October 11, 2018, Lake Tahoe Chapter Daughters conducted a walking survey of a neglected cemetery in the Al Tahoe neighborhood, South Lake Tahoe. Daughters placed 96 wooden stakes at possible burial sites.

At then-Vice Regent Rosemary Manning’s invitation, a cemetery committee formed with five chapter members (Vice Regent Manning, then-Regent Sally Holcombe, Historic Preservation Chair Cyndy Brown-Carlson, Chaplain Dawn Hill and member Shelby Kolstad); along with representation from the City of South Lake Tahoe, Kiwanis Club of Tahoe Sierra, California Tahoe Conservancy and the local historical society. until COVID-19, the committee was meeting monthly. It is now meeting virtually through the City of South Lake Tahoe.

June 20, 2020, the cemetery was surveyed again, this time with ground penetrating radar (GPR). The survey was made possible by a grant from a local philanthropic foundation (written by Regent Rosemary Manning) that was matched by the City of South Lake Tahoe. Additional funding was provided by member Cyndy Brown-Carlson and her husband. The result: 105 burials were confirmed in the cemetery along with five burials found in adjacent Conservancy property. Many of the burials were located exactly where the wooden stakes had originally been placed.

Moving forward, the CPR company will provide a detailed map, showing where all the burials are located. This will allow the committee to plan for future monuments and plantings. The City of South Lake Tahoe is already planning for fencing around the cemetery as well as posted signage.

Photo: Al Tahoe Historic Pioneer Cemetery, South Lake Tahoe, California
L to R:  Lake Tahoe Chapter Vice Regent Laura Trimberger; Chapter Historic Preservation Chair Cyndy Brown-Carlson; Matt Turner, Vice President of GeoModel (Ground Penetrating Radar Company); Chapter Regent Rosemary Manning; Chapter Chaplain Dawn Hill; Honorary/Organizing Regent Sally Holcombe.