Hillgrove Cemetery

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Hillgrove Cemetery photo by Michael Brunk, 2009
(Creative Commons license)

I transcribed the following article (originally published in 1979) for friends that have an abiding interest in Hillgrove Cemetery. Located in Des Moines, Washington, the cemetery does not enjoy the same level of professional care that the Auburn Pioneer Cemetery receives from the Auburn Parks Department. In fact, Hillgrove Cemetery is all but abandoned now, locked away from bored teenagers and other potential vandals.

An Old Cemetery [Hill Grove] is Dying of Neglect and Misuse

By Lettie Gavin

Published by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Sunday, June 24, 1979

In its day, Hill Grove Cemetery was a sweet and peaceful place, a cool and quiet acre carved out of the old forest of firs and madronas by early settlers of southwest King County.

The first grave went into Hill Grove in 1900. Leigh Elsey, who still lives in the area, remembers a horse and wagon bringing his mother’s coffin to the little cemetery just after the clearing was completed at 200th Street and Des Moines Way S.

The cemetery association incorporated some years later, in May 1923, and some 56 family plots were sold, each with spaces for 10 or 12 graves. The owners planned quiet walkways through the trees and planted lilacs, roses, forget-me-nots and evergreen shrubs.

Old residents recall a driveway from the country road, which led to a circular plot with a small, roofed shrine where the cemetery register was kept and where memorial services were held for many years.

In time, “progress” moved through the south county. The dusty little road was widened and paved, leaving high bare banks above the drainage ditch close to the cemetery.

Seattle-Tacoma Airport expanded to the south, taking homes and neighbors from around Hill Grove. Giant airliners roar overhead many times a day now.

Hill Grove families struggled over the years to maintain their special place. The Maywood Garden Club shored up the corners of the driveway with a retaining wall of railroad ties and plantings. Owners installed a light wire fence to discourage intruders.

But it was a losing battle. Thieves made off with most of the wood in the retaining wall. Many of the plantings are still there, but badly in need of care. Passers-by dumped garbage and household junk into one corner of the cemetery, and vandals broke down the fence and carried away many of the gravestones.

“Last fall one of the local football teams stole 11 markers and carted them over to the front lawn of a rival high school,” said Geri Van Notric, whose grandparents are buried in Hill Grove.

“Fortunately, the county police retrieved those stones, but we haven’t yet been able to get them back in the proper places. And some others, we’re afraid, will never be recovered.’

Many of the original trustees of the cemetery association are gone and those remaining are in their seventies and eighties. “We’re getting old, too old to see that it’s taken care of,” said Mrs. Rosalie Johnson, 82, when she visited Hill Grove recently. “And we don’t have any money to spend.”

She walked among the graves, naming old neighbors, old friends. Her in-laws, the Johnsons, and Peterson, Jennings, Utz,…Jakobsen, Swanson, Isaacs, and a member of the Commons family who fought with the Grand Army of the Republic.

Mrs. Johnson remembers that many of the gravemarkers were concrete in the old days, and these have weathered badly. Weeds and ferns are growing tall among the stones that are left. Tire tracks cross the lawn, and one horizontal granite marker—dated 1912—has been broken and mashed into the ground by a heavy vehicle.

“The water main was broken twice this year,” said Leigh Elsey, as he picked up beer cans that littered the memorial circle. “So we just had it turned off.”

Elsey and Mrs. Johnson wondered what is to become of Hill Grove. “There are still graves sites available to the families here, although the last burial was in 1970,” she said. “I know there are people who expect to lie here, but who will take care of them?”

Others in the area share Mrs. Johnson’s concerns. “What we need is to have it registered as a state or national historic site,” says Van Notric.

“Then we need a sturdy fence around the property, with a gate which can be locked at night. We need a rockery or retaining wall to stop erosion along the road. And we need some plan to guarantee care and maintenance in perpetuity.”

Van Notric, who is chairman of the Intergovernmental Committee of the Highline Community Council, believes the county “has an obligation to repair and stabilize the eroding banks along the road.” And she thinks that Port of Seattle might put up the fence and include Hill Grove in its security patrol of the airport area.

