A handful of volunteers maintain Reno's oldest cemetery, founded in the 1870's. While the individual plots are owned by the descendants of the deceased, the cemetery authority, Sierra Memorial Gardens, owns the land in between. They have made numerous attempts over several decades to try to develop the cemetery, as it occupies prime real estate between downtown Reno and the University of Nevada.

Hillside Cemetery in Reno, Nevada is planning to exhume hundreds of bodies starting as early as September 30, 2016 to clear the prime real estate for more profitable development. The families do not consent.

The founding fathers of Reno are at risk of being disinterred from their final resting place in Hillside Cemetery so the prime real estate near the University of Nevada can be developed for housing. The cemetery owner and developer are calling this a "restoration" project. Our forefathers deserve better than this.

Sierra Memorial Gardens in Reno is preparing to exhume hundreds of bodies from Hillside Cemetery, including that of Paiute Chief Johnson Sides, known as the Peacemaker. The cemetery occupies prime real estate near the University of Nevada and will be prepared for development.

 

Johnson Sides Blessing Ceremony 

Summit Clean up Day, May 7, 2016