Douglas City Cemetery

Established 1899
Number of Burials: 275
Number of Grave Markers: 52

Latitude: 58.2847, Longitude: -134.4064
Acreage: .7 acres (30,467 sq. ft.)

Site Description: The cemetery is irregular in shape in generally a rectilinear orientation. It is located on a level bank adjacent to residential area and overlooking Gastineau Channel with metal and stone grave markers. Much is overgrown with vegetation, however, local Lions Club members have begun clearing the area. Historic photos indicate a fence once existed. No evidence of the fence remains.

The City Cemetery was established on land given to the City of Douglas by W. A. Saunders in exchange for not interfering with his application for mining patents. There is no record that Douglas actually received a deed, and ownership is listed as the Ross Estate. Previous to the establishment of the Douglas City Cemetery burials were in the Chicken Ridge Cemetery and later in the Evergreen Cemetery. Graves in the Chicken Ridge Cemetery were eventually moved to the Evergreen Cemetery in Juneau. Between 1934 and 1972 some graves were disturbed in the City Cemetery and moved due to road construction work on the Douglas Highway.

Records indicate about 275 burials at the City Cemetery however only 52 markers were found in the field work. Numerous ground depressions are evident which may account for more burial sites. The cemetery features wooden markers, wooden and metal fences surrounding family plots, low concrete walls surrounding individual and family plots, cast iron markers, and marble or granite markers. Markers are in various conditions. Many are leaning or fallen over. Some, especially the wooden ones, are not legible at all. Many have broken elements and most of the fences have fallen.

In 1994 the Douglas Lions Club took on the project to start clearing the brush and overgrowth in the cemetery. Due to the size of the site, the work continues and much more needs to be done. The work done so far has exposed many grave markers.

Some of the persons buried in this cemetery:

Anderson, George E. ~ Born in Bodie, California on July 22, 1882, died on January 30, 1901. He moved to Douglas in 1889 when he was six years old. He worked at Treadwell at the time of his death which was caused by an explosion at the 700 Foot Mine. It was said that his funeral was the largest on Douglas Island.

Archer, Sarah Anne ~ Born in Flintstone, England on 1846, died on October 25, 1904. She was married to Michael B. Archer who was the Treadwell marshall in 1910. She owned a store in Union City which was located west of the current Douglas Bridge. They also had a small daily in 1903.

Bach, L. G. ~ 05 Sep 1858 - 14 May 1946

Dazadelli, Albert ~ Born in Italy in 1887, died March 2, 1910. He worked at the Mexican Mine of the Treadwell. He died in an explosion which also took the lives of 36 other miners. The explosion took place on the 1,000 foot level in the powder magazine while the miners were waiting for the hoist to take them to the surface at the end of their shift.

Desanti, Frank ~ 1868 - 20 Feb 1901

Douglas, Lilly ~ 08 Apr 1901 - 12 Jul 1904

Early, Peter Steven ~ 17 Jun 1853 - 25 May 1928

Early, Virginia ~ 1899 - 1901

Egan, Phillip & James ~ Born August 19, 1900 and August 14, 1901 respectively, Phillip died on April 9, 1902 while James' death date is not known. They were the young sons of John and Annie Fontaine Egan. The boys died in a Diphtheria epidemic. John owned a brewery and a butcher shop in Douglas.

Gravrock, B.

Gravrock, C.

Gustafson, John Elmer ~ 21 Aug 1896 - 08 Sep 1901

Gustafson, Roy Elvin ~ 19 Aug 1898 - 19 Sep 1901

Haho, John Albert, Jr. ~ 04 Sep 1907 - 21 Dec 1918

Haquist, Anna ~ 27 Feb 1877 - 14 Aug 1901

Hendriksan, August E. ~ 18 Jul 1873 - 20 May 1905

Heubner, Julius ~ 16 Aug 1846 - 10 Jul 1910

Higgins, Frederick ~ Born in Springfield, Nova Scotia in August of 1891, died on September 17, 1919. He worked at various mines in the area. He played semi-professional ball in the United States and was well known as the pitcher in the Douglas baseball team. He was a member of the Douglas Volunteer Fire Department.

Johnson, Nels Gustaf ~ 15 Sep 1869 - 07 Nov 1912

Laughlin, Jno. ~ died 19 Oct 1902, funeral record 273

Laukso, Charles ~ died 26 Feb 1902, funeral record 242

Lindstrom, Anton ~ 1877 - 10 Aug 1912

Martinson, Edward J. ~ 1881 - 1951

Martinson, Edwin Eskil ~ 1927 - 1933

Martinson, Eskil Hugo ~ 1914-1916

Martinson, Frida T. ~ 1889 - 1953

McCormick, Lillian ~ 25 Jan 1899 - 12 Nov 1911

Morrow, Clarence W. ~ 26 Jan 1899 - 25 Aug 1901, funeral record number 218

Noe, Glen Townsend ~ 09 Sep 1895 - 18 May 1928

Norriss, infant

Norriss, Ethelda

Norriss, Thelma

Palmbom, Sigrid Heleea, died 14 Jan 1907

Pavesich, Visko ~ 1876 - 24 May 1902

Powell, Kate ~ 28 Oct 1855 - 28 Apr 1912

Quadras, Mary ~ died 15 Jun 1904

Riedi, Geo ~ 07 Jun 1881 - 15 Feb 1912

Robertson, James Douglas ~ 1908 - 06 May 1912

Shanda, Edward ~ 1892 - 18 Dec 1915

Stephens, Charles B. ~ 03 Oct 1874 - 10 Nov 1915

Tassell, Alexander ~ 01 Apr 1913 - 15 Oct 1948

Vukovich, Tom ~ 15 Apr 1888 - 12 Nov 1910

---