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Irishman Owen G. Wynne died in the wee hours of the morning, Sept. 15, 1883. Wynne’s untimely death at the young age of 41 was not initially memorialized or mourned. In fact, Wynne has the distinction of being buried twice within 48 hours of his passing. In the haste of his reburial, a proper Irish wake was not provided.
Friends of Sonoma Cemeteries (FSC), a newly formed organization will commemorate Wynne’s passing. FSC will be seen marching with Wynne during the Vintage Festival parade and a grand celebration and wake at Murphy’s Irish Pub is planned on Oct 18.
Wynne was a tailor by trade, but he will not be remembered for his skills with the needle and thread, rather for his help to support FSC. One of the main goals of FSC is fundraising, in an effort to support the city of Sonoma with the costs of operating its cemeteries. FSC is an all-volunteer, not-for-profit organization created to assist the city of Sonoma in supplementing their cemeteries endowment fund towards a goal of self-sufficeniency. In addition, FSC will conduct historical research, promote the preservation and restoration of the cemeteries, and provide a platform for public education regarding the natural beauty of the cemeteries and their historical significance.
The city of Sonoma owns, maintains, and operates three cemetery properties. In 1841, Mariano Vallejo allocated 60 acres to Mountain Cemetery at the base of Schocken Hill. Valley Cemetery included two acres deeded by Vallejo, as well as two acres acquired in 1960 known as the Valley Cemetery Annex. The Veterans Cemetery was acquired in 1996 for the purpose of establishing a dedicated cemetery for veterans.
The city’s cemeteries lose money each year and in 2004, city council approved the preparation of an action plan to address the sustainability of the city cemeteries. In Aug. 2005 the action plan was presented to council and indicated the current shortfall was due to a lack of inventory and diversity of product. In Mar. 2006, the council expressed concern whether the cemeteries could maintain themselves as a self-sustaining enterprise. In Sept. 2007, the council began to explore the possibility of selling the properties in earnest. A subcommittee was developed in Sept. 2008, to explore issues related to the sale of the city cemeteries. In Dec. 2008, a town hall meeting to discuss the potential sale of the cemeteries was held, and citizens of Sonoma gathered to express their concerns and outrage. In Jan. 2009, the subcommittee reported back to council recommending the city should retain their cemeteries.
This problem is not unique to Sonoma, as city-owned cemeteries around the nation have been experiencing the same financial pitfalls, and as a result have been placed on the real estate market.
Reminiscent of the 2008 town hall meeting, the citizens of Sonoma gathered in 1883 to express their outrage over the quick burial of the young Irishman. Wynne’s body was found sprawled upon the earth in front of his workshop and residence situated on the east side of the Plaza. His lifeless soul was found face down in the dust and dirt and soon thereafter Dr. M. Schulz, upon examining the body, declared Wynne died of chronic alcoholism, further stating he died of “natural causes.” In the words of concerned citizens of Sonoma, “In our town we squeeze the grape, and distill the juice, partake of the same, sometimes too freely, and no doubt the disciples of Bacchus are too numerous. ‘Tis therefore possible that our departed neighbor may have died from very natural causes.”
His body was found at 5 a.m. in the morning, the coroner’s inquest held at 10 a.m. and the body buried at 2 p.m. Citizens of Sonoma were insulted by the action of the coroner and held an indignation meeting that evening at 9 p.m. The citizens agreed to dig up the body which was accomplished by 10 p.m. Wynne’s remains were brought to the court house, which in 1883 was a circular building situated in the middle of the Plaza. It was at the court house where they opened the “rude box” and found their fellow resident of Sonoma dirty and buried with his dusty jeans and old decrepit boots.
To add insult to his untimely death, a funeral procession of only four people, the coroner, undertaker, grave digger and one chief mourner, all rode together in the same lumber wagon with the corpse. The procession singing the tune “Rattle his bones over the stones; he’s only a pauper, whom nobody owns.” The outrage was too much to bear. The citizens of Sonoma took up a collection, and the very next day wrapped his now clean and naked body in a “winding sheet and shroud of linen” and placed him in the most expensive casket the town could furnish. A funeral procession took place at 3 p.m. that Sunday afternoon, and Wynne was buried once again at Mountain Cemetery.
As in 1883, FSC is asking for the support of the citizens of Sonoma and for them to take action. Within the next few months, fundraisers to support the sustainability of our cemeteries will be offered to the community. The FSC will be at the upcoming Vintage Festival – keep an eye out for Wynne’s 2009 funeral procession at the parade. Join us for food and ale at Murphy’s Irish Pub on Oct. 18. FSC is sponsoring a limerick contest with Owen G. Wynne as the subject of the literary exercise. The top three winners will have their limericks printed in the paper and presented at the Murphy’s fundraiser. To learn more about FSC please contact city historian and chair of FSC George McKale: georgemckale@comcast.net or 707.337.0788.
