Contributed by T Sheldon, Jan 01, 2003, last edited Feb 24, 2007
[tsheldon@tss.net]. Total
records = 2,394.
To reach the cemetery drive east on Rte 101 from the township of
Ilwaco, the cemetery is on the north side of State Route 101.
Ilwaco Cemetery began as a section of land offered for public
burials by the Whealdon family, specifically Isaac and Mary Whealdon,
in July of 1888. This transaction was in exchange for one U.S.
dollar. offering 964 links by 79 links by 400 links, and ran along
the Wallicut River. It was in this section of ground that the
oldest part of the cemetery was used. All lots here were set to
be 4 x 8 foot and were set up to include eight lots per block.
Many of the old burials have ornate stones, others were rather
common to the area, and others, yet, were made of wood, and have
now disappeared from sight. Pacific County, Washington, is a coastal
county, and has a lot of salt in the air from the ocean, alongside
the great amount of moisture from the common rainfall. This excessive
moisture has done it's deed with many of the markers here, and
I passed many of the oldest wishing others after me would be able
to read the past as I was able to do.
This cemetery contained 154 'unknowns' at last count. Some of
the older burials have lost their markers, and due to the many
shipwrecks in the area, sailors were oft times buried in this
place. Some of these unknowns have been accounted for through
local records, but only a mere handful.
The cemetery is owned and maintained by the community of Ilwaco,
and it is fairly well cared for. It looks like it would be a challenge
to maintain because all of the burials are quite crowded.
I began walking the Ilwaco cemetery about a year-and-a-half ago,
finishing my work in Dec of 2002.
- T Sheldon
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