History:
In 1917, the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company purchased 16,000 acres of land west of Phoenix to grow cotton for airplane and vehicle tires for World War I. Led by junior executive Paul Litchfield, the Goodyear Farms employed thousands of laborers from Mexico and elsewhere fleeing civil war and poverty.
In 1918, the Spanish Influenza pandemic swept across the globe, killing between 50-100 million people worldwide. In the United States, as many as 675,000 people perished in the first year of the pandemic. Laborers in the southwest desert were not immune, and hundreds of laborers and their families died. The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company allocated 4.5 acres for a cemetery.
Many of the records of those buried here are lost. Many graves were marked with simple wooden crosses that have eroded or disintegrated over time, leaving the tenants unknown. Most of those buried here are on the east side of the cemetery with the west side still open for additional burials. It is estimated there are 30 to 60 direct descendants eligible for burial in this cemetery.
The cemetery has changed hands several times. In 2011, the City of Avondale received control of the cemetery, along with a trust fund to support and maintain the cemetery for years to come.
This cache has been placed with the permission of the City of Avondale Parks and Recreation Department, however please do not disturb or seek the cache during any services, as infrequent as they may be. During other times, stealth is required. But please do enjoy the beautiful mural nearby.