Pioneer Cemetery preserves history of Phoenix's early settlers and notable figures

The government meeting held on July 13, 2025, focused on the significance and preservation of the Pioneer & Military Memorial Park, the oldest cemetery in Phoenix. The meeting highlighted the park's historical importance, located at Thirteenth Avenue and Jefferson, which serves as the final resting place for many of Phoenix's early pioneers.

Key discussions included the notable figures interred at the cemetery, such as Darryl Duppa, who is credited with naming Phoenix, and Jacob Waltz, known as the infamous lost Dutchman. The meeting also acknowledged the presence of Mary Fry, a prominent woman buried near her two ex-husbands, King Wolsey and Frank Fry, along with approximately 3,700 others who represent various walks of early Phoenix life.

The cemeteries, established in 1884 and closed to new burials in 1914, are situated within a prehistoric Hohu Gom site known as La Via. The park contains the oldest existing seven cemeteries within Phoenix city limits, alongside the 1897 Victorian Smurthwaite House. This historic house was relocated in 1994 and now serves as the office for the Pioneer Cemetery Association, which is tasked with the preservation and restoration of the cemeteries.

The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation of the importance of maintaining the park's historical integrity and the ongoing efforts by the Pioneer Cemetery Association to ensure its preservation for future generations.