Last “Watchman” of Bodie!

Clarence C. Birks- one of the last “caretakers” of Bodie.

Bodie, California- Ward Cemetery —- CLARENCE C. BIRKS (1897- 1961)

CLARENCE C. BIRKS, was born in 1897 in North Dakota and buried in the Bodie Cemetery in 1961- age 64 years.

1956- California Govenor Goodwin J. Knight, in 1956 signed an Appropriations Bill, passed by the California State Legislature authorizing the purchase of Bodie, California.

Between 1923- 1956, James Stuart Cain had purchased the Buildings and Property as, one by one, Bodietes had sold out and moved away.

Mr. Cain was the Sole Purchaser of the “abandoned properties,” and had aquaried each as they came up for Public Sale.

1958-CLARENCE C. BIRKS, hired by the Cain family, was one of the last “caretakers” of Bodie before it was officially a “California State Historic Park.”

His fenced grave in the Wards Cemetery——-

FATHER- CLARENCE C. BIRKS- 1897-1961- “WATCHMAN 1958-1961”

1964- on September 12, 1964, a formal Dedication Ceremony was held at Bodie, Mono County, to establish Bodie as an “official California historical Landmark——Bodie State Historic Park (Elevation 8375)