Ocie Taylor Songer

Ocie Taylor Songer was in town recently. She told The Corona Historic Preservation Society about her experiences in early Corona. She arrived is 1896, the very begining of this little hamlet. Her father was the offical founder. She lived here until her death in 1971, at age 94. Of course she had some tales to tell. She knew all the early residents as well as many that came later to make their mark on Corona.

Ocie was portrayed by...moi, me and myself. I enjoyed it so much. Ocie left all her scrapbooks, the family bible, family papers and documents to the public library. At the Heritage Room the documents are in a special collection that can be browse through. It was such a pleasure to be able to tell her story and know that everything was as she saw it, because the information all came from her own pen.

When I visit her grave Ialways tell her that I hope she is pleased with me for keeping her alive in Corona. She did so much in the way of writing Corona's history as it took place. I want to keep it going.

One thing she said in a letter (written in her hand) was that "the older ones are going and the young ones don't care about Corona's story."

I always think that whatever I say about Corona is also the story of every town in America. The faces and names are changed but the stories are alike.

The news of yesterday is the history of today.

Searching For The Old Cemetery

Once I asked a professional genealogist what was her best tip. Without hesitating she said “maps.” I have thought of her often as I have used several maps trying to locate the old cemetery in town. Maps and lots of clues from any source.

Kathleen, a fellow researcher, and I have followed every clue available. We have scoured the newspaper, the maps, the obituaries, the deeds in both San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. Some written histories mention the old burying grounds briefly. Each word is a clue to us. “North of the depot”. “North of the tracts”. “On the bank of the wash”. “On the north bank of the wash”. “North of town”. The only thing for sure is that it is north.

The new cemetery was started in 1892, that is agreed upon by all historians and we found the deed for verification. With that in mind I checked the several transcribed projects to find any grave before 1892 in the new and current cemetery. They must have been moved from the old cemetery. I looked for the obituaries and almost without fail they say “burial at the cemetery north of town.” Apparently there was no real name for the cemetery. I picture the carriage carrying a coffin down Main Street to the makeshift cemetery, but then what? This ground is very hard because it is packed clay. I would hate to leave someone I loved in a makeshift grave “north of town.” A cemetery is supposed to be pretty and peaceful, with a fence around it and a caretaker. Corona, known as South Riverside at the time, was all scrub and desert back then.

My research tells me there were only about a dozen burials at the old cemetery. Then the floods of the winter of 1891/92 came. It rained so hard it was impossible to get to the cemetery (another clue?). Since it was on the north bank of the (Temescal) Wash, did the cemetery wash out or could one just not get across the bank to the cemetery? A group of citizens decided at this point to relocate the cemetery and form a cemetery association. This part is well documented.

In trying to locate the old cemetery, the route of the creek/wash/river has been changed. This is one more minor complication. Thank Goodness for the old maps.

I was hoping to find some articles in the newspaper that would describe carriages bringing the old burials to the new cemetery. Not a one. Wouldn’t that be noteworthy? That would be in the paper today if something like that happened. An aside: it sure would be noteworthy if horses and carriages went through town hauling old coffins down Main Street in 2009! I went through the newspapers several times and Kathleen went through several more times to make sure we didn’t miss anything.

There were also people that died after the flood and before the new cemetery was formed; these bodies were buried wherever space was available. Usually they were buried on their own property. The newspaper would indicate the location, such as “on the property of H.H. Anderson on Main Street” and state “deposited for the present.”

Still another complication: some persons that died before the formation of the present Sunnyslope Cemetery on Rimpau in Corona are found in the then new Sunnyslope cemetery, while others can’t be found anywhere yet. They must have been moved somewhere else, or they have no marker, or they were forgotten.

We may never find the exact locations of these displaced loved ones, but I can point with confidence as I drive down Main Street, north of the depot and pass the Wash and say “It is in this area.”

Of course it is most important to locate the people; their stories continue and need to be told.

I feel like I am on a treasure hunt!

Charlotte Marie Thieme

I drove past the cemetery and felt the urge to drop in. Eddie and Gabriel (the fabulous caretakers) waved at me as I drove around the edge. I spotted a stone I hadn't seen before. Usually I am there looking for something particular so all others don't register. I had a thought to go over there, so I listened. Here is this beautiful grave for a little girl, Charlotte Marie Thieme. I know her!! Well, not exactly, but I know of her.
Look at this angel, she has the sweetest face. Now I start wondering about the stone carver.
I have heard stories from the historical community (I can't document this, Footnote Maven, because I heard it somewhere at sometime that I don't know). I heard that her father, Oscar Thieme, built a beautiful ranch for his bride, Lydia. He planted plants, flowers and trees from all over the world, made the place VERY impressive. Then brought his bride here. Soon they had a baby girl. She died after a few days from crib death. They were so devastated that they sold everything and moved back to Germany.
The ranch, known as Lemonia Grove, is still here, it is still lovely, still has the original packing house and home and the current owners are very generous with their home and property. This town was once known as "The Lemon Capital of the World." Corona's history is based on lemons and oranges.
Now I am curious, so I began my own research. 'Went to the library but every single microfiche reader was "out of service." I came home and did an internet research. Attention Genealogist: Do your own research, don't believe what is written or told to you.
Charlotte's parents were devastated but they stayed on in Corona for several more years. They had two more children. Oscar built another packing house by the railroad tracts. He also had many investments in San Francisco and traveled there often. In 1906 there was the horrible earthquake, and it ruined everything for the Thiemes. In the 1910 census Oscar, Lydia and their other two children were in Oakland, California. Oscar worked as a manager at a insurance business.
As far as I can tell they stayed in California, although I haven't found a burial spot for them. Their son was in San Francisco in 1940.
I imagine it was very sad to leave their little baby all by herself at the Sunnyslope Cemetery in Corona. I am sure they went to say "Goodbye" before they moved, they stood where I stood and grieved. I wonder if they ever returned.
I am going to adopt her.