SALEM, Ore. — The Oregon Commission on Historic Cemeteries (OCHC) has awarded $62,500 in grants to support preservation and maintenance projects at 14 historic cemeteries across Oregon.
The funding, distributed through the Historic Cemeteries Grant Program, will help finance a variety of projects including marker repairs, tree maintenance, cemetery surveys, security improvements, road repairs, and ground-penetrating radar work. Individual grants ranged from $603 to $8,000.
Among the projects receiving funding are a fence installation at Blue Mountain Cemetery in Baker County, marker repairs at several cemeteries in Marion, Linn, and Jackson counties, and tree maintenance work at cemeteries in Multnomah, Polk, and Jackson counties.
Additional grants will support a complete ground-penetrating radar survey at Camp Polk Cemetery in Deschutes County, a full cemetery survey at Allegany Historic Cemetery in Coos County, security lighting installation at Mount Union Cemetery in Benton County, and gravel road repairs at Powers Cemetery in Coos County.
Historic cemeteries eligible for the grant program must be documented by the OCHC and include at least one burial of a person who died 75 years or more before the current date.
The Historic Cemeteries Grant Program is administered annually by the OCHC, which operates as part of the Oregon Heritage Program within the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. Funding for the program comes from Oregon Lottery proceeds and other sources.
The OCHC maintains a statewide inventory of pioneer and historic cemeteries and works to help individuals and organizations document, preserve, and promote these historic sites. The commission is composed of seven appointed members.
Funded projects include:
- Fence installation at Blue Mountain Cemetery in Baker County.
- Marker repairs at Eastwood IOOF Cemetery in Medford, Fairview Cemetery, Riverside Cemetery, Sandridge Cemetery in Linn County, and St. Boniface Cemetery and Twin Oaks Cemetery in Marion County.
- Tree care at Bridal Veil Cemetery in Multnomah County, Burch Pioneer Cemetery in Polk County, and Missouri Flat Cemetery in Jackson County.
- Ground-penetrating radar work at Camp Polk Cemetery in Deschutes County.
- A complete cemetery survey at Allegany Historic Cemetery in Coos County.
- Security lighting installation at Mount Union Cemetery in Benton County.
- Gravel road repairs at Powers Cemetery in Coos County.
More information about the Historic Cemeteries Grant Program and the Oregon Commission on Historic Cemeteries is available through the Oregon Heritage Program.
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