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HELP SAVE NEVADA CEMETERY OF OVER 600!!!!!!

HELP SAVE NEVADA CEMETERY OF OVER 600!!!!!!

Posted: 16 Nov 2008 7:47AM GMT
Classification: Query
If you are interested in saving an historic cemetery, you can help with just a short letter sent in the next couple of days. All comments must be received by the State by Friday, November 21st at the address below. You do not need to live in Nevada to help since patients were from States all over the country and so are their families. The State of Nevada Division of Mental Health has a Proposed Regulation change which, if approved, will allow the hospital administrator to order, at his discretion, the exhumation and cremation of everyone in the cemetery at the Old Insane Asylum in Sparks, listed on Find a Grave as Northern Nevada Adult Mental Health Cemetery. This cemetery includes the graves of U.S. Military Veterans, Native Americans, those of the Jewish faith and other religions which did not allow cremation at the time of the burials.

A group of families and interested citizens has formed a 501(c)(3) corporation called Friends of Northern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services Cemetery for the purpose of preserving and restoring this cemetery. As of a notice sent out last week, the State would prefer not to take this course of action. Please visit our website for more information about the horrible history of this cemetery: http://friendsofnorthernnevadaadultmentalhealthservicescemet...


NOTICE OF HEARING: November 26, 2008, 3:00 pm, Sierra Regional Center, 605 South 21st St., Sparks, NV 8941

The State of Nevada Dept. of Mental Health and Developmental Services is proposing a change in the Nevada Administrative Code which will give sole power over this cemetery to one person, the Administrator of the Division of Mental Health and Developmental Services.

Cremation would be the only option for all grave relocations proposed by the State. Within this proposal it states families could remove the remains at their own expense, but the State does not know where any of the individuals are even buried so this is not an option. Families cannot all be found at this time and those who have were not mailed invitations to attend this hearing. Many families live out of state and will not see a notice in the local Reno paper or posted in a State building or library.

Cremation is prohibited by many religions - particularly the Jewish faith. Terms used within this proposed Proposed Regulation change include INCINERATION, INTERNMENT, etc. which is very offensive to anyone of Jewish ancestry. Cremation is not the preferred form of burial for many other religions, including Catholics. Also, if these remains are cremated, all DNA will be destroyed and there will be no way to identify the remains for families as they come forward in the future.

This proposal by the State was done without consulting our group, which is made up of actual family and friends of those in this cemetery.

PLEASE PLAN TO ATTEND THIS HEARING OR MAKE A WRITTEN COMMENT PRIOR TO NOVEMBER 21st. COMMENTS SHOULD BE MAILED TO:

Dr. Harold Cook
Mental Health and Developmental Services
4126 Technology Way, Suite 201
Carson City, NV 89706

If you wish to fax a comment regarding this proposed action by the State, the number for the Div. of Mental Health is 775-684-5964.

Thank you to all who will help us save this historic cemetery. Our goal is to encourage the State to set aside this land "for cemetery purposes only" to protect it from development

Re: HELP SAVE NEVADA CEMETERY OF OVER 600!!!!!!

Posted: 21 Nov 2008 12:21PM GMT
Classification: Query
I'm so glad you posted this. I just saw it at Find-a-grave this morning after receiving a birthday greeting from them.
I think it terrible that ANY state can do as they please with old cemeteries. We have the same problems with Illinois cemeteries just disappearing.

Re: HELP SAVE NEVADA CEMETERY OF OVER 600!!!!!!

Posted: 28 Oct 2011 12:56AM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Vair
In my family tree research I found out I have someone in my family buried in this cemetery. I am so happy that something has been done about this. So sad that it was in such bad care for so long. I am trying to find information of Hugh Vair who died Aug 28, 1925 in this cemetery. So far no luck. any help would be appreciated.

Valerie Newell

Re: HELP SAVE NEVADA CEMETERY OF OVER 600!!!!!!

Posted: 28 Oct 2011 4:15AM GMT
Classification: Query
Valerie,
Hugh Vair is buried in the cemetery and his name is on the new memorial. We really don't have much information about him other than he was 70, from Canada, and that he was listed on the hospital's death register. It said he was buried in the asylum grounds. I would suggest you contact the State Archives. They have all the commitment papers. You may get more information from those. Also, you may want to request a death certificate from the State. That would be available to family.
If you have not checked out the Friends' website, there is a great deal of information about the cemetery. It is at http://friendsofnorthernnevadaadultmentalhealthservicescemet...
Please feel to email me directly at mifieldni@yahoo.com if you have any other questions.
I'll be happy to try to help you.
Carolyn

Re: HELP SAVE NEVADA CEMETERY OF OVER 600!!!!!!

Posted: 28 Oct 2011 2:38PM GMT
Classification: Query
Thank you Carolyn. The commitment papers are most likely what I would need to confirm that this is the Hugh Vair I am looking for.

I have checked out the Friends website. Wonderful that people took the time and effort to honor these people. It is so sad that people with mental illness were treated the way they were not so long ago.

Hugh Vair I am looking for was my Great Grandfather's brother. It appears he may have lived close to the border of Nevada and California along with his sibling James who was a train conductor for virginia and Truckee Railroad. The information I have found lists Hugh as Divorced but with a family of 5 living in the Mining District in 1920.

Perhaps someone will see this post and match it up with information they have. This would be great as family has no idea what happened to Hugh and James Vair.

Thanks.

Valerie Newell

Re: HELP SAVE NEVADA CEMETERY OF OVER 600!!!!!!

Posted: 28 Oct 2011 3:14PM GMT
Classification: Query
Valerie,

I'll see if some members of our group might be able to do a bit more research on him.

Please email me separately if you have some information you might give me that could help in the research.

Carolyn
mifieldni@yahoo.com

Re: HELP SAVE NEVADA CEMETERY OF OVER 600!!!!!!

Posted: 28 Oct 2011 3:14PM GMT
Classification: Query
Valerie,

I'll see if some members of our group might be able to do a bit more research on him.

Please email me separately if you have some information you might give me that could help in the research.

Carolyn
mifieldni@yahoo.com

Re: HELP SAVE NEVADA CEMETERY OF OVER 600!!!!!!

Posted: 29 Oct 2011 3:33PM GMT
Classification: Query
Valerie,

We have several links to papers and additional information on Hugh Vair. Please contact me and I'll get that to you.

Carolyn
mifieldni@yahoo.com
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