EMAIL CONTACT:

cemetery@ci.quartzsite.az.us

HI JOLLY CEMETERY

The cemetery is operated and maintained by the Town of Quartzsite for the purposes of providing a cemetery, historic site and park.  The Hi Jolly monument is in the pioneer section of the cemetery where Quartzsite’s pioneer families were and are laid to rest.  There is a new section to the cemetery also for those who chose to be interred in Quartzsite.  The cemetery sits at the west end of Town and has a wonderful desert vista in every direction.  There are mountain ranges and foothills to be seen from every viewpoint.  The Town is committed to beautifying the cemetery and preserving this historic site.

HISTORY

Hi Jolly wasn’t his name.  The famed camel driver was born Philip Tedro, a Greek born in Syria.  He converted to Islam and made a pilgrimage to Mecca, hence his first name, Hadji Ali.  The American version of that became Hi Jolly.  It was also a better name for a camel driver, which is what he was when he first came to this country as part of a U.S. Cavalry experiment in the 1850′s.  He is by far the most colorful of the camel drivers because he remained in the desert southwest and became a prospector, scout and was a courier for what was called the Jackass Mail.  He was a packer, hauling freight in the area also.  Hi Jolly died in December of 1902, in what in now known as Quartzsite, Arizona.  In his day the town was called Tyson’s Well, but the history does not stop there.  In 1934 the Arizona Department of Transportation erected a monument over his grave.  His grave became the beginning of the pioneer cemetery.  The monument is a favorite of visitors to Arizona.  Click here for more information on Philip Tedro.

CEMETERY POLICIES

• This cemetery is for the purpose of interment of human remains or the memorial of same
• No transfer or conveyance of any interest or rights shall be valid without the written consent of the Town of Quartzsite.
• No monument or memorial tablet constructed of materials other than either bronze or stone shall be used without the written consent of the Town
• All grading, plantings, interment, disinterment, openings and closings shall be performed by the Town.
• The Town, at the expense of the grantee shall repair or remove any monuments or other memorial which is improper or offensive, or which has become dangerous or dilapidated and may remove any tree, flower and plant or other object or embellishment that becomes dangerous or unsightly.
• A provision will be made for burials of indigent as is customary, free of cost.
• The Town shall not be liable for loss or damage caused by an act of God, thieves, vandals, malicious mischief or unavoidable accidents.
• The purchaser of a plot(s) in the cemetery agrees that the Town may conduct any activity either within or without of the purchasers boundaries, which is incidental or convenient to either the care or memorializing of the human remains.
• All the above restrictions, rules and regulations listed are binding on the purchaser, heirs, administrators and assigns.
• Nothing herein contained shall restrict the Town in its use of any other portion of the cemetery than that conveyed to the purchaser, in accordance with the purpose of cemetery, park and historic site, as stated.

CEMETERY FEES

$250.00 Grave site (1 Plot)

$250.00 Opening and closing cost

$75.00 Opening and closing cost for cremation

Special assessment

weekend & holiday opening and closing.

 Town of Quartzsite Visitors Guide 

!!! VENDORS & SHOPPERS WELCOME !!!

2010 – 2011 SHOW SCHEDULE

8TH ANNUAL “IT’S CHILI IN QUARTZSITE” CHILI COOK-OFF & STATE SALSA CHAMPIONSHIP

February 26, 2011

Quartzsite Business Chamber – 928-927-9321
www.quartzsitebusinesschamber.com

CHRISTMAS LIGHT PARADE

December 4th, 2010 7:00 p.m

www.quartzsitebusinesschamber.com

HI JOLLY DAZE PARADE

TBA

THE MAIN EVENT

January 8 – January 23, 2011

General swapmeeting/rocks/gems/arts/crafts/Hit & Miss Engine Show/food concessions

