From: The Van Nuys News, 08 November 1973, Page 73, Column 1
"GHOST TOWN CEMETERY'S LOST HEADSTONE RETURNED
NORTONVILLE, Cal. (UPI)- The headstone that marked the grave of Jane Oliver, wife of a Welshman who worked California coal mines 100 years ago, was missing mysteriously for some time, but has been found and will be returned.
Officials said Mrs. Oliver's headstone will be placed where it belongs, and this ghost town's churchyard will be restored to its appearance in 1880 when Mrs. Oliver died at age 39.
Last week a California Highway Patrolman found the old headstone in a roadway near Concord, miles from Nortonville.
The inscription said it belonged to Jane Oliver and that she died March 17, 1880, at the age of 39 years and 6 months.
Local historians, trying to return the stone to its proper place, found the following death notice in the Oakland Tribune for March 25, 1880:
'Oliver- in Nortonville, Contra Costa County, March 17, Jane, wife of Thomas J. Oliver, a native of Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorganshire, South Wales, aged 39 years and 6 months.'
Nortonville and several other ghost towns on the slopes of Mount Diablo, are included in an area recently acquired for a regional park.
At one time Nortonville had a population of more than 1500, mostly Welshmen who came to work the coal mine that flourished in the area before 1890."
5 comments:
My kind of story!! I bet she is happy now. Thanks for sharing.
As usual, great story, Jenn!
I just found your blog and think the subject is really interesting. I'm seriously thinking of moving to CCC very soon, which is how I stumbled over here. So, I'll be reading now...
Thanks Sarah Jane. If you have any questions about Contra Costa, let me know. I'd be glad to answer.
Until just now I had no idea that a GYR of Co Co County existed. I too live in the Contra Costa and write a blog as well. Rose Hill is one of my favorite places to stop on a hike. You can find my blog at www.cemeteryexplorers.blogspot.com
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