Mount Calvary Cemetery (Portland, Oregon)
Encyclopedia
Mount Calvary Cemetery in the West Hills
of Portland, Oregon
, United States
is a private cemetery
owned and maintained by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon. It is the second-oldest Catholic cemetery in Multnomah County
, and was the third cemetery built in the West Hills.
. By the late 1800s, that site was becoming full and a new site was needed. In 1888, the Archdiocese purchased 100 acres (404,686 m²) in the West Hills and established Mount Calvary Cemetery.
In 1930, St. Mary's was closed and the interments were relocated, mostly to Mount Calvary, and Central Catholic High School
was built on the site of the old cemetery. In 1961, the Archdiocese opened a second cemetery in the Portland area, Gethsemani Catholic Cemetery, located in Happy Valley
.
, as well as the Columbia River
. In addition to more than 20,000 graves, the site contains a mausoleum
, columbarium
, and a hilltop altar for the celebration of Mass
.
Tualatin Mountains
The Tualatin Mountains are a range of hills on the western border of Multnomah County, Oregon, United States...
of Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
is a private cemetery
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
owned and maintained by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon. It is the second-oldest Catholic cemetery in Multnomah County
Multnomah County, Oregon
Multnomah County is one of 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. Though smallest in area, it is the most populous as its county seat, Portland, is the state's largest city...
, and was the third cemetery built in the West Hills.
History
In 1858, the Portland Archdiocese established its first cemetery, St. Mary's Cemetery, in Southeast Portland adjacent to Lone Fir CemeteryLone Fir Cemetery
Lone Fir Cemetery in the southeast section of Portland, Oregon, United States is a cemetery owned and maintained by Metro, a regional government entity. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the first burial was in 1846 with the cemetery established in 1855...
. By the late 1800s, that site was becoming full and a new site was needed. In 1888, the Archdiocese purchased 100 acres (404,686 m²) in the West Hills and established Mount Calvary Cemetery.
In 1930, St. Mary's was closed and the interments were relocated, mostly to Mount Calvary, and Central Catholic High School
Central Catholic High School (Portland, Oregon)
Central Catholic High School is a co-educational, private high school in Portland, Oregon, United States. Central Catholic is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church, and is the only archdiocesan high school in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland....
was built on the site of the old cemetery. In 1961, the Archdiocese opened a second cemetery in the Portland area, Gethsemani Catholic Cemetery, located in Happy Valley
Happy Valley, Oregon
Happy Valley is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. The population was 4,519 at the 2000 census.-History:Happy Valley was originally called Christilla Valley, named after the first residents, Christian and Matilda Deardorff. They arrived in 1851 and claimed on the floor of the...
.
Facilities
From its location in the West Hills, Mount Calvary has spectacular views of Portland and the surrounding mountains in the Cascade RangeCascade Range
The Cascade Range is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as the North Cascades, and the notable volcanoes known as the High Cascades...
, as well as the Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
. In addition to more than 20,000 graves, the site contains a mausoleum
Mausoleum
A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or persons. A monument without the interment is a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be considered a type of tomb or the tomb may be considered to be within the...
, columbarium
Columbarium
A columbarium is a place for the respectful and usually public storage of cinerary urns . The term comes from the Latin columba and originally referred to compartmentalized housing for doves and pigeons .The Columbarium of Pomponius Hylas is a particularly fine ancient Roman example, rich in...
, and a hilltop altar for the celebration of Mass
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
.
Notable burials
The cemetery is the final resting place for several archbishops of Portland as well as politicians, businessmen, actors, and sports figures.- Nonpareil Dempsey (1862–1895), boxing champion
- Christopher Evans (1847–1917), outlaw
- John M. GearinJohn M. GearinJohn McDermeid Gearin was an American politician and attorney from the state of Oregon. A native of the eastern portion of the state, he represented Portland on the western side of the state in the Oregon House of Representatives...
(1851–1930), U.S. Representative from Oregon - Ben HolladayBen HolladayBenjamin "Ben" Holladay was an American transportation businessman known as the "Stagecoach King" until his routes were taken over by Wells Fargo in 1866...
(1819–1887), 19th century transportation businessman known as the "Stagecoach King" - Edward HowardEdward Howard (bishop)Edward Daniel Howard was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Portland from 1926 to 1966.-Early life and education:...
(1877–1983) archbishop of Portland and centenarian - Larry KeatingLarry KeatingLarry Keating was an American actor born in St. Paul, Minnesota. He is known for his role of next-door neighbor Roger Addison on the television series Mister Ed, which he played from 1961 until his death in 1963...
(1896–1963), actor - Frank LeahyFrank LeahyFrancis William Leahy was an American football player, coach, college athletics administrator, and professional sports executive...
(1908–1973), college football coach at Notre Dame - Hall S. LuskHall S. LuskHall Stoner Lusk was an American jurist and politician in the state of Oregon. A native of the District of Columbia, he became a judge in Oregon, serving in both the Oregon circuit courts and later on the Oregon Supreme Court, including time as its Chief Justice...
(1883–1983), Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court and U.S. Senator from Oregon - Cornelius Michael Power (1913–1997) archbishop of Portland
- George ShawGeorge Shaw (American football)George Howard Shaw was an American football quarterback who played seven seasons in the National Football League.-Early life:...
(1933–1998), American football player