Remember the Everett Massacre. Mount Pleasant Cemetery holds stories of Seattle’s past. It is more than just a burial ground. It’s a chronicle of pioneers. It is a stage for tragedy and a final resting place for activists.
Mount Pleasant Cemetery began in 1879. The Odd Fellows purchased land from Nils Peterson. This marked the start of this cemetery on Queen Anne Hill. Over time, it grew. Other groups acquired sections. These included the Free Methodist Church and the Chinese Chong Wa Benevolent Society.
James W. Clise formed the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery Company in 1895. The Clise family managed it for years. In 1957, Neil Edwards bought the run-down cemetery. He revitalized it. His son, Bill Edwards, continues to operate it.
Here at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, you’re standing on forty acres. It holds over 60,000 graves. Many notable people are buried here. William and Sarah Bell were pioneers arriving in 1851. Bertha Pitts Campbell was a black social activist. Carlos Bulosan was a Filipino author. Elizabeth Cooper-Levi founded the Jewish Benevolent Society.
Tragedy marks this ground, too. The “Everett Massacre” labor martyrs rest here. Some ashes of Joe Hill, the I.W.W. songwriter, are scattered here. He was executed in Utah. His ashes were sent to fellow workers. In 1917, Wobblies scattered his ashes here.
Look around. Notice the older sections. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows established part of this cemetery in 1879. Congregation Chaveth Sholem created Seattle’s first Jewish cemetery here in 1890. The Hills of Eternity Jewish Cemetery is also nearby. It was established by Temple de Hirsch.
In 1979, a special section for Muslims was created. Graves face toward Mecca. This shows the cemetery’s respect for all cultures.
Consider the view. Mount Pleasant Cemetery commands an outstanding view. It overlooks the George Washington Memorial Bridge. You can see the Cascade Mountains. The grounds feature mature maple trees and evergreens.
Reflect on the lives remembered here. Sam Smith was a Seattle city councilman. Anna Herr Clise co-founded Children’s Orthopedic Hospital. Demitri Corahorgi was a Medal of Honor recipient. Orange Jacobs served as Seattle’s mayor.
Pause for a moment. Think about the unclaimed victims of the 1910 Wellington train disaster. A monument marks the graves of those who died in the S.S. Valencia maritime disaster. These markers are reminders of lives lost.
Mount Pleasant Cemetery is more than a cemetery. It is a place of history. It is a place of reflection. It’s a testament to Seattle’s diverse past.