Cemetery Walk

      For more than a decade, the Corona Historic Preservation Society has hosted an informative and educational event highlighting persons of interest in Corona’s history who were buried in the oldest and only graveyard in Corona, the Sunnyslope Cemetery on Rimpau Street. Typically, the event took place in the afternoon on the last Sunday in October. Each event had a theme and was done in a respectful manner to help bring Corona’s unique heritage to life. Some of the themes were: South Riverside’s Founding Fathers, Italian immigrants and the roles they played in Corona’s citrus industry, the persons for whom Corona area streets were named, early business owners, the founders of Corona’s early churches, residents of Grand Boulevard and many more. In 2003 the early early citizens who had a part in establishing or maintaining Corona’s non-profit Sunnyslope Cemetery were featured and the theme was entitled; “Grave Matters.”

      In the early years, Sandra Fleming took the responsibility for coordinating the determination of the theme, the identification of the persons to be highlighted, the research and writing of the scripts, obtaining the actors, locating costumes, publicity and programs. Kathleen Dever succeeded her and did a wonderful job of continuing the tradition until 2006.

      Kathleen Dever, Gloria Freel, Jean Neumann and Diane Wright were active in the research, script writing, and other details that made the event special, some even acted a role they may have researched. From time to time we were visited by our Lady-in- Mourning (portrayed by Diane Wright) who presented an infromative elocution of Victorian mourning customs.

     Texts of many of the scripts are to be found on the website of the Corona Geneological Society, http://www.coronagensoc.org/sunnyslope.html. By reading the scripts you can become acquainted with these early community leaders and their contributions to Corona’s religious heritage:

Jennie Dyer Geith ~ First Methodist Church

Dr. J.C. Gleason ~ First Baptist Church

Nathaniel Hudson ~ First Baptist Church

Platt Sisters ~ First Congregational Church

Kate Shepherd Scoville ~ Methodist and Episcopal

James Taylor ~ First Christian Church

Or perhaps your interests would be in early business proprietors active in the downtown

area who operated the following businesses:

Corona Lumber

Billings’ Drugstore

Geith’s Grocery

Mava Ice Cream

Taber’s Blacksmith Shop

Provensal’s Saloon & Laundry

Or perhaps your interests would be in early business proprietors active area who operated the following businesses:

Corona Lumber

Billings’ Drugstore

Geith’s Grocery

Mava Ice Cream

Taber’s Blacksmith Shop

Provensal’s Saloon & Laundry