Illinois Valley news., January 28, 2015, Page 8, Image 8

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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Laurel Hill Cemetery: A brief history
By
Cilicia Philemon
IVN Contributing Writer
Older than the city of Cave Junction, Laurel Hill Cemetery
held its first burial in 1862. The family of little Henrietta Ann
Hendershott chose the site for her grave on a little knoll. She
was buried Nov. 10, 1862. She was only one year, one month
and four days old when she died. There was no road from Waldo
to Crescent City at that time. A trail for pack trains of mules
was the only existing option for coming and going out of the
Valley. Grants Pass was yet to be built and Cave Junction was
built much later after this cemetery was begun.
This pioneer era cemetery, tucked away on a back road
outside the town of Cave Junction, contains over 700 named
gravesites and 100 unknown ones and is the largest cemetery
in rural Josephine County. Some local families have several
generations buried there. It is unique in that while it is historic, it
is still in use for burials.
Oct. 28, 1947, a deed was given to the Laurel Hill
Association for 10 acres. Since that time more land has been
added and there is plenty of room for the future.
The Laurel Chapel was started in April 1968; the purpose
of which was to provide shelter during inclement weather for
family and friends during grave side burials. This has proven to
be a beneficial and appreciated addition.
It is recorded that in the year 1881 John M. Lewis, then
County Treasurer of Multnomah County, Portland, hoped the
name of the cemetery would be called Laurel Hill Cemetery.
In August 1947, a group of people came together to organize a
nonprofit cemetery association for the improvement and upkeep
of the grounds, as well as to set up permanent records of all
Guest opinion: by Audrey Moore
This morning Ferguson crossed
my mind. Most are now familiar
with the protests over the deaths of
black men and children across this
nation. From Ferguson to Seattle to
Los Angeles people are speaking
out, initiating civil disobedience and
die-ins.
What I found most perplexing
is why are we not seeing similar
protests over the death of our planet?
Knowing earth is being raped,
scraped and murdered, where are the
people? How is it they’re not in the
streets calling out the murderers by
name and protesting their actions?
At what point do the people who
live on this planet say enough is
enough and at least amass in protest,
and not just occasionally when the
likes of 350.Org calls for a rally.
One would think every single day
there would be thousands of people
in the streets protesting the death of
life on earth. Especially the younger
generations, whose future is literally
being decimated at the hands of
the transnational petrochemical
industry.
Although I personally believe
they are pre-occupied on purpose.
When you consider their parents,
who have been walking this planet
while the destruction has been
taking place, find time to do little
to nothing to stop the harm, what
hope could their children then find in
taking to the streets? Do they protest
their excuse ridden parents for not
protecting their future? Or do they
protest those doing the actual harm,
or both? A true paradox! Hence, they
stayed tuned out, seeking remedy
through whatever means available,
which in essence is staying numb
to a reality that if not bleak is in all
probability terrifying.
The question for their parents,
grandparents and all who surely must
realize our planet is in serious troubles
is this: what are you thinking? What
excuses are you manufacturing to
ignore the obvious? What rationales
do you muster to validate ignoring
the annihilation of our home? What
crosses your mind when you look
into the eyes of your children, or
when you’re enjoying a sunset, or
partaking of earth’s bounty?
When I retired it never occurred
to me I would face the death of the
planet I’ve been in love with since
childhood. From her rivers and
streams, to her woods and fields, to
her critters and beings, I never once
fathomed that life on earth could
ever be in jeopardy on my watch.
The irony being the places I ventured
and enjoyed as a child are all now
gone, either plowed under or over by
modern “development”. One thing I
certainly never fathomed was that my
own species would be responsible for
the slaughter of all I hold dear. And it
certainly never occurred to me until
realizing what was taking place that
it would be our human complacency
that is equally responsible. No, we
are not the ones polluting our rivers,
air and soil, killing our oceans,
devastating the last remaining forests
and prairies, or forcing 200 species
into extinction each and every day.
Yet our complacency has allowed
this carnage to take place, even with
an “environmental movement”. The
reality is, all living systems on earth
are now in decline, 50 years after
its creation. The mind attempts to
grapple with how that is possible?
Yet look around you. Look at what
the “environmental” groups are
actually accomplishing, as in little to
nothing. The proof is in the pudding
or rather the destruction earth faces
at every turn.
No, it’s not just the transnational
petrochemical industry responsible
for the extermination of life on earth;
it is the void, the silence, the lack of
resistance from those in the know. All
who choose for whatever rationale or
reason to make excuses for not doing
all in their power to protect what they
love; be it their children, their family
or our planet; bleeding before them,
in desperate need of all the help we
can muster.
When does earth warrant a die-
in? When does she warrant a funeral
for all that has been lost? When
does earth warrant a movement, of
resistance that begins and does not
end until the death and destruction
does?
burials, dates and names. The cemetery had held many names
throughout the intervening years, but the name decided upon
was Laurel Cemetery Association. No one at that time knew of
the suggestion made so many years before by John M. Lewis.
In the year 1955 a wrought iron sign was placed over the
entry roadway which read Laurel Cemetery. Also that year an
appropriate marker of native marble was placed on the oldest
grave in the cemetery that of Henrietta Ann Hendershott, 1862.
The Laurel Cemetery Association would like the general
public to know that all of those who own lots or has some one
buried in Laurel Cemetery is a member of the Association and
has the right to attend the annual meeting, to elect the officers,
and vote on any business of the Association at that meeting.
Siskiyou gets a new fence
(Courtesy photo for The Illinois Valley News)
On Saturday, nine SFI volunteers & employees,
along with 15 BLM employees from the Grants Pass
Resource Area, built a 700 foot rustic pole fence on the
joint properties to stop unauthorized ATV tresspass
that has been causing damage to botanically-sensitive
serpentine meadow habitat, especially in the Eight Dol-
lar Mountain Area of Critical Environmental Concern
(ACEC). It was paid for by a Title II grant. Thank you
to BLM’s Rachel Showalter for getting the materials
ordered, delivered and organizing her colleagues.
Seasons n time
S at u r day , F e b r ua ry 7
11 a m - 3 p m
W e are making V alentine ’ s D ay C arDs !
C ost is $5 whiCh inCludes materials and assistanCe for your own 7
personal designs that Can be remade and ConstruCted for years to
Come !
C hildren ages 5 and over are welCome with an adult .
r efreshments will be provided with drinks available for purChase .
Instructor: Lisa Sherier
541-761-4342
• Monday • Wednesday •
• Thursday •
6:00 PM
$5.00 for Drop-in
$40.00 a Month
770 Caves Hwy • Cave Junction
For more Information Call 541-592-5373

24342-B Redwood Hwy, KeRBy • nexT To KeRBymaRT
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9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
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$160
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H&R Block
210 W. Lister St.
Cave Junction
592-3667
Ted Crocker, LTC
Bob Litak, LTC
Licensed Tax Consultants B14914
FOR
PPOINTMENT
C ALL TO SIGN - UP OR
FOR MORE INFORMATION .
541-592-4367
Saturday, February 21
0235
10AM - 2PM AT 319 C AVES H IGHWAy
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