Monte Vista History 1892-1980
Transformed from Buena Vista, a rural country cemetery, to a modern memorial park with refined sculptures and statues.
Originating as Buena Vista in 1892 (an unmaintained and mostly unmarked portion at the rear of the property that predated the “old section” now labeled as numbered sections located in the central part of the cemetery), Monte Vista developed as a modern Memorial Park from the late 1940s through the mid 1970s. Under the direction and supervision of General Manager A.C. Sherwood, Jr., a master plan and design was developed by architect Carlisle C Butler of Richmond VA and featured sculptures and statues depicting stories from the Christian Bible to offer comfort to those who had lost loved ones. These named sections (Gardens of … Light, Word, Peace, Gospels, Sermon on the Mount, Meditation, Last Supper, and Cross) are presented in a counter-clockwise fashion in the layout of the cemetery. Originally a small pond fed by an underground cold water spring featured goldfish and ducks, and was expanded into a small lake around 1960. A colored-light (red, green, blue) water fountain (outer ring spray, three inner spray cones, and a center jet) provided a community attraction, especially at night. The Mausoleum with its air-conditioned chapel was built in 1969 and features crypts both within the enclosed area, and on the outer sides, some with 2-deep, some with 1-deep. While Monte Vista has a rich history of serving Christian families, it has served families from all backgrounds and faith traditions.
Monte Vista ca. 1971 (showing completed Mausoleum-Chapel)(prior to the sale of back acres to St Mary’s)
Innovations (1940-1970)
- Perpetual Care Fund (for grounds and statuary maintenance)
- Easter Sunrise Service involving some 20 churches. Early on Bill Anderson and Vivian Ring (both of Central Baptist) provided the music.
- Custom-Recorded Music Broadcast Over the Grounds; Live music on Memorial Day
- Master Plan & Development for the various sections in the cemetery
- Pictures of Graveside Flowers after the graveside service, sent to family (free)
- Business Management, Sales, and Marketing
- Water faucets throughout the grounds for watering flowers (1″ iron pipe)
KEY TO ABOVE MAP
- Site of original manager’s house (built late 19th C. with creek running thru bsmt); bathroom & running water added 1943 upon Sherwood move-in
- Site of 1951 Manager’s house and offices (since expanded multiple times)
- Garden of the Light (originally Section A)
- Garden of the Word (originally Section B)
- Garden of Peace (originally Section C) First sculptured/modern section implemented
- “BabyLand” (originally Section E )
- Section D
- 1940s: Shed/maintenance area, concrete “boards” fabrication area
1951: old original 19th C. house moved to the shed area for grounds caretaker family
1960: the original shed torn down and new cinder-block multi-bay shed with office built - Caretaker’s house (1960s-1980s)
- Garden of the Gospels (originally Section G) (ca. 1964)
- Section F (site of Easter Sunrise services, around 5:45AM easter morning)
- Carroll Reese plot & monument
- Section H
- Garden of Sermon on the Mount (ca. 1968)
- Section I
- Old numbered sections (see chart below)
- Latter Day Saints
- Section R (later mis-labeled as RQ)
- Original Buena Vista burial plots, later known as Potter’s Field or Free-Section, separated from Section R with a hedge
- Compost/dump area
- Garden of Meditation (formerly Section O)
- Garden of the Last Supper & crypts (ca. 1960)
- Additional crypts
- Garden of the Cross (formerly Section S)
- Section T
- Site of original flagpole (flown daily) (ca. 1955)
- 1969 Mausoleum & Chapel (1969)
- Duck/Fish Pond & Fountain (original pond stone border 1940; expanded lake & color fountain 1960)
Old Numbered Sections (ca. 1920-1950) (top is EAST)
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