T H U R S D A Y, O C T O B E R 17, 2 0 1 9
Mark your
calendars
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Thursday, Oct. 17:
Todd Hamilton, Springfi eld School
District Superintendent ,speaks at
a Springfi eld City Club from 12-1
p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn.
Program is free for members, $5
for nonmembers. Lunch available
for $13.
Saturday, Oct. 19:
Springstitch: Create an Altoid
tin nicho, 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the
Springfield Public Librar y
Conference Room
Sunday, Oct. 20:
Womenspace 5K Wonder Run 2019:
Domestic Violence Awareness
Walk. 11 a.m. at Alton Baker Park,
100 Day Island Road, Eugene.
Come dressed as your favorite
hero. Run, walk or stroll. Prizes
will be awarded for best costume
and best team costumes.
Monday, Oct. 21:
City Council Regular Session, 7
p.m., Springfi eld City Hall
Pioneer Memorial Cemetery Park, a public park containing the remains of early residents of Springfi eld. Elias Briggs founded and
named Springfi eld in 1848. He delivered the cemetery deed to trustees on Oct. 31, 1866. Briggs died in an insane asylum, Oregon
State Hospital, on Jan. 17, 1896, though he is likely not buried at the park, but instead on the hospital grounds. VICTORIA STEPHENS/
THE CHRONICLE
Pioneer is oldest, creepiest park in county
BY VICTORIA STEPHENS
THE CHRONICLE
Monday, Oct. 21:
Women in Tech Week Kickoff
Party, Oregon Wine LAB, 5:30-7
p.m., 488 Lincoln St., Eugene. A
free, informal social for women
of all ages who are in or are inter-
ested in developing a technology
career.
Thursday, Oct. 24:
Cornucopia Restaurant’s grand
opening in Springfield, 521
Main St.
SPRINGFIELD – For being
the oldest cemetery in Lane
County, the file on Pioneer
Memorial Cemetery Park is nota-
bly thin.
Aside from a few old newspa-
per articles, a page in a book-
let and a plaque at the park’s
entrance, information on this
park at 398 S. C St. is scarce, said
Jennifer Marsh, Willamalane’s
adult programming and living
history coordinator.
Is Pioneer Memorial Cemetery
Park a cemetery or a park?
Uniquely, it is both, and through
a piecemeal of information, the
story goes something like this:
* * * * * *
The cemetery land was in use
as early as 1852 and was used for
burial purposes until 1900.
Elias Briggs – who founded
and named Springfield in 1848 –
and his wife, Mary, delivered the
cemetery deed to trustees Harvey
Small, Edwin Powers and T. J.
Brattain on Oct. 31, 1866.
The first Christian church in
town was originally built on a
portion of the cemetery lot, but
was later moved to 4th and North
A streets – the current location
of the PublicHouse. After the
church was relocated, the trust-
ees sold the cemetery land to
Mattie A. Chezem in 1907.
On April 1, 1913 the land was
See PIONEER – 15
Helping other businesses succeed is his business
BY VICTORIA STEPHENS
THE CHRONICLE
SPRINGFIELD – And just like that, Springfi eld has
its own award-winning industry leader.
Seth Gruschow, owner of Togather Restaurant
Consulting at 116 S. 4th St. said he was surprised to
learn they were selected as the 2019 Allied Partner of the
Year by the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association.
His business: Helping other businesses in the restau-
rant industry succeed. Togather offers services to help
new companies with start-up, turning around struggling
businesses, training staff, marketing, menu creation and
evaluations.
Although Togather works throughout the Northwest,
locally the company has assisted several restaurants,
including Jasper’s Tavern and Cornbread Cafe in
Springfi eld, as well as Veg in Eugene.
See HELPING – 14
Seth Gruschow, owner of Togather Restaurant Consulting and Springfi eld
Coworking. PHOTOS PROVIDED/TOGATHER
OPEN:
Tuesday to Saturday
licious
De Weekly
Specials
&
Craft
Cocktails
11 am - 9 pm
338 Main St.
Springfield