[or-roots] Oregon Burial Site Guide/Oregon Cemetery Survey

[CKlooster at aol.com]

ODOT compiled and published the Oregon Cemetery Survey and Oregon Burial  
Site Guide.  I think one was done ca. 1979 and the second in the late  1980's.  
After seeing a copy for sale on-line for fifty dollars, my sister  called ODOT 
and found that they still sell the book.  She ordered one for  herself and one 
for me and I believe the cost was about $15.00.  I don't  have the book in 
front of me and don't recall the exact price.  It's a a  good book, as far as it 
goes.  The problem is that it doesn't go far  enough; it lists the more 
visible cemeteries but in a quick glance I found that  many small cemeteries that I 
know were not listed.
 
In seeking out those obscure rural burial sites, I've found two methods  that 
have been fairly successful.  The first is to find a small grocery or  post 
office in the area and ask if they know.  If they don't, ask who in  the area 
might know.  It sometimes takes a phone call or two, but long time  local 
residents know their own backyard.  The second is to seek out the  county 
surveyor's office or the county tax office.  The county surveyor's  office has maps 
that no other office has and they seem to know just about  everything.  The tax 
assessor's office also knows what land is used for  what purpose (which is a 
mixed blessing).  These methods work  best face-to-face.
 
Finding information about specific graves in cemeteries can also be a  
magical mystery tour.  Older well-established cemeteries usually had  sexton's 
records...a plat map or record book.  Many of those records still  exist, the 
problem is locating them.  One way is to look at those small  metal markers which 
are usually provided by a mortuary; often the name of  the mortuary is the only 
thing still visible.  Contact that mortuary.   Usually they can tell you who 
to contact about a specific cemetery.   Some mortuaries also have good records 
of individual burials including the next  of kin.  If the cemetery has a 
church affiliation or lodge (oddfellows;  masons, etc ) affiliation look for 
records in those places.  Cemetery plots  have been a saleable commodity since at 
least the late 1800's so records and  receipts were created for many 
plots...finding them is part of the  adventure!
 
Carla
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