Dallas Cemetery District No. 4

Money Request for Pioneer Cemetery Grant 2023

 The Dallas Cemetery District is asking for the Dallas community’s help to obtain a grant from the State of Oregon – Historic Cemetery Commission to complete much needed repairs to the Pioneer Section of Dallas Cemetery.

The Dallas (Pioneer) Cemetery began in 1847. Close by was the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Cemetery.In about 1951, a combination of these two old cemeteries was formed into the Dallas Cemetery District. It was formed for the purpose of maintaining the grounds (grass and landscaping) of the cemetery. Families of those buried in the cemetery are responsible to maintain the memorial stones. However, many families have either not had the money, died themselves, or moved out of Dallas. Volunteers have helped when they are available, but the neglect has caused a lot of damage and much is needed to be done to keep the stones upright, cleaned and repaired.

In 2021 the District did receive a grant to help repair the most decorative stones in the Pioneer Section that were in the most critical need of repair. That grant money in addition to donations from a few volunteers and some money from the District allowed us to hire the professional restoration company, Historic Preservation North West (HPNW). With that money we were able to repair and stand upright, 21 memorials. But, there is more to do…..

 The District has inventoried all of the Pioneer Section and had it evaluated for repairs.

Phase 1:  Has been completed.

Phase 2:  (Upright & Decorative (high priority stones) $4,325.              (Awarded for June 6, 2023)

Phase 3: (91 WPA stones) $4,750.

Phase 4: (Remainder of medium/low priority stones) $4,050. Totaling $8,800.

Why the Money is Needed

The weather, use of landscaping equipment and lack of families to care for their loved one’s memorial has taken a toll. Many memorial stones have fallen apart, are tipping, unlevel, or have sunk into the ground. Some of the taller decorative stones laying on the ground are still in need of raising and repair to be brought back to their original upright location.

There are approximately 91 cement block memorial stones that, in the 1930’s, replaced the existing disintegrating wooden crosses. Those cement stones were then engraved usually with a first initial and a last name. We identify those stones as “WPA” stones. Unemployed men during the Great Depression were hired by the US Government, Work Progress Administration to do special projects. Dallas Cemetery was one of those projects.  Even those WPA stones are now considered historical.  They too are disintegrating and sinking into the ground.

What Volunteers Have Accomplished

Volunteers have cleaned and repaired a lot of memorials over the last 3-4 years. But there is so much more to do, and volunteers are unable to do some of the repairs correctly. It takes special skills.

Until 2021, there was only limited information on who was buried in this section of the cemetery. With the help of volunteers, we have row maps and documentation on who is buried in the Pioneer Section. We also have an alphabetical listing of those we believe to be buried there, but they may not have a stone, or the stone has been buried. Volunteers have also tried to find valuable historical information and relationships on each person buried. That volunteer information has been shared to both the District and our local Polk County Museum.

What we need to qualify for the grant is to have broad support from the Dallas Community in the form of money. If we could raise at least half of the money needed for restoring the stones in Phase 3, we would stand a great chance of qualifying for another grant from the State of Oregon. When the District obtained the grant in 2021, the Cemetery Commission mentioned that we would have gotten more points to qualify if we had reached out more to the community.

If you would like to help us, please send a check for whatever amount to Dallas Cemetery District, P. O. Box 512, Dallas, Oregon 97338. Please place a note in the memo section of your check: “Cemetery Donation Grant”. The District IS NOT at 503.1c, therefore, your donation is NOT eligible for a tax deduction. Won’t you help anyway?

You may drop off your check or ask questions at the information below:

Dallas Cemetery District

2065 SW Fairview Ave

(503) 623-5757

Office Hours: Mon-Fri 11a-3:30p

Thank you for your help!

Dallas Cemetery District #4

2065 SW Fairview Avenue

Dallas, OR 97338

503-623-5757

dallascemetery@hotmail.com