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Photo, 1940 by the Farm Security
Administration, courtesy Library of Congress
McLaury
and
Clanton
Graves at Boot Hill Graveyard, Kathy Weiser, April,
2007.
This image available for photographic prints
HERE!
One of the most famous cemeteries in the country,
Boot Hill
Graveyard was originally platted on a slight hill just northwest of
Tombstone
in 1878 and called the "Tombstone
Cemetery." It was used for all burials until 1884, when a new "Tombstone
Cemetery”
was built at the end of Allen Street, when it then took on the name, the "Old Cemetery.”
Like other cemeteries of the day, it had separate locations
for the Chinese and Jewish to be buried. It was during these years, that
Tombstone
was in its heydays, and also at its most lawless. More than 300 people
were thought to have been buried here, though only about 250 graves appear
today. Here, the markers tell a partial story of
Tombstone's lurid past with the graves of
Frank and
Tom McLaury, and
Billy Clanton killed at the
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, as well as
"Old Man" Clanton who headed the
Cowboy faction.
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See More
Tombstone!
Tombstone - The Town Too
Tough To Die
Tombstone Historical Text
Ghosts of Tombstone
Wyatt Earp -
Frontier Lawman of the American West
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Also here are Marshal
Fred White,
Tombstone's first
marshal, who was accidentally killed by a blast from
Curly Bill Brocius’
gun; an unfortunate soul by the name of George Johnson who was
hanged by mistake; five men hanged for the vicious killings labeled the
"Bisbee Massacre;" gunfighter,
Charlie Storms who was killed by
Luke Short; and dozens more, ranging from prospectors, to outlaws, lawmen, and
prostitutes. Of some who were laid to rest here, their names were never
known or were only known by a nickname.
When the "new” cemetery was opened, a few continued to be
buried here, but the vast majority were laid to rest at the newer
graveyard. After a period of time, the old cemetery fell into disrepair
and its graves neglected. It’s original grave markers, made of wood with
carved or painted inscriptions, decayed under the elements. Others were
stolen by souvenir hunters.
It wasn’t until 1923, that the city began to contact several
residents to help locate and identify the graves and a boy scout troop was
tasked with cleaning up the cemetery. However, it wasn’t until the town's
first Helldorado Days, around 1929, the the old cemetery began to be
referred to as the
Boot Hill
Graveyard, called such for the many men who
died with their boots on. Still, though many of the graves had been
identified, it wouldn’t be until the 1940’s when a real effort began to
restore the cemetery. New grave markers were made, including several steel
markers which continue to stand. The "new” markers were also made of wood
and as near as possible, duplicated the original markers. Since that time,
they have been kept or replaced as needed.
Today it is one of
Tombstone's
most popular tourist attractions. According to the legends, it is also
haunted, but that’s another story. See
HERE!
Kathy Weiser/Legends
of America, © May, 2007
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