#7 McDonald Avenue Entrance to the Rural Cemetery
In the 1870’s, Mark McDonald laid out his namesake boulevard, strategically locating it so that horse-drawn hearses could come down McDonald Avenue and proceed directly up the hill to the burial sites via the path you see in front of you.
Frequently in those days, furniture stores also built and delivered coffins to homes of the departed. Neighbors would be able to tell what a delivery was by the color of the horse pulling the wagon. A white horse signified good news – that the household was receiving new furniture, and a black horse indicated sad news – that the house was receiving a coffin.
McDonald Avenue also included a railroad line at one point, allowing for easier visits from folks living in town to come out to the countryside to visit their loved ones’ graves.
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1600 Franklin Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