“Since the airport has surrounded the property but won’t acquire it, they might as well help protect it,” she said. “At least they won’t get any complaints about airplane noise from the folks at Hill Grove.

“We’re not asking for big things, major improvements. We’re not asking for anything more than what people should expect when they pass away. It’s one slice of history Highline can lay claim to.”

The Association of King County Historical Organizations is also looking at the Hill Grove problem, said Dottie Harper, secretary of the group.

“We’re trying to identify who might be responsible for the cemetery,” she said. “But the county has no landmark ordinance. There are no official tools to get anything done with. We are going to try to work with the different county departments and with the Port.

“Perhaps it could be made a part of nearby Des Moines Creek Park. Somebody has to be found who can save and maintain Hill Grove. It’s a testimony to the lives of the people who helped build this community.”

Jake Thomas, the county’s historic preservation officer, doesn’t hold out much hope for historic site designation for the little South County cemetery. “It doesn’t meet the criteria for national designation,” he said. “No famous people buried there, that sort of thing. They won’t name just another old cemetery.”

He said the state register includes cemeteries, but state designation would be “just an honorary thing. It doesn’t guarantee protection.”

Thomas said he is not “anti-cemetery,” but he explained, “cemeteries are extremely common, and it would be a mistake to divert our very limited funds to a large number of cemetery projects.”

He said he believes the best answer for Hill Grove is community action. “Get concerned citizens together to help with maintenance,” he said. “Making the public aware of the problem really turns out volunteers.”

State Rep. Dick Barnes of the 33rd District (southwest King County) also believes something will have to be done on a local basis. “I have asked state researchers to determine what the state laws are for the care of cemeteries,” he said.

“And when we have the facts, we can put some ideas before the public. Maybe get people interested in setting up a trust fund through volunteer contributions.

“I would hope there are enough volunteer effort and money out here to get the job done.”

Original article was accompanied by photos by P-I photographer Kerry Coughlin.

44 thoughts on “Hillgrove Cemetery

  1. The cemetery is closed off again? Really? Sorry to hear that. My Great Great Grandfather, Jakob Durrwachter is buried there and I was hoping to get a picture of his grave stone and see if somehow there might be other ways to learn about him from what I might pick up at the site of his grave. Is anyone allowed in there these days?

    • The cemetery is kept locked due to the on-going issues with vandals. If you’d like to visit, you might start by contacting WSPIR. They are a local paranormal investigation group that has taken on maintenance of Hillgrove as a service project. I believe they have access to the cemetery or could at least direct you to whomever you need to contact to arrange a visit. Good luck!
      http://www.wspir.com/

      • The Des Moines Historical Society has taken over the management of Hill Grove Cemetery. Many of the head stones have been damaged and many records lost. They have a phone number you can leave a message on – and they will call back. Any info they obtain I am sure they will appreciate – they want to develop a chart of whom and where people are buried. My whole family is buried there from my Dad’s side.

        • My grandparents were Robert and Pearl Wallace. My mother was Marie Gardner and used to go to Des Moines Pioneer events. She passed away i 1995. I live in California now, but would like to go to Hillgrove Cemetery. My grandfather’s brother, William Donald Wallace (1898-1915) is buried there. I wonder if his head stone is still there???
          Thanking you in advance for any information. How sad what people do.
          Elayne Gardner Grissom

          • I never heard anything after sending a message (above) on June 15, 2016. My great grandmother, is buried there, Elizabeth Jane Peck, Wallace, Guss, Hall. She died in 1968. Her son, my uncle, William Donald Wallace (1898-1915) is also buried at Hillgrove. His brother my grandfather used to talk about his brother and that he died when he went swimming and drowned. I will be in the Seattle area in June and would like to go to the cemetery. Is that possible? I certainly hope so. I grew up in Tukwila. Went to Foster High School. I would appreciate a reply. Thanking you in advance.

          • There is a road widening project going on right now and a new gate and fence put up in the last couple of weeks. So no access at all without someone opening it up. They also took some of the big Doug Firs out and have cleared all around it. Not sure what the plan is….

