The Oregon Commission on Historic Cemeteries (OCHC) will meet in La Grande at the Cook Memorial Library, 2006 4th Street in La Grande, and via online meeting on July 18 at 1:00 p.m. The agenda includes discussion of historic cemetery records, a presentation on the 2023 historic cemeteries grant projects. At 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. will be a presentation about grant funding and resources available to support heritage work including preservation and sharing of historic cemeteries, properties, and downtowns and for museums, public history, and more. The meeting is open to the public and the agenda includes an opportunity for public comment. Meeting information is on the agenda or you can follow this link to register for online access information.
OCHC commissioner, Sarah Silbernagel, will host a visit to the Hilgard Cemetery on July 19 at 9:00 a.m. Meet at the Cook Memorial Library parking lot to caravan to the cemetery, about a 15-minute drive. Hilgard Cemetery, established in 1885, is a private cemetery rural cemetery. It began as a family cemetery and then became the community cemetery for Hilgard. Hilgard was an early logging town established by Henry Villard in 1880 to house railroad construction crews and their families. Villard is also known for connections to Portland and the University of Oregon.
State law established the seven-member Commission to maintain a listing of all historic cemeteries and gravesites in Oregon; promote public education on the significance of historic cemeteries; and help obtain financial and technical assistance for restoring, improving and maintaining their appearances. For more information about commission activities, contact coordinator Kuri Gill at 503-986-0685 or by e-mail at kuri.gill@oprd.oregon.gov.
Special accommodations for the meeting – including translation services – may be made by calling (503) 986‐0609 or Mary.Newcomb@oprd.oregon.gov at least 72 hours prior to the start of the meeting. For call-in details and the agenda or more information about the commission, visit www.oregonheritage.org.
