Masonic and IOOF Cemeteries
Our goal was to find three headstones in the Odd Fellows cemetery that displayed the Three Links symbol, which means Friendship, Love and Truth.
In the Masonic cemetery we had to find
three headstones that displayed the Masonic logo, which is the Masonic
square and compass emblem that represents Freemasonry as a group.
In 1891, the Odd Fellows cemetery was established first, and the Masons purchased a large section from them soon after.
According to a local Mason, a fence was put up between the two, and they referred to it as a "spite" fence since the two lodges were hostile toward each other in the early days.
The fence is gone, and replaced by a mutual road now, as the lodges are now on good terms.
Tombstones and markers are everywhere, and some have deteriorated beyond recognition.
In researching some of the unknowns, it's very reassuring to know that even the most crude and illegible marker is charted on the records, and they know the location of every person who rests here.
There are pioneers, Civil War Veterans, and Veterans of all wars since.
Strange how the moss has grown all over the tops of so many crypts, but on this husband and wife, natural crosses formed.
In the Odd Fellows cemetery, we even found the resting places of Anna and Flora Schmidt, the generous ladies that bequeathed their family home to the Josephine County Historical Society.
In the Pioneer Masonic cemetery we found the grave of Guy Gravlin, who, as you can see, was the "proprietor of Grants Pass's last livery stable.
Heroes to scoundrels, to the poor babies that never lived long enough to be named --
They rest here on this pleasant knoll with views of the surrounding mountains.
Our goal was to find three headstones in the Odd Fellows cemetery that displayed the Three Links symbol, which means Friendship, Love and Truth.
In 1891, the Odd Fellows cemetery was established first, and the Masons purchased a large section from them soon after.
According to a local Mason, a fence was put up between the two, and they referred to it as a "spite" fence since the two lodges were hostile toward each other in the early days.
The fence is gone, and replaced by a mutual road now, as the lodges are now on good terms.
Tombstones and markers are everywhere, and some have deteriorated beyond recognition.
In researching some of the unknowns, it's very reassuring to know that even the most crude and illegible marker is charted on the records, and they know the location of every person who rests here.
Strange how the moss has grown all over the tops of so many crypts, but on this husband and wife, natural crosses formed.
In the Odd Fellows cemetery, we even found the resting places of Anna and Flora Schmidt, the generous ladies that bequeathed their family home to the Josephine County Historical Society.
In the Pioneer Masonic cemetery we found the grave of Guy Gravlin, who, as you can see, was the "proprietor of Grants Pass's last livery stable.
Heroes to scoundrels, to the poor babies that never lived long enough to be named --