    • Jakob Dürrwächter, born 24 Sep 1838 Großvillars, died 7 Jul 1925 Seattle. Parents: Johann Georg Dürrwächter and Maria Jacobine Ernst.

  2. I have been desperately trying to find out who is in charge of Hill Grove Cemetery. I tried to visit two years ago and wish to visit still. When can I see it and who do I can to do so? I have tried several historical societies and left messages. Please contact me asap.

    Sincerely, Fran Wold

  3. My grandfather’s brother is buried at Hillgrove Cemetery. He was born in 1898 and drowned in 1915.

    • I have a small group of Cub Scouts that are looking for a community clean up project to do. Would helping do some cleaner up at Hill Grove work for them?
      Thanks

    • Oh how I wish I could help! My siblings and I spent some of our growing up years very close to there. Sadly we are all in our 70’s and on fixed incomes. How sad also is the fact that our younger generations see fit to destroy things. No respect to life or property unless it is their own. As children, we used to go there and visit and read all the headstones. I guess all I can really do is hope someone has the ability to figure out how to save what is left.

      Sincerely, Frances Wold

  4. The cemetery is -or was- under a restoration effort of some kind. I am a freelance photographer specializing in historic sites, abandoned places, and locations with “character”. I visited Hillgrove twice this year, the last time November 27th. I have no plans on ever returning & the fact a paranormal investigative team frequents here (or did) explains a lot about my experiences not that they are in any way responsible for them. One question: does anyone know if the grounds were ever consecrated? My instinct says no. I have video footage of my latest visit should anyone wish to scan through it for markers, etc. Email me.
    Parrishcub@gmail.com

    • Interesting, James! Yes, WSPIR is the group that used to visit the cemetery. They took it on more as a civic project than an investigation location (although I think they may have done that too). They provided a great deal of yard work and maintenance over the years, trying to be good “cemetery citizens” and overcome some of the bad reputation that other groups have inspired. They are still very active and can be found easily on the web if you’re interested in contacting them. As for consecration, based on the age of the cemetery and overwhelming influence of Christianity at that time, I’d have to assume that the cemetery had been consecrated, but that’s just a guess–I don’t know the answer to your question–but would love to hear more about your experiences!

  5. I knew my great grandmother, Elizabeth Jane Peck Hall was buried at Hillgrove Cemetery. She died in 1968, her son William Donald Wallace died in 1915 and was also buried at Hillgrove. I recently found out he father, Joseph Peck and many family members are also buried at Hillgrove. I live in Bakersfield, California, and plan to go to a family reunion summer of 2018. Is there anyway we would be able to go to Hillgrove? Our date is TBA. Thank you very much.
    Elayne Gardner Grissom
    I grew up in Tukwila, WA.

      • Kristy,
        Sorry I didn’t see your message sooner. No, I didn’t get to see the cemetery in 2018. Since then, I had a stroke in 2019, then of course, COVID19 took over. We are traveling from California to Seattle in June 2021 (cross my fingers). I try to go often but sorry I missed this year. My uncle turned 98 in May and passed away in June. Thanks for your reply, sorry I didn’t see it sooner.
        Elayne

    • Joseph and Anna (York) Peck (both passed in the 1920’s) are a couple of my husband’s ggggrandparents as well.
      We are going to take a drive down there today to see what the situation is. Probably won’t be able to get in, but we still would like to check it out. It would be nice to be able to find the graves/stones and get pictures.

  6. (I can’t seem to find the *right* place to post this inquiry. Sorry) I wonder what you can tell me about the Auburn Pioneer Cemetery marker for Angeline Seattle. Seems that it could only refer to Chief Sealth’s daughter known as Princess Angeline, but she is buried up in Seattle. (??)

  7. I`m Yvonne Sandeck born Kindling. My ancestors emigrated from Germany to the USA in 1879.
    Frederick Kindling Born in 1844 died in 1919
    Fred Kindling Born in 1873 died in 1941
    Frederick Kindling donated a 1 Acre piece of ground for the cemetery in 1900.Is it still possible to visit the cemetery?

    • Hi Yvonne. The Hillgrove Cemetery was being kept locked last I knew. My most recent information is that it was being managed by the Des Moines Historical Society. You’d want to contact them for further info. Best of luck!

