HISTORIC CEMETERIES - The City and Borough of Juneau

FOREWORDIn July of 1994 the City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ) Community Development Department(CDD) embarked on an ambitious project to survey the historic cemeteries in Douglas, Alaskalocated within the City and Borough ofJuneau, The following report documents this researcheffort and presents a lookat the significance of these cemeteries and the community as awhole. When the project began it was believed there were only three cemeteries in Douglas;the Catholic Cemetery, Eagles Cemetery, and Douglas Indian Cemetery. Once research gotunder way it proved that there are actually ten separate recognized cemeteries in Douglas; theCatholic, Eagles, Douglas Indian, Masons, OddFellows, City, Servian, Asian, Native, andRussian Orthodox.Research of the burial records indicated 514 burial sites within nine of the cemeteries. Thefield survey found 157 grave markers in these cemeteries, No burial records were availablefor the Douglas Indian Cemetery but 12 markers were found. Each cemetery was surveyed,inventoried, and researched for historical significance andphysical condition. It is believedthat the cemeteries are historically significant and retain the integrity to be considered eligiblefor nomination to the National Register of Historic Places.The historic cemeteries offerinformation which helps to better define the historic communityof Douglas, Alaska. Although only a few are regularly maintained they all render theopportunity to yield information about the individuals, the community, and the religiouspractices of the people of theirperiod.Historic preservation is an important ingredient in the process of community development. Ithelps with the understanding of influences in the growth and development of a region andthelocal community. It tells the tale of the struggle of our predecessors as they strived fordevelopment and modernization in this Southeast region of Alaska. It helps decision makersplan for the future with an understanding of the past. The importance of informing people oftheir community's heritage cannot be understated. The City and Borough of Juneau'scommitment to historic preservation is contained in Policy 53 of the Comprehensive Planwhich states; "It is the policy of the CBJ to identify andprotect historic and archaeologicalresources." It is with this goal that the Community Development Department has pursued theSurvey and Inventory of the Historic Cemeteries in Douglas, Alaska.Gary GilletteHistoric Preservation PlannerInventory and Survey ofHistoric Cemeteries in lJouglas, Alaska Page 1