Historic Fairview Cemetery Holds Groundbreaking for Xeric Demonstration Garden
Xeric plants on grave in Historic Fairview Cemetery.
Historic Fairview Cemetery, established in Albuquerque, NM in 1881, is ripe for a low-water xeric garden. The cemetery is run by a local nonprofit organization. On Saturday, January 16, starting at 1:30 p.m., the organization’s Board and President Gail Rubin will hold a groundbreaking yucca planting ceremony.
The planting kicks off a project to foster xeric demonstration gardens in the cemetery, to beautify this high desert final resting place of approximately 12,000 people. In addition, these low-water gardens will provide visitors with inspiration to create their own xeric landscapes.
After the socially-distanced groundbreaking, attendees are invited to take a self-guided tour of the cemetery. Stories of certain “permanent residents” are highlighted with new signage throughout the cemetery. Attendees are encouraged to use provided trash bags to help tidy up while they tour the cemetery.
A Little History…
The first official form of government in New Albuquerque was The Albuquerque Board of Trade, which was founded in 1881-1882. The Board was comprised of Albuquerque’s leading merchants and professional men. Franz Huning, William Hazeldine and Elias Stover were among the Board members. People realized in 1882, that local citizens were burying their dead on the “sand hills” to the east of downtown, Elias Stover wrote an editorial in the Albuquerque Morning Journal requesting that a “proper” cemetery be created. These men founded the Albuquerque Cemetery Association, first listed in the 1883 City Directory. Fairview Cemetery was managed by the association. The city directory lists Elias Stover as President and Oren Strong as superintendent and general manager in 1900.
When: Saturday, January 16, 2021 at 1:30 p.m.
Where: Historic Fairview Cemetery, 700 Yale Blvd. SE – Enter through the gates of Fairview Memorial Park, near the intersection with Avenida Cesar Chavez. Proceed east to the cemetery office, turn left and continue north into historic cemetery area. The groundbreaking will take place just east of the cemetery gates on Yale.
BONUS: On Sunday, January 17 at 2:00 p.m., cemetery president Gail Rubin will present “Tales from Albuquerque’s Historic Fairview Cemetery” at the monthly Albuquerque Historical Society online meeting. The presentation will be live at the AHS Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Albuquerque-Historical-Society-337876909649053/
