Yorba Linda History


Historic Documents

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close this bookThe "Pink Lady" Ghost Story
View the documentHaunting lady stands up a crowd of 200 admirers
by Gisela Meier,
Yorba Linda Star June 24 1978 page 2
View the documentAnybody see a Pink Lady?
by Susan Gaede,
Yorba Linda Star June 19 1980 page 1
View the documentPsychic witnesses: 'Crazies, Liars and those convinced'
by Dave Taylor,
Yorba Linda Star June 26 1980 page 1
View the documentGraveyard shift awaits date with 'Pink Lady': Will the Yorba Linda ghost stand them up again this year?
by Lance Ignon,
Yorba Linda Star June 11 1986 page 5
View the documentYou need an appointment to visit 'Pink Lady'
by Lance Ignon,
Yorba Linda Star June 18 1986 page 8
View the documentGhost story—Yorba Linda style
by Lance Ignon,
Yorba Linda Star December 3 1986 page 1
View the documentPink Lady fails to show
by Renee Wallace,
Yorba Linda Star June 23 1988 page 4
View the documentVigil for Pink Lady just a vapor of hope
by Renee Wallace,
Yorba Linda Star June 23 1988 page 12
View the document'Pink Lady' legend has roots in fact
by Bruce Bailey,
Yorba Linda Star June 14 1990 page 2
View the documentCity's sleeping spirit: Legendary Pink Lady hasn't appeared since sighted in the 1980's
by Eric Johnson,
Yorba Linda Star October 29 1998 page 1

Pink Lady fails to show

by Renee Wallace,
Yorba Linda Star June 23 1988 page 4   Open this page in a new window

The anniversary of the alleged biennial visit of the Pink Lady in the historic Yorba Cemetery came and went without any reported sightings of the phantom.

The ghost story, based on the death of Alvina De Los Reyes, has withstood time and various retellings, each adding a bit more information to the tale.

According to the legend, De Los Reyes and her husband were traveling Esperanza Road in the early morning hours on June 15 during the Great Depression. They were returning from a dance at Valencia High School and De Los Reyes was wearing a pink gown.

She was thrown from the coach hired for the evening and died.

She was buried in the Yorba Cemetery, one of the oldest in California.

De Los Reyes, in the form of a pink haze, believers claim, raises from her grave on June 15 of even-numbered years to look over the graves of her family members.

In past years, up to 300 people have waited at the cemetery at the appointed hour to try to catch a glimpse of the spector.

This year only two people visited the site at the traditional time, according to Mike Meniachi, the Orange County park ranger who oversees the site.

Meniachi was one of the people and a friend of his was the other.

Meniachi has worked at Yorba for three years and said he has never seen the Pink Lady.

However, the following night about a dozen folks waited and the gates of the cemetery, only to be told by Meniachi they had missed the date.

Meniachi said the cemetery has been locked for three years because of an increasing number of vandalism cases.

To arrange for a tour of the historic site, residents may call 637-6950.

PHOTO CAPTION:

Locked up: The gates of the Yorba Cemetery have been locked for three years to keep out vandals, who had been taking a toll on the historic site. Tours of the graveyard can be arranged by calling 637-6950.

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