cemetery for classes. Johan
nessen says he sent an introduc
tory geography class into the
graveyard, “to realize the pro
blems of recording the distribu
tion of vegetation.”
In addition, the cemetery’s
tall firs, oak trees, holly bushes
and shrubs combine to provide
an unusally dense patch of
greenery for a city, a patch that
provides a good bird habitat,
Murphy says.
People attracted to the
cemetery by its abundant plant
life can thank one of the
graveyard’s residents.
According to a report on file
in the University archives, a
Eugene nurseryman, Captain
W.S. Moon, planted
“numerous species of imported
trees and shrubs” in the
cemetery in an attempt to im
prove its appearance.
Moon, a veteran of the
Spanish-American war, now
lies at rest in a special section of
the graveyard that was added
after 1898 and is devoted to
those war veterans.
Ironically, Moon’s contribu
tion of plants that was intended
to enhance the cemetery has ac
tually combined with other fac
tors to produce a century-old
controversy that was last
spotlighted in 1970.
The radical differences in size
and shape of the tombstones
and monuments, the irregular
shape of the terrain, and Moon’s
aesthetic eye that led him to
plant in a less-than-orderly
fashion have made the cemetery
difficult to maintain.
Most of the work must be
done by hand and that has
presented problems, particular
ly in recent history, according
to the archive’s report. Ben Dor
ris, who was president of the
Odd Fellows Cemetery Associa
tion from 1947 to 1954, once
said, “When we lost the last
man that could use a scythe we
had to quit all that work around
in there.”
But it has not been just in re
cent years that the cemetery has
been criticized for its wild-like
growth and poor upkeep. Ac
cording to the report in the ar
chives, in 1884 the University
The University’s friend and neighbor
v»v , *v
Overgrown plots and the haphazard planting of varied flora have contributed to the controversy
that has historically surrounded the Pioneer Cemetery.
referred to it as “an eyesore and
solely of nuisance value” and
"considered plans for its
removal.”
Part of the problem of
maintenance centers cn who is
responsible for ensuring that
the area does not become a
veritable jungle.
Originally, the lot owners
were charged with caring for
the cemetery, and no provision
was made for maintenance
should they falter. Lifestyles be
ing what they were in the 19th
century, such an arrangement
seemed perfectly normal. After
all, if the person who owned the
plot died and was buried, cer
tainly his or her survivors
would maintain the site.
However, as times changed
and families spread out, the
situation became as it now is: a
graveyard wherein many of the
occupants are responsible for
their gravesite’s upkeep.
Actually, a modicum of
maintenance is performed by an
association formed by the lot
owners. The group, which was
titled the Eugene Pioneer
Cemetery Association when it
broke away from the Odd
Fellows in 1956, contributes to
mowing and weeding the
cemetery up to four times a year
but purposely avoids the well
trimmed look of modern burial
sites.
Meanwhile, the Pioneer
Memorial Park Association, the
second such organization to
have that name, owns the
streets and alleys and acts as
trustee, authorizing and recor
ding all burials.
The two associations, under
one name or another, have
figured prominently in several
power struggles throughout this
century. Control and use of the
land has been a controversial
and legal hot potato, and the
present status has been in effect
since an Oregon State Supreme
Court ruling in July of 1961.
That ruling was a reversal of a
lower court’s decision and just
part of the courtroom activity
concerning the cemetery, and
was hardly the end of the strug
gle for ownership of the
graveyard.
Apparently, the University
has spent a great deal of time
and effort attempting to gain
possession of the cemetery for
purposes of expansion. Three
legislative bills, in 1959, 1961,
and 1969, have been introduced
in the Oregon legislature calling
for condemnation of the
cemetery and its takeover by the
University.
Also, the Eugene Pioneer
Story and photc
Cemetery Association charged
the Pioneer Memorial Park
Association of having been
founded with the purpose of en
suring the University would ob
tain title to the property and
subsequently destroy it as a
burial ground. In June of I960,
the court found those claims to
be valid.
According to newspaper ac
counts of the events surroun
ding each attempted takeover,
there have been several pro
posals for what the University
could do with the land. Perhaps
the most intriguing suggestion
was offered by State Rep. Ed
Elder.
He suggested a raised com
plex, sitting as if on stilts, above
the cemetery. The graveyard
would remain intact with
buildings accessible by connec
ting walkways.
University efforts to obtain
the land were sparked by a fear
of running out of space. Follow
ing World War II, the Univer
sity’s enrollment grew so rapid
ly it appeared it would exceed
the facilities.
Some projections called for
enrollment to eventually ap
proach 30,000, and benefactors
of the University began
scrambling. However, the fran
tic search for space was reduced
as enrollment leveled and it
does not appear the University
will serve that many students.
The leveling-off of enrollment
coupled with public outcry over
losing the cemetery apparently
has tempered the University’s
desire for the land.
In February of 1970, Universi
ty Pres. Robert Clark said, “I
shall not make any effort to ac
quire the property for the
University during my tenure.”
Such sentiments prevail to
day, says Muriel K. Jackson,
assistant to the vice president of
administration. “I believe the
matter was set to rest at that
time (1970),” she says, and
“the cemetery is considered a
close friend of the University.”
The University should feel
honored to have such a strong
and versatile friend.
is by Jim Moore
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