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Archiver > PSRoots > 1998-10 > 0909554478


From: John Wm Sloniker <>
Subject: Re: Snohomish City can build on Cemetery
Date: Tue, 27 Oct 1998 22:01:18 -0800 (PST)


On Tue, 27 Oct 1998, John Wm Sloniker wrote:

---------- Forwarded message ----------
City can build over old cemetery
Judge orders remains moved for youth center

By PAM McGAFFIN
Herald Writer

Tuesday, October 27, 1998

SNOHOMISH -- The city of Snohomish should be permitted to remove and
relocate human remains at an old cemetery where it wants to build a
youth center, a judge decided Monday.
<snip>

The controversy surrounds Snohomish County's first cemetery and the
final resting place for about 300 pioneers and Indians. The last
documented burial at the site was of an Indian woman, Pilchuck Julia,
in 1923.

In 1947, the cemetery was split by the construction of Highway 2,
now Second Street. Prior to building the road, the state highway
department had at least 111 sets of remains removed and reinterred at
the G.A.R. Cemetery west of town.

Over the next 40 years, volunteers periodically cleaned up the
cemetery, but it was vandalized, fell into disrepair and became
overgrown.

The poor condition of the cemetery was key to Judge French's ruling.
"The sanctity, respect and dignity to which the deceased are rightly
entitled have been lost and forgotten long ago," he wrote.

"Too much time has passed and too much neglect has occurred for this
Court to conclude the interests of the deceased are better served by
allowing them to remain in their present location."
<snip>

You can contact Herald writer Pam McGaffin
by e-mail at:
or by phone at 425-339-3429
//////////////// END ////////////////////

That lack of care is the key to the problem.

I have an idea that will work in any of the U.S. States, though it will
take some planning & preparation.

Find the local small cemeteries in your areas that are no longer active
and get the title transferred to an entity or established group that has
an interest in local history, with restrictions on future use included
in the title transfer. With proper restrictions a tax emption should be
possible on the land so that a non-profit Historical group can do it.

For research, check the history of Woodland Park in Seattle. That land
was deeded with restrictions of park use only, not to be devided.

Didn't work. Well, almost. Seattle & WA state wanted to build a high-
way right through the center, and got their way for US-99 However, the
compromise was connecting bridges, above the highway so that many don't
notice when using the park. They didn't have grave sites to deal with.

Today we have new laws in Washington state that require the "active" in
use cemeteries to have a Perpetual Care plan in effect to keep them the
way they are now "forever". At least that's the plan.

For those that don't have such a plan, new burials aren't allowed. The
new law allows for inactive cemeteries to become active with the porper
Perpetual Care plan in place. There are also provisions for Historical
cemeteries, but they must be recorded as such. Planning & paperwork.

Hopefully this will provide some ideas for others that know about a few
neglected cemeteries. Give it a try.

John

*====*====*====*====*====*====*====*====*====*====*====*====*====*
# John Wm Sloniker <> Seattle, WA #
# (206) 789-6663 7323 - 19th Ave NW 98117-5612 #
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