Ferndale Cemetery - 2008
The Ferndale Cemetery is a popular tourist attraction, built onto a hill with markers going back 140 years. From the top are great views of the ocean, town, and Eel River Valley.
The earliest burials were on private property. In 1868, hillside land was purchased from Grace and Francis Francis, with two additional parcels being acquired over the years. Also in 1876, H.H. Niebur was appointed to take charge of the Cemetery and the Cemetery records. Niebur produced a list of the fifty burials which had taken place between 1868 and 1876.
Since that time, the Cemetery Association and the Ferndale Museum have maintained these files and have computerized them or family members and for historical researchers.
Ferndale Cemetery in the Early Years
Cemetery Tour – July 18
Starts at 1:30pm
Chat with some of Ferndale’s past residents
and learn some of their stories.
Ferndale Museum’s Summer Fund Raiser
Click here for more information.
Ferndale Cemetery - Lovingly Tended
There is a narrow road, with traffic going in one circular loop. If you are in good shape, you should consider walking.
EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE!!
The Ferndale Cemetery did not make it through the most recent earthquake undamaged. (January 9, 2010) Quite a few of the old headstones and markers were shaken, moved on their bases or completely knocked over… and some of these were broken!
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Only a few months later, by April, all of the damage has been repaired. Crews worked hard, struggling with the heavy weights to get them back into their original positions. Walking through the cemetery now, there are a lot of cracks and such. This happens over time and a person would never think that the Ferndale Cemetery had ever been whipped around by an earthquake!
If you are interested in genealogy or local history, that work has already been done for the most part. You can contact the Ferndale Museum for more information. Museum files include photographs, obituaries, and biographical information.
Photos courtesy of The Ferndale Museum
