Bodie Cemetery~~Hearse House~~

Henry Ward- Horse-draw Hease- Bodie, California!

HENRY WARD

Around 1878, undertaker Henry Ward built the “Hearse House” for storage of his horse-drawn glass hearse. A native of England, Henry Ward came to Bodie in Spring 1878 and opened up Pioneer Furniture Store. Ward also, began construction on a two story building on Main Street for his business, H. WARD and COMPANY. 

Mr. Ward’s new Bodie  business, included a furniture store and an “undertaking establishment.” It was common for “Cabinet makers” to also make Caskets. They had the tools and the skill. although, if it was not their chosen profession, “the coffin business” did get them established  as an “Important” businessmen in their community.

The ground floor of the WARD BUILDING was for his furniture business and “undertaking services.” The second floor was rented to the Odd Fellows Lodge No. 279.

On January 28, 1881, Henry Ward sold his 3.7 acre cemetery and Hearse House to Boone and Wright for $400 in gold.

Masonic Cemetery

Bodie Masonic Lodge No. 252 was  chartered October 16, 1879.  The Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, a worldwide fraternal order, originated in the Middle Ages when stone mason and cathedral builders formed “Brotherhoods.” Bodie Masonic Lodge No. 252 built a hall for meetings and community events and acquired land for burials. 

The Bodie Fraternal Burial Association was organized June 13, 1898, and chose pioneer resident M. J. Cody, as its first President. The B.F.B.A. provided burial services for the the fraternal organizations and handled indigent burials paid for by Mono County.  A contract was signed for undertaking services with Mr. Arrild. 

In 1898, the Bodie Masonic Lodge No. 252 joined the BODIE FRATERNAL BURIAL ASSOCIATION, which took over the care of the Masonic-section of the Bodie Cemetery.

The Bodie Miners’ Union organized December 22, 1877, was dissolved sometime after 1909 as mining activities declined.

Bodie’s Masonic Lodge was active until consolidation with the Winnedumah Lodge No. 281 of Bishop, California in 1918.