[Backpacker Joe]

Whenever I go to Europe I like to visit cemeteries. You get a different perspective there. You see graves market well over a thousand years. There was one in Sweden that was marked 730 AD. Some pretty cool stuff. TB

[Timber Cruiser]

I pass by this site occasionally, but didn't give it any thought until I saw mpaul_hansen's post. How bizarre! I wonder if it's been on Ripley's?

Willie Keil Grave Site

[Lagerman]

[Timber Cruiser]

[Lagerman]

Nod, take that road past the cemetary and you drop back off onto the Golf Course highway. I remeber that sign now.

[blue_tuberosa]

I love cemeteries too. The Roslyn cemeteries were mentioned earlier in this thread, but I'll tell you more about them anyway.

There are about 23 of them grouped by ethnicity, fraternal lodges, etc. We even have a Druid section. There are a few cool graves that are isolated out in the woods. They can be a little spooky to happen upon. One of my favorite sections of the cemetery is owned by the now defunct Sokol Lodge... it was formed in the late 1800's and was based on 'patriotism and athletic skills'. There are only three graves there, although the section could accommodate many more. I guess they thought that the lodge would be in existence for a little longer than it was. My favorite section is called "Old City" and it was the first cemetery in town. Lots of mature Ponderosas growing up around the graves that are circled by iron fences. The trees growth over the years has made all the graves sit a little askew. There is also a cemetery in the woods outside of Ronald, but I've never been there. You can't find directions or information about it. Only the older locals know where it is. If you are ever on Kaui, there is a super-cool old cemetery near Kaloa Town. If you go to the very back of the cemetery - it looks like it's the end of the property, but it's not. It continues into a very old section that people don't really take care of anymore... it's getting taken over by tropical vines, etc. It's a very wild place with beautiful & interesting old graves intermingled with the growth. If I get a chance I'll scan some photos for ya'll.

[polecatjoe]

The Geanealogy.com website has a thing called "The virtual cemetery", where people have posted photos and inscriptions of headstones around the country. It's a free search, unlike most of their stuff, and you can contribute your own, too. Pretty cool idea; I have contributed 6 or 7 myself. Virtual Cemetery

[Markus]

It was the late summer of 2003 and my wife (8 months pregnant at the time) and I were wandering around the cemetary in Cashmere. I love old cemetaries and headstones and as I'd come across an interesting name I would say to my wife: "Hey, what do you think about the name _____?". She would wrinkle her nose and shake her head no. This exchange went on and on and I must've suggested 7 or 8 names for our soon to be born son and each one was dismissed. I finally commented: "We're never going to agree on a name, are we?". On hearing this, she strode right over to me and through gritted teeth and a hushed voice said "I am not giving our child a name we find off of a headstone... it's bad luck."

[Skinem]

I know this is an incredibly old thread, but I just found this site and have been browsing. (I love what I see here!) Figured many of you who said you were interested in cemetaries still are and thought some of you may be interested in the following website. You can actually browse many Washington (and many other states) cemetaries for history, location, and, ahem, inhabitants. Hope it's of some use. http://www.interment.net/Default.htm

[salish]

Great link Skinem, thanks. I visited the St. Mary's Mission in the Bitterroot Valley last week. near Stevensville, MT. http://www.saintmarysmission.org/history.html

The mission figures prominently in my roots since my ancestors worked to bring the Blackrobes to Montana. The mission has been restored and is beautiful, with a nice cemetery. None of my ancestors have markers and they're buried in common and/or mass graves in the back of the cemetery. It's kind of unsettling, but our tribe placed a large marker with some of the names of the people buried there. It was nice to see. Cliff

[Quark]

Great website, Skin. Beautiful pics and story, Salish. I missed the above post re: the grave of Willie Keil. I stopped and visited that when I went to the Oregon coast a few years ago. Outside of Pe Ell, I think.

[Ski]

Along Washington SR105 between Tokeland and North Cove there is a small fenced cemetary, regularly maintained by the local residents. It is not in its original location- it was moved to the present site years ago. It is right along the highway, directly opposite of what's now known as "washaway beach". It's worth a look if you're in the area and have a half hour or so to read some of the inscriptions on the ancient headstones. Right across the highway is the beach. Most times I've stopped there I've watched flocks of brown pelicans above the surf. Worth stopping and looking if you're in that area.