Yorba Cemetery
| Yorba Cemetery | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Details | |
| Established | 1858 |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 33°51′53″N 117°47′01″W / 33.86472°N 117.78361°W[1] |
| Type | Public |
| Owned by | Orange County, California |
| Size | 40,000 square feet (3,700 m2) |
| No. of graves | between 120 and 600 |
| Find a Grave | Yorba Cemetery |
Yorba Cemetery is a historic cemetery in Yorba Linda, California, originally part of Bernardo Yorba's Rancho Cañón de Santa Ana. It was deeded to the County of Orange in 1967.[2]
In 1858, the 40,000 square-foot plot of land was willed to the Catholic Church by Bernardo Yorba, as a burial ground to serve Yorba's family and friends. The last official burial occurred in 1939.[2] There is also an even older burial ground north of the cemetery.[citation needed]
Burials[edit]
It is one of the oldest private cemeteries in the state of California.[3] Many members of prominent Californio families such as the Yorba, de los Reyes, Peralta, Dominguez, and Navarro families are buried at the cemetery.[2] The exact number of burials at this cemetery is unknown, but it is estimated between 120 graves (that were identified as of 1993) and up to some 600 graves.[3]
The Pink Lady[edit]
According to local legend, a ghost referred to as "The Pink Lady" appears at the cemetery on June 15.[4] Some sources say that she is Alvina de los Reyes,[5] a descendant of the Yorba family,[6] and that she was killed in a buggy accident while returning from a dance at Valencia High School. There are no official reports of the ghost's appearance since the 1980s.[7][8] Although the ghost herself has not been photographed, energy fields at the cemetery have.[9]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Yorba Cemetery
- ^ a b c "Historic Yorba Cemetery". OC Parks. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
- ^ a b Vanderknyff, Rick (1993-10-28). "Plots to Think About: Wander Through Some Local Cemeteries and Have Visions of the Past". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
- ^ Sources are inconsistent as to the frequency of her appearances:
- Every fourth year, according to Taylor, Dave (June 26, 1980). "Psychic witnesses: 'Crazies, Liars and those convinced'". Yorba Linda Star. p. 1.
- Even-numbered years, according to Johnson, Eric (October 29, 1998). "City's sleeping spirit: Legendary Pink Lady hasn't appeared since sighted in the 1980's". Yorba Linda Star. p. 1.
- ^ Bailey, Bruce (June 14, 1990). "'Pink Lady' Legend Has Roots in Fact". Yorba Linda Star. Yorba Linda, California. p. 2. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
- ^ Gaede, Susan (June 19, 1980). "Anybody see a Pink Lady?". Yorba Linda Star. p. 1.
- ^ Her appearance is documented in Ignon, Lance (June 18, 1986). "You need an appointment to visit 'Pink Lady'". Yorba Linda Star. p. 8.
- ^ Regarding her failure to appear on other years:
- Meier, Gisela (June 24, 1978). "Haunting Lady Stands up a Crowd of 200 Admirers". Yorba Linda Star. Yorba Linda, California. p. 2. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
- Ignon, Lance (June 11, 1986). "Graveyard shift awaits date with 'Pink Lady': Will the Yorba Linda ghost stand them up again this year?". Yorba Linda Star. p. 5.
- Wallace, Renee (June 23, 1988). "Pink Lady fails to show". Yorba Linda Star. p. 4.
- Wallace, Renee (June 23, 1988). "Vigil for Pink Lady just a vapor of hope". Yorba Linda Star. p. 12.
- ^ Ignon, Lance (December 3, 1986). "Ghost story – Yorba Linda style". Yorba Linda Star. p. 1.
Further reading[edit]
- Northrop, Marie E. (June 1969). "The Yorba Family Cemetery: California's Oldest". National Genealogical Society Quarterly: 96–103.
