Friends of Historic Riverside Cemetery

Governor Bill Ritter declares October 31st as Riverside Cemetery Day

Colorado Governor Bill Ritter has declared Saturday, October 31st, 2009, to be “Riverside Cemetery Day“. The Friends of Historic Riverside Cemetery applaud the Governor’s commitment to finding “cooperative support and innovative solutions to preserve this valuable asset to Colorado’s rich history.”

Here’s the text of the proclamation:
Riverside Cemetery Day
October 31, 2009

WHEREAS, Riverside Cemetery was founded in 1876 and has the distinction
of being among the first cemeteries in the Rocky Mountain West; and

WHEREAS, in 1992, the cemetery was designated a National Historic
District and holds a fundamental place within Colorado history as the
longest continually operating cemetery within Denver city limits; and

WHEREAS, many of Colorado’s most famous pioneers found their final
resting place at Riverside, including Augusta Tabor, Barney and Julia Ford,
Silas Soule, three territorial governors – John Evans, Samuel Elbert, and
John Routt – and numerous mayors, entrepreneurs, and civic figures; and

WHEREAS, in 2008, Riverside Cemetery was listed as one of Colorado’s
“most endangered places” by Colorado Preservation Incorporated as it
faces irrigational and decay difficulties; and

WHEREAS, the State of Colorado encourages individuals to help raise
awareness in order to generate cooperative support and innovative solutions
to preserve this valuable asset to Colorado’s rich history;

Therefore, I, Bill Ritter, Jr., Governor of the State of Colorado, do hereby
proclaim October 31, 2009,

RIVERSIDE CEMETERY DAY

in the State of Colorado.

GIVEN under my hand and the
Executive Seal of the State of
Colorado, this twenty-eighth day
of October, 2009

Bill Ritter, Jr.
Governor