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Cemetery History

Mount Vernon Cemetery History

 

                 When an early brick road was constructed on the hill on the North end of 1st street, several gravesites were unearthed.  The first body found was wrapped in a blanket and was wearing caulked shoes.  All of the remains discovered were moved to what is now the Mount Vernon Cemetery, located at 1200 East Fir Street, and are recorded as unknown.  It is presumed that in the 1870’s, Mount Vernon’s first cemetery was located at the 1st Street site.

 

                The (I.O.O.F.) International Order of Odd Fellows Lodge No. 23 was formed in Mount Vernon in 1882.  In accordance with the motto of the order, “To visit the sick, to relieve the distressed, to bury the dead and educate the orphan,” the lodge established a cemetery in Mount Vernon.  An unknown member of the Order donated a plat of 10 acres in Section 2, North East of Mount Vernon, and six acres were platted for use. The six acre tract was divided into four equal sections. The North West section was taken over by the Mount Vernon Lodge of the Knights of Pythias for burial of its members.  The section, immediately South of the KP Section was retained by the I.O.O.F. for its members.  The remaining two sections, referred to as Section 1, East of KP Section, and Section 2 East of the I.O.O.F Section were sections open for sale to the general public.  The (G.A.R.) Grand Army of the Republic requested and was granted two rows of blocks, numbering from 45 through 66, for burial of its members.  About 1920, when age and death had reduced its membership, the G.A.R. returned that section to the I.O.O.F with the understanding that only veterans would be buried in that section.

 

                On June 12, 1890, a dedication was accomplished and may be found on file with the Skagit County Auditor’s office.  In 1909 the cemetery was enlarged with the addition of property South of the I.O.O.F. Section, and provided for a 30 foot driveway between sections.  At about this time the Mount Vernon Water Company built a reservoir on the South West corner of the property.  A short wave radio antenna was also erected, at a later date, by the Mount Vernon Police Department.

 

                In 1918 the cemetery was further enlarged.  That portion of the original tract between Section 3 and the land now owned by Mount Vernon High School District 320 was platted as Section 4.

 

                In the 1940’s the cemetery was placed into endowed care with the exception of the older sections.  In the 1950’s an agreement was made to fund perpetual care for the entire cemetery.

 

                In 1955 the North side of the cemetery, adjacent to Fir Street, was vacated to accommodate the widening of Fir Street. Lots 1 through 11 in the K.P. Section, and lots 1 through 11 in the G.A.R. Section were vacated and the remains were reburied in Section 5.  Most of these burials do not have grave markers, and their locations are identified from cemetery records.

 

                The I.O.O.F. Lodge operated the cemetery until 1984.  At that time the lodge had a chain link fence built around the periphery of the cemetery to reduce vandalism.  Management of the cemetery was turned over to the Kern Funeral Home in late 1984.  The new owners, LeRoy Anderson and Mel Fitzgerald added a crematorium and a new mausoleum.  An office and shop were also established at their current location and improvements were made to the fence surrounding the cemetery.  In the late 1980’s Eric Anderson became manager of the cemetery. Eric and his wife Jane created by hand, a second copy of each section of the cemetery, and then created an online cemetery index. During this time Section 7 was platted and landscaped in the Eastern section of the cemetery. Drainage was added throughout the cemetery and many trees were planted while other areas had trees removed to help clean the area.

 

Connie LeSourd became Owner and President of Kern Funeral Home and Mount Vernon Cemetery in 1991. She, her father, LeRoy and her brother, Eric worked together to create the yearly Memorial Day celebration and flag ceremony.  U.S. flags mark the graves of every veteran.  Additionally, entry roads within the cemetery are lined with large U.S. flags.  Derrick Flaig joined the cemetery staff in 2000 and became manager in 2003. Connie and Derrick have added Glass Front Niches inside the mausoleum as well as opening Section 8 in the Southwest corner of cemetery.  2024 will mark the opening of a new mausoleum chapel, offices and selection room along with an A.D.A. restroom for cemetery visitors.

Kern Funeral Home, 1122 South Third Street, Mount Vernon, Washington, 98273 - (360) 336-2153
Mount Vernon Cemetery, 1200 East Fir Street, Mount Vernon, Washington, 98273


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