Look at these gorgeous gates, guarding the eternal sleep of our nearest and dearest. These gates are the creation of Randall Wungnema. We’re not sure when the gates were erected. We think it could have been sometime in the 1960s or 1970s. Possibly in 1979, when the cemetery entrance was moved 500 feet to the east to accommodate the Roop Street expansion and realignment. Originally, Roop Street ended at the Civil War monument at the extreme northern edge of the cemetery. The street now bypasses the cemetery to the west.
These gates are a monument to function and art. The gates are a thing of beauty and are still in use today. Randall also constructed similar gateposts on the west side of Carson City.
Right inside the first set of gates is a grave site outlined in Rhyolite. Coincidence? Good question!
And get this, a mere stone’s throw from these gates lies the graves of Frederick and Charlotte Snyder. Frederick is the former superintendent of the Stewart Indian School(SIS). His efforts revolutionized the stone masonry program at SIS and brought Randall’s family to Nevada. Without his efforts, Northern Nevada would not be home to the many wonderful pink stone creations that grace our landscape!
We think we should mention that the last set of gates on the east side of the cemetery are not open to the public. Why? Well, it seems that when these gates are open, most drivers charge through the gates and hit the tree on the right hand side of the photograph. We don’t know why – that tree seems like it would be easy to miss.
This entrance originally led to the Catholic section of the cemetery. The Catholic Church signed their interests in the Catholic Section over to the City of Carson in the 1970s. The Latin phrase over the gates “beati morbid qui in domino mortuntor” translates to ” Blessed are those who die in the Lord.”
One of the gates is dedicated to the memory of Charles J. “Mac” McGuigan. Who he? Many people have asked that question. Turns out he was an area undertaker who worked for Capitol City Mortuary (now FitzHenry’s Funeral Home). He must have been someone special to have one of the gates dedicated in his honor.
We think this post is the appropriate place to mention, that under Nevada Law, it is illegal to publicly display or share photographs of Native American burial sites. The Nevada State Historic Preservation Office (NSHPO) is the agency responsible for enforcing the NRS that protects Nevada American burial sites in Nevada.
From the NSHPO’s Web site: “PROTECTION OF NATIVE AMERICAN BURIAL SITES: In 1989, the Nevada legislature passed a law (NRS 383.150 to 383.190) to protect Native American graves on private and public land. This law was updated with the passage of Senate Bill 244 in the 2017 Legislature.
The Nevada legislation protecting Native American burials is included in the portion of the Nevada Revised Statutes that covers the State Historic Preservation Office (NSHPO). The full text of this law is presented here (https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-383.html), and we urge all concerned parties to read it carefully.
Because it covers private land and county land, this legislation has more far-reaching impact in some respects than any other laws in Nevada concerning human remains. Note that under Nevada law, it is illegal to publicly display or exhibit Native American remains except during a funeral ceremony (NRS 383.180.3(b)). This may include television, photographs, exhibits, and lectures using human bones (Dansie et al., 1994, page 9).
It is also illegal to find an Native American burial and not report it, even if on private property, and it is illegal to possess or sell a Native American burial or artifacts from an Native American grave.”
So, if you are exploring the wonder that is Nevada and find a Native American burial site, do the right thing. Leave the site alone and report its location to the NSHPO and the nearest tribal office. Do not dig up the remains and treat them as those they are souvenirs of your outing. Remember the remains are your fellow human beings and deserve to be treated with respect and dignity.