (January 2, 1937). "Elihu Anthony, Pioneer of 1847 Was God Fearing Man and Santa Cruz' First Progressive Business Leader". Santa Cruz Evening News. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
8. Koch, Margaret (February 20, 1972). "The Old and the New, Elihu Anthony: Preacher, Blacksmith, Builder". Santa Cruz Sentinel . p. 31 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Vera Mckenna Clayton, Vital California, Death Index, 1940–1997" . FamilySearch.org . October 6, 1978.
10. Stevens, Stanley D. "Biographical Sketch of F.A. Hihn Compiled by Stanley D. Stevens". UCSC University Library. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
11. "Velma R. Huskey". Santa Cruz Sentinel . January 20, 1991 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "William Thomas Jeter Obituary". Santa Cruz Evening News (Obituary). May 15, 1930. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.