Black Diamond Cemetery

Black Diamond Cemetery is a cemetery located in Black Diamond, Washington listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[2]

Black Diamond Cemetery
Black Diamond Cemetery
Black Diamond Cemetery is located in Washington (state)
Black Diamond Cemetery
Black Diamond Cemetery is located in the United States
Black Diamond Cemetery
LocationCemetery Hill Rd., Black Diamond, Washington
Coordinates47°18′39″N 122°0′55″W / 47.31083°N 122.01528°W / 47.31083; -122.01528
Area3.5 acres (1.4 ha)
Built1886 (1886)
NRHP reference No.00000406[1]
Added to NRHPApril 21, 2000

Description and history

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Established in 1884 by the Black Diamond Coal Mining Company as both a company and community cemetery, it was originally enclosed by a wooden picket fence with a double-gate hearse entrance and a stile for pedestrians. The fence has since been replaced by a chain-link fence.[2]

The cemetery contains more than 1200 graves, many of immigrants who came to the area as miners.[3] One grave contains the remains of eight miners, killed in the Lawson Mine explosion in November, 1910.[4] The earliest gravemarker following establishment of the townsite is a tall marble marker, near the west side of the central road and gate, dated March 25, 1886.[2]

Funds to manage the cemetery were initially obtained by deducting a "cemetery fee" from miners' paychecks. Since 1977, the City of Black Diamond has been responsible for the maintenance and operation of the cemetery.[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ a b c d Katheryn Krafft (Dec 15, 1999). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Black Diamond Cemetery". National Park Service. Retrieved February 17, 2019. With eight accompanying pictures
  3. ^ "Cemeteries: Historical lessons in the South Sound". South Sound Magazine. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  4. ^ Jensen, Ken (5 November 2010). "Black Diamond Historical Society: Remembering the 1910 Lawson Mine disaster". Covington-Maple Valley-Black Diamond Reporter.
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