928-927-5213 or mainevent@rraz.net

TYSON WELLS ROCK/GEM/MINERAL SHOW

January 7 – January 16, 2011

TYSON WELLS SELL-A-RAMA

January 21 – January 30, 2011

TYSON WELLS MARKET SQUARE

October 1, 2010 - March 30, 2011

TYSON WELLS ARTS & CRAFTS FAIR

February 4 – February 13, 2011

928-927-6364 or www.tysonwells.com

QUARTZSITE SPORTS, VACATION & RV SHOW

January 22 – January 30, 2011

ROCK & ROLL CLASSIC CAR SHOW

February 5 - February 6, 2011

HOBBY, CRAFT & GEM SHOW

February 2 - February 6, 2011

800-969-5464 or www.quartzsitervshow.com

45th ANNUAL POW WOW

January 2011

928-927-6325

PROSPECTORS PANORAMA

November 1, 2010 – February 28, 2011

928-927-6467

DESERT GARDENS INTERNATIONAL ROCK, GEM & MINERAL SHOW

January 1 – February 28, 2011

928-927-6361  www.desertgardensrvpark.net

dggemshow@ureach.com

RICE RANCH “YAWL COME” SHOW

November 1, 2010 – February 28, 2011

www.riceranch.biz or 928-927-8118

QUARTZSITE MARKET PLACE

November 1, 2010 – February 28, 2011

714-847-5074

5TH ANNUAL WILLPOWER/PAWPOWER ATV PARADE

TBA

SEASONAL SWAPMEETING

Hi Ali Swapmeet 928-927-6791

Jenn’s Place 928-927-6605

Greaswood Park N Sell 760-922-6322

Quartzsite Traditional Swapmeet 928-927-7792

Liquidator Depot 928-927-5505

Good Ground West 631-835-9704

Sam’s Swapmeet 928-927-5213

Quartzsite is west of Phoenix at the junction of Interstate 10 and US 95, near the Colorado River.  The community has a Sonoran Desert setting.  The nearby Kofa, New Water and Plomosa Mountains provide topographic relief while the Colorado River lies only 17 miles to the west.  Quartzsite was established in 1867 on the site of old Fort Tyson, a privately built structure constructed in 1856 by Charles Tyson for protection against Indian raids. Named Quartzsite because quartz was occasionally found in the area, the name evolved to Quartzsite through an error in spelling. The Town is currently is 130 sq. miles.

Basic Information

• Founded:    1867
• Incorporated: 1989
• Elevation: 870
• Located in La Paz County
• Nearby Highways: Hwy I-10, US 95, SR95

Distance to major cities:

• Phoenix: 125 mi
• Tucson: 296 mi
• Yuma: 80 mi
• Palm Springs: 129 mi

Tourism is the major contributor to Quartzsite’s economy.  The retail trade and services sectors benefit from the visitors who reside at the numerous (ore than 70) mobile home parks in the vicinity between October and March.  Nine major gem, mineral, and 15 general swap-meeting shows are popular tourist attractions, attracting approximately 1.5 million people annually.

A rock hunter’s paradise surrounds Quartzsite with agates, limonite cubes, gold and quartz being just a few.  In town, the Hi Jolly Monument honors the Greek & Syrian camel driver Hadji Ali, who took part in an unsuccessful 1850′s U.S. War Department attempt to use camels as beasts of burden in the desert. To the south rise the Kofa Mountains. Historic and scenic areas include the Spanish Wall, Crystal Hill, Tyson Tanks, and Tyson Wells Museum.  South in the Kofa Mountains is Palm Canyon, a tight gorge and home of Arizona’s only native palms, reached by a steep but rewarding climb.  Farther south is Castle Dome peak.  There are many points of interest including historical sites, day trips and many off road ATV trails.

Community Facilities

Quartzsite offers a broad range of community facilities including an 80-acre town park with water-feature and skateboard park, ball field, volleyball and basketball, playgrounds, horse-shoe pits, and remote control flying site; Celia’s Rainbow Gardens, a senior citizens hall, recreation centers, a public library and museum, one 27-hole par 3 desert golf course.  The Quartzsite sewer and water system is in the process of being upgraded on an on-going basis.

Educational Institutions Public Private

Elementary                                    Y                        N

High School                                   Y                        N

Financial

Number of Banks:  1

Government

Quartzsite Fire District: Staffed Town/Local Fire Department

Law Enforcement: Town of Quartzsite Police Department

Medical

Quartzsite has three medical centers, year-round ambulance services, pharmacy and medevac heliport.

Hotel & Lodging

Number of Rooms: 72

Meeting Rooms:  4

Capacity of Largest Facility:  1,000

Utilities

Cable Internet Service Provider: No

Digital Switching Station: No

Internet Service Provider: Yes

Satellite: Yes

Fiber Optics: Yes

TAXES

Property Tax Rate

NOTE: Tax rate per $100 assessed valuation

Sales Tax 2006

City/Town        2.5%

County             1.0%

State                6.60%

Weather

For additional information contact:

Town of Quartzsite

PO Box 2812/465 N. Plymouth Ave.

Quartzsite, AZ  85346

928-927-4333