Cieneguitas Cemetery, burial site of many Civil War Veterans of Company C, Native California Battalion from Santa Barbara

On Saturday, March 31,2012, local history buffs and preservationists from around Santa Barbara County teamed up with the Civil War Preservation Trust to help clean and restore Cieneguitas Cemetery on Hollister Avenue as part of Civil War Preservation Trust's Park Day. Some of the weeds at the cemetery had already
been cut by the Catholic church’s annual mowing operation, and the volunteers did additional maintenance, mowing, hoeing, raking and bagging. Joining in the Park Day cleanup were members of the Sons of Union Veterans--Sherman Camp 28, Santa Barbara Civil War Roundtable members, Daughters of Union Veterans --Laura Belle Stoddard Tent #22 members, Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society members, and particularly the E.Clampus Vitus members, who were responsible for having resurrected the site several years ago.
The Cieneguitas Cemetery is the burial site of many Civil War Veterans of Company C, Native California Battalion from Santa Barbara. The cemetery was closed with the last burial that occurred in 1896 when the new Calvary Cemetery on Hope Avenue opened.


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Photo credit: Sue Cook 

Spring is Genealogy Seminar Time

While trees are budding and blooming all over the south coast, the Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society will present our Annual Spring Genealogy Seminar aimed at solving your genealogy mysteries. For those who would like to find the answers to their family history questions this seminar is a must attend event.  Titled “Solve Your Genealogy Mysteries – Think Like a Detective” and geared to beginners and experts alike, it promises to help researchers discover and organize the hidden clues and evidence hiding in their family tree.

This year’s Annual Spring Seminar takes place on Saturday, April 28^th, 2012 at the Goleta Valley Presbyterian Church, 6067 Shirrell Way, Goleta CA.  Doors open at 7:45am and the program starts at 9:00am.

The seminar features nationally known lecturer and creator of “Casefile Clues”, Michael John Neill, who will present four mystery solving topics including:

Elementary My Dear Watson – Problem solving for Genealogists utilizing George Polya’s problem solving process.

Cold Case File – Learn how to deal with hitting the “brick wall”.

The Unwritten Laws – Learn how to view the unwritten reasons underlying the existence of many commonly used documents.

Using the Crime Board – How to organize your genealogy searches CSI style.

An additional track focusing on beginning genealogy is also available including:

            The Investigation Starts Here and Data Detectives – Beginning Computer Knowledge for Genealogists

Cost for this fun and exciting seminar is only $30 for members and $40 for non-members in advance ($35 and $45 respectively after April 16). You are encouraged to make your reservations early!