September 1, 2010

Burial sites of famous, saintly on Mount Olivet tour

By John Gleason

Catholics of northern Colorado are invited to delve into history when Mount Olivet Cemetery conducts a tour of the grounds on Sept. 25.

It will be an opportunity to stroll around the 118-year-old cemetery on an interactive tour and see where famous Coloradans are buried.  The tour is being sponsored by the Archdiocese of Denver Office of Liturgy and Archives, and Mount Olivet Cemetery.

Mike Wright, Director of Mount Olivet and the Archdiocesan Mortuary, said the two-hour tour should be fun whether one is easily able to walk or not.

“We’ll be conducting a walking tour,” he said, “but for those who may not be able to walk, we’ll have a driving aspect to it.  Among the sites people will see will be the cathedral-inspired Reed Mausoleum and the Gallagher Chapel, where the past bishops and archbishops of the archdiocese are buried.”

The grounds of what eventually became the cemetery were acquired by Bishop Joseph Machebeuf in 1860, who then leased the land out to farmers.  Upon his death in 1889, the land was donated to the diocese and in 1892 Bishop Nicholas Matz formally established Mount Olivet Cemetery. From that time, more than 120,000 people have been buried there.  

In the early days the Union Pacific Railroad would have daily trains from Denver to the cemetery bringing out the casket and the mourners, according to Wright.

“You have to remember at that time, the cemetery was considered to be a long distance from the city,” he said.  “The train would stop and the casket offloaded onto a funeral bier pulled by horses, which took the body to the gravesite where the priest would conduct the burial.  Afterward, the party would have lunch then board the train for the return trip to Denver.”

For decades people would travel to Mount Olivet, not only for the purpose of visiting loved ones, but as a social outing as well.  On Memorial Day it wasn’t unusual for people to spend hours at the cemetery, taking care of graves and talking with people who they might not see but once a year.  In 1992 Cemetery Chaplain Msgr. Harley Schmitt, in writing about the history of Mount Olivet wrote, “Bishop (J. Henry) Tihen…urged people to visit the cemetery often to bring their picnic lunches and enjoy the quiet beauty as a park of inspiration.”

Mount Olivet Cemetery includes special sections for priests and sisters, pioneers, a section for infants and 10 mausoleums, including the St. Francis of Assisi Mausoleum, which began construction earlier this year.  Many Colorado Catholic families have three, four and even five generations buried at the cemetery. Among the many notables are silver king Horace Tabor and his infamous wife Baby Doe; saintly ex-slave Julia Greeley, Gov. William Gilpin, multimillionaire flour miller J.K. Mullen and astronaut Jack Swigert.

Wright said no decision has been made yet as to whether more tours will be scheduled.

"We’re going to see how this first one goes,” he said. “We want our guests to focus on their spiritual resting place and learn more about the history of Catholics in Colorado.”

The Mount Olivet Cemetery walking tour will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 25 at the cemetery, 12801 W. 44th Ave. in Wheat Ridge.  People are asked to bring their own lunch, beverages and desserts will be provided.  R.S.V.P. to the Office of Liturgy at 303-715-3221 or online at liturgy.office@archden.org.

Mount Olivet Tour
What: cemetery tour
Date: 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 25
Where: 12801 W. 44th Ave., Wheat Ridge
Bring: Lunch. Bverages and desserts will be provided. 
RSVP: 303-715-3221 or online at liturgy.office@archden.org