    • I would be happy to let you in as long as the man who gave me permission to start cleaning the cemetery is ok with it. You may have to sign a waiver that says you cant sue if you trip or something because a lot of the grounds are uneven and soft in many places.

  8. I have recently started trying to clean up Hillgrove Cemetery. As a kid when things got crazy at home i would take off and go up to the cemetery and just walk among the headstones, talking to some of them. Yes i know that may sound odd but in a sense it gave me “someone to talk too”. I recently offered to help clean it up and have spent the last 2 days searching the grounds for head stones buried under too many years of overgrown everything. I was able to clean up the circle of red brick that leads into the cemetery and have started to clean off barrier walls that surround family or sectioned off plots. My daughter and I have uncovered several headstones buried in pine needles and moss and plan to do our best to make this Cemetery look the way it should. The way those that rest there deserve it look. I believe no one should be forgotten. I may not be a religious person and i may not understand/agree with a lot of religious ways but I do feel that if there is a heaven I hope those with stones that have been buried under moss and grass for many years can smile when we clear the vegetation from their stones and let the sunlight shine on them once again. It may sound cheesy but im ok with that. If youre interested in helping at Hillgrove please let me know so i can get you in touch with the right people. Also if you have any old old photos that show how the cemetery may have looked or if you have any knowledge of where people may be buried without a headstone that would be very helpful.

    • Hello,
      I have been trying to get in touch with anyone that can give. E any information regarding this cemetery. I am planning on restoring it but would appreciate any contacts name to unpadlock it.

  9. Hello, Do you know who I could contact about helping to clean it up? My husband and I live nearby and we have been looking for ways to both help the community and connect a bit more with the history. We would love for this to be something we could help support. Please let me know. Thank you! Mariah.ravelli@gmail.com

    • I was working on cleaning up the hill grow cemetery with Pete Loke he but the city has kind of taken over with their construction

  10. Hi Folks,
    As far as contacts for the cemetery, I’d suggest reading the responses to earlier comments. I have not visited or been involved with Hillgrove recently; everything I know about who to contact is listed above. Good luck!

    • Hi Amy,

      I would love to be a part of a clean up group. Maybe one of these upcoming weekends. My husband and I live very close so we could be pretty flexible based on when construction is happening.

      I will give you a text and I would certainly be happy to help organize.

      Thank you!

  11. I do have access to the padlock him you’re welcome to give me a call maybe we could set up a group clean up that be great it’s just gonna be challenging with construction my number is 206-304-0900

    • I regret that I cannot help with the clean up, but have long wanted to visit Hillgrove. Is there a day of the week that often finds you there? I could drop in and look around.

    • Hi Amy,

      I would love to be a part of a clean up group. Maybe one of these upcoming weekends. My husband and I live very close so we could be pretty flexible based on when construction is happening.

      I will give you a text and I would certainly be happy to help organize.

      Thank you!

      • That would be awesome. I also do wildlife rescue, mainly possums, raccoons and squirrels with the help of another woman who is a pro rehabber and honestly i rarely have time to check emails so please anyone interested please please call or even better text. 206-304-0900. Thanks again and i look forward to the possibilities of hillgrove finally looking like a proper resting place to so many of our areas founders.

  12. For those of you interested Hill Grove cemetery is located on 200th in SeaTac. Those of us that live locally know that the city has been doing a lot of road work along 200th and accessing the cemetery has been kind of tough. When I went by this afternoon i realized that the city was cutting down the big 100 or so year old tree that was in the cemetery. When i went by this evening i see many trees have now been cleared out.

  13. Hello, I have been contacted by the current Treasurer of the Hill Grove Cemetery Association Board of Directors. I have been asked to assist in ensuring the Association remains active. I am currently in contact with Jim Langston to determine the actual status of the board; I’m researching title ownership with King County Archives and the Puget Sound Branch Archives in Bellevue; and contacting other local officials to explore ensuring the well-being and perpetuity of the cemetery site.

    Please email me at fuzz.hill@gmail.com to learn about my latest related efforts and/or share your interests. Thank you.

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