Group Out To Restore Riverfront Cemetery

Lakeview Cemetery, this city’s oldest, sat neglected for many years. But now the Lakeview Cemetery Association is renovating the historic landmark.

The group also is updating and recording the history of the cemetery, which will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2003.

“We hope by the 100th anniversary in 2003 we will be able to generate sufficient interest that we will receive enough donations to have it fully restored,” said Patty McGovern, the association’s vice president.

A native of Sandpoint, McGovern has several relatives buried at Lakeview.

The cemetery was originally located in what is now known as Kootenai. A Sandpoint resident donated the land with the intent that it be used as a place for burial. It was located along the railroad tracks of the Northern Pacific Railroad Co.

In 1903, neighboring Humbird Lumber needed room for expansion. It purchased the cemetery, exhumed the remains and interred them in the area now known as Lakeview Cemetery. The original five acres of Lakeview Cemetery were incorporated in October 1903. A board of directors managed it.

In 1929, Lakeview Cemetery doubled in size. Its board purchased five more acres to the north and east of the original land. At that time a new organization took over control of the cemetery and it was incorporated as a nonprofit organization. The only money expended was for the care and maintenance of the cemetery. It remains a nonprofit organization today.

With the money it received from purchase of plots and for perpetual care, the association bought U.S. Savings Bonds or Cemetery Certificates. The interest income generated from the bonds and certificates, in addition to donations from the community, are the only sources of income for the cemetery.

Over the years, the cemetery was cared for only to the extent funds allowed. It was always mowed, but other updating and repairs were not feasible.

In 1995, the Lakeview Cemetery Association decided to take action. Many of the current board members have family members buried there. Their goal is to restore the beauty and history of one of Sandpoint’s oldest landmarks.

“It is our heritage … We average two to three burials a year and we want to keep it a cemetery,” McGovern said. “But we also would like it to have a park-like setting.”

The cemetery sits on 353 feet of riverfront. The association would like to add benches to the banks of the river so that visitors can appreciate its beautiful view.

In recent years, citizens of Sandpoint volunteered to clean up the grounds, gravel the road around the perimeter and restore some of the fallen gravestones. In the summer of 1999, a local youth group worked for several weeks leveling the sunken gravestones and cleaning them.

Gary Ridley, president of the cemetery association, has done a great deal of work in the cemetery over the years. Like McGovern, he has relatives buried there.

Growing up, one of his chores was to mow the cemetery lawn. Recently he has spent a lot of time trimming the trees, restoring the piers at the south and north end gates and constructing the Lakeview Cemetery sign at the north end of the cemetery.

While much has been accomplished, there is still much to be done. The association is applying for a grant to reconstruct the mapping of the cemetery. Other projects that need to be done include building a new fence around the cemetery grounds; completing repair and cleaning of the gravestones, and purchasing a pump and above-ground irrigation system for the summer months.

Anyone wishing to donate may contact Patsy Olin at 706 N. Third, Sandpoint, ID 83864.