City readies tour of cemetery celebs

Coeur d’Alene Parks Department officials were surprised to learn that famous U.S. Forest Service Ranger Ed Pulaski was buried in the city’s Forest Cemetery on Government Way. They are now hoping to learn about other notable figures in the cemetery’s 17,000-some graves.

Last year, the city began compiling information to include in a proposed walking tour of the cemetery, said Doug Eastwood, the department’s director. Much of the research was conducted by Mark Puddy, an intern from the University of Idaho. Puddy’s work, combined with the fresh knowledge of Pulaski, has added momentum to the project.

“We’ve scratched the surface, now we’re getting down to the really good stuff,” Eastwood said.

The city hopes to have the self-guided tour ready by summer. Eastwood would ultimately like to see the cemetery host a living history event during which actors in period clothing would help set the scene.

The cemetery was given to the city in 1905. It was part of the abandoned Fort Sherman grounds. Among the buried local luminaries is the founder of Silverwood Theme Park, as well as regional railroad baron F.A. Blackwell. The tour would include the buried big shots, plus a few lighter stops, such as the grave marker bearing the epitaph, “I told you I was sick.”

There’s also a mysterious monument to Betsy Ross, but the flag lady’s first name is incorrectly inscribed as Betsey. And the monument makes reference to a descendant of Ross, B.M. Ross, whose birthday is listed as 1834. This would mean Mother Betsy Ross was in her 80s.

“We’ve never been able to make the connection. Betsy never had any sons,” Eastwood said.

Anyone with information on the Ross monument, or any other Forest Cemetery trivia, is asked to call the Parks Department at (208) 769-2252.