Valley Center Cemetery
Valley Center Cemetery is Valley Center’s link with its history. The cemetery was once the land of pioneer George Herbst, who died in 1883 and was buried in the cemetery seven years after filing his homestead claim.
The cemetery, located at 28953 Miller Road, sits on about an acre of land of Miller Road, across the street from VC’s oldest remaining structure, the Sharrard House.
It has several other notable “residents” including Jennie Wimmer, who assayed the first gold taken in what was to be known as the Great California Gold Rush and one of the women who played Betty Crocker on the radio in the 1920s. Families frequently visit the graves so the children can do rubbings of the historic gravesites.
The cemetery is owned by the community and operated by the VC Cemetery District, which is administered by a five person volunteer board. The current board consists Joyce Rooney, president; Jack Goodwin, vice president; Larry Herron, secretary-treasurer and directors Stan Johnson and Van Quackensbush.
The board meets the second Friday of the month, 8:30a.m. in room 3 at VC Community Hall.
The district’s bookkeeper and recording secretary Donna Jorgensen thinks the district does a great service. “I’m so sold on a small cemetery because it’s a home town cemetery, maintained for the community.” It serves Valley Center, Pauma Valley and other local areas.
The cemetery is maintained by tax dollars and vault sales and has a small annual budget of about $50,000. It’s for residents within its boundaries and their immediate families. The perpetual care fund ensures that there will always be enough money to care for the graves.
Supt. Chuck Matteson has been in charge of the cemetery for many years. He is something of an expert on local history and who is buried where. . He and his assistant Edward Fisher keep the grounds immaculate.
The cemetery district recently turned the corner financially when it began selling niches in the columbarium, an above ground storage for remains. The district is looking at acquiring adjoining land at some point in time.
On Veteran’s Day the district holds a celebration at which local minsters and veterans speak and the public is invited.
Cemetery hours are 8 a.m. – noon, Monday-Friday. Call 749-1186 for more information.
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