Cheesman Park

Murder victims, accident victims, and paupers continued to be buried along the edges and lower portions of Larimers cemetery. Over time, the name Mount Prospect was not even used by the citizens of Denver. The cemetery was referred to as "The Old Boneyard" or "Boot Hill". Much to Mr. Larimers dismay, the cemetery never became the place of reverence he had envisioned.

As time passed, Denver began to flourish and grow. The city fathers became embarrassed by the reputation of the unseemly local cemetery and the references of "Old Boneyard". In 1873, it was renamed City Cemetery. But renaming it could not change the fact it had become a run down eyesore, unkempt, with tombstones falling over, and cattle grazing on the cemetery grounds. The rich and influential of Denver has been using Riverside and Fairlawn cemeteries. It seems most of those laid to rest at the newly renamed City Cemetery were now criminals, paupers, vagrants and unclaimed bodies.

Ownership of the cemetery changed from Larimer to John J. Walley, a cabinetmaker turned undertaker. He did nothing to improve the condition of the cemetery. With large homes being built nearby, the city fathers were being pressured to do something about the condition of the cemetery. Somehow, they discovered (many say made up) the fact that the land actually was a part of an Indian treaty that was signed around 1860. The terms of the treaty made the U.S. Government the actual owner of the land. They then sold the land to the city for $200.

While owned by Mr. Walley, the cemetery was divided into three sections, one used by the city, one section Catholic, and one section was Jewish. The Catholic Church purchased their section and maintained it until 1950. The local Jewish Synagogues had removed the bodies from their section and had them buried on other locations. They then leased the land to the city.

In the summer of 1892, City Hall announced that they were giving 90 days to remove all the bodies located in the city owned section and have them reburied elsewhere. Family members reburied many, but an estimated 5,000 remained unclaimed. By spring of 1893, the city began making preparations for the removal of the remaining bodies. The mayor of Denver, Platt Rogers, was concerned that a health problem could result from opening so many graves, and he delayed the project. But he left town on a business trip, and city council sprang into action releasing funds for the removal of the bodies. The removal contract was given to a man named E.F. McGoven. His contract specified he was to place each body into a new "container" which was to be 3 ft long and 1 foot wide. He would be paid $1.90 for each new container delivered to Riverside Cemetery.