Phoenix:
Pioneer and Military Memorial Park
Trees and Garden Plantings

Cemetery Trees in Veterans’ Honor at Pioneer and Military Memorial Park, Porter Cemetery

Location:
Pioneer and Military Memorial Park
1317 W. Jefferson Street
Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona
33.446644, -112.089972

Historical Significance:
The Pioneer & Military Memorial Park is a collection of seven historic cemeteries in downtown Phoenix that were in use from 1874 until 1914 known as “Block 32.” This is the final resting place for many notable Arizona pioneer citizens, including Lord Darrell Duppa whose grave has an early Arizona State DAR Historic Marker for naming Phoenix and Tempe, Arizona.

The cemetery was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007. The historic Smurthwaite House, built in 1897, was restored and moved to this location 1994 by the City of Phoenix. Smurthwaite House acts as the headquarters of Pioneer Cemetery Association. Caroline Smurthwaite and her daughter were both members of DAR. Several DAR chapters in the Phoenix metropolitan area volunteer at community gravestone cleaning events and have donated grave markers of pioneer women.

Located in the Porter Cemetery (directly behind Smurthwaite House), six Chinese elm trees were planted by Major Winfield Scott Chapter, NSDAR. The marker reads, “These trees are donated in honor of those veterans who served their country and helped settle the Arizona Territory.”

A second plaque marks a pollinator garden of plants and trees planted to provide a habitat for birds and butterflies that was provided by Major Winfield Scott Chapter, NSDAR. A bench at the site was donated and marked by Piestewa Peak Chapter, NSDAR.

Dedicated:
December 20, 2018

Sponsor:
Major Winfield Scott Chapter, NSDAR

Tree Planting:

Snapshot of the plaque regarding the trees. Marker text is in the body of this page.
Plaque of the original marker, Pioneer & Military Memorial Park, undated image.
A collage of three snapshots. (1) Entrance to Porter Cemetery, (2) the original marker, and (3) newly-planted trees along a dirt walkway.
Views of Porter cemetery, undated image.
A group of seven women gathered at the original marker. Marker text is in the body of this page.
Tree-planting marker, possibly December 20, 2018. The garden marker is visible in the background.
A snapshot of the young trees in a line along a packed dirt walkway.
Chinese elm trees, March 2019.
A snapshot of the young trees in a line along a packed dirt walkway, showing three years’ growth.
Chinese elm trees, April 2022.

Pollinator Garden:

A snapshot of the second plaque.
Second marker, showcasing pollinator-friendly plants and trees, undated image.

  

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The content contained herein does not necessarily represent the position of NSDAR. Hyperlinks to other sites are not the responsibility of the NSDAR, the state organization or individual DAR chapters.

 

Unless otherwise noted, images are courtesy of Arizona State Society, DAR, Daughters.

 

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