History Lives at Laurel Cemetery in Murrieta

Tucked away in a quiet corner of Murrieta just downwind from the Santa Rosa Plateau is Laurel Cemetery—named for wild mountain laurel native to the plateau.

It dates back to 1886 and for history lovers, offers a trove of information about early Murrieta. But the cemetery was overgrown and sorely in need of attention up until about the last decade, when new homes were built nearby, according to Patti D'Andrea, secretary and historian for the Murrieta Valley Cemetery District.

Before the office was built in 2006, staff worked out of a trailer. Prior to that, cemetery business was done out of the homes or businesses of residents, such as the Murrieta Machine Shop on Washington Avenue.

A group of five townspeople purchased the 10 acres that house the cemetery in 1886 from the Temecula Land and Water Company for "one U.S. gold coin."

The Murrieta Historical Society took over trusteeship in 1914.

In 1938, the Murrieta Valley Cemetery District, a special district funded by a small portion of property taxes, was formed and began managing it. The district on May 4 launched its first website, Murrietacemetery.org, in hopes of bringing awareness to one of Murrieta's treasures.

Board meeting agendas and minutes are placed online now, along with forms, policies, frequently asked questions and pricing.

D'Andrea explained that residents may not be aware they contribute to the upkeep of the grounds. Because of that, the district is able to offer reasonable burial rates, she said.

The public was also encouraged to search the cemetery's burial records online via the website. Through several volunteer hours—and because early records were lost when Murrieta Methodist Church burnt down in 1963—the information of 1,400 burials been compiled.

"We are very proud of our burial search," D'Andrea said. "Given the ever-increasing public interest in discovering and tracing family histories we think our new online burial search will be a highly valuable and valued resource for amateur and professional genealogists alike."

According to D'Andrea, the first person buried at Laurel Cemetery was an 11-year-old girl, Mable Hending, in 1886. Her mother, Mary Hending, died just three years later at age 53 and was buried next to her. Husband William followed but not until 1914.

One of the more notorious people who found his resting place there was Douglas Fowley, famous for his role as the movie director Roscoe Dexter in the 1952 classic, "Singin' in the Rain."

Members of early Murrieta families also rest there, including those from the Sykes family, the Hale family, the Curran family, the Tarwaters and the Graysons, to name a few.

Murrieta native and local historian Annette Jennings has served on the Murrieta Valley Cemetery District board of trustees since 1995. Many of her family members, the Sotellos, are buried there.

"It is history," she said.

Another little known fact is that a Memorial Day Celebration is held on the grounds each year.

Cemetery representatives invited the public to its , to be held at 10 a.m. Monday at 42800 Ivy Street. White crosses will be placed next to 168 veterans who are buried there. A Ringing of the Bell will take place as the name of each veteran is read.