For those with a penchant for history and a curiosity about the resting places of yesteryear, the Oregon Commission on Historic Cemeteries (OCHC) has got just the thing. They're holding a public meeting and resource presentation on July 18, and if graveyards tickle your fancy, there's a follow-up tour of the Hilgard Cemetery scheduled for the next morning. The living can convene at the Cook Memorial Library for a dive into the annals of Oregon's historic burial sites and discussions on the pressing matter of preservation.
According to the commission, the agenda will be jam-packed with topics like historical cemetery records and a recap of the 2023 historic cemetery grant projects. But it's not all talk – they're also offering a closer look into the funding and support available for heritage work, which encompasses the gamut from historic properties to museums. Interested participants can head on over to the commission's website to register for the online access information or to snatch a peek at the agenda.
The day following the discussion, OCHH commissioner Sarah Silbernagel leads an expedition to one of Oregon's historical touchstones, the Hilgard Cemetery. A mere 15-minute drive from the library is all it takes to step back in time to 1885 when Hilgard served as the final resting place for the community of a once thriving logging town. The tour promises a unique encounter with the state's pioneering past, and you can bank on Silbernagel to spill the beans on the town's founder, Henry Villard, a notable figure in Oregon's industrial history.
Now, don't let the moldy headstones fool you; the work of the OCHC is a critical connective tissue linking the past to the contemporary cultural landscape. This seven-member commission, ensconced by state law, is tasked with not just listing historic cemeteries but also drumming up public interest and securing both financial and technical means for rejuvenating these sanctuaries of heritage. Those wishing to glean more intel on their efforts or upcoming events can contact coordinator Kuri Gill at the undoubted nexus of historic cemetery happenings, via telephone or email.
