- 47°15' N 22°32' E, 259.3 miles NW of Bucureşti. Valea Chioarului is a commune composed of six villages: Curtuiuşu Mare, Duruşa, Fericea, Mesteacăn, Valea Chioarului and Vărai.
US Commission No. ROCE-0383
Alternate Hungarian name: Kovargara. Located in Maramures County at 47°26' 23°29', approximately 9 km from Somcuta Mare and 27.0 kilometers SSW of Baia Mare. In the middle of the town is the church, which was built about five or six years ago. About fifty meters up the road, in the direction of Baia Mare, is a smaller wooden church that is much older. From this vantagepoint, the cemetery is located up in the hills on the opposite side of the road. We entered the cemetery by crossing private property while accompanied by a local resident. It did not appear that there was any public path leading up to the cemetery. The best option would be to ask the present owner of the land, Mr. Gheorghe Blaga (also known as Gheorghica Manichi by local residents).
- LOCAL: Comunitatea Evreilor (Baia Mare), Str. Somesului Nr. 5, 4800 Baia Mare, Jud. Maramures, Romania. Tel: (40-62) 211-231.
- REGIONAL: Comunitatea Evreilor (Bucuresti), Str. Sf. Vineri 9-11, Bucuresti, Tel: (40-1) 157-441.
The cemetery in Valea Chioarului (Kovargara) is in a state of utter neglect and in desperate need of a caretaker. The site is located on the side of a very, very steep hill. Due to the prolific growth of trees; spiney, briar like vegetation and other forms of vines, approaching any of the four remaining stones is extremely challenging. Although the site is known to the Jewish Community of Baia Mare, it is not listed as ever having had a fence or a caretaker. Nevertheless, the three remaining stones are legible. It is quite possible that more stones have toppled over and remain hidden beneath the undergrowth. The present owner of the land is Gheorghe Blaga (known as Gheorghica Manichi to local residents).
Present cemetery size by on-site estimate is 96-sq. m. (8 by 12m). Four limestone flat-shaped, smoother and Hebrew-inscribed gravestones in cemetery, regardless of condition or position, all standing, but one is split right down the middle and has only the right half remaining! Stones have been removed from the cemetery. Vegetation is a constant problem, disturbing stones and graves and preventing access. Water drainage is not a problem. Properties adjacent to the cemetery are agricultural. Rarely, local residents visit. Uncontrolled access, vegetation, weather erosion, and vandalism all are very serious threats.
John DeMetrick and Christina Crowder, (formerly of Cluj, they have no further information) completed this survey on 22 April 2000 using a list of cemeteries known by the Jewish Community in Baia Mare. They visited the site on 13 April 2000 and interviewed local residents.