Location:
Historical Significance:
Original Pioneer Cemetery of Gig Harbor, Washington, a small fishing village founded in 1867 by fishermen from Croatia and Scandinavia. For centuries a band of the Puyallup Tribe, the Twa-Wal-Kut, had a longhouse and permanent camp at the head of the harbor. Explorers from the Wilkes Expedition discovered the harbor's well-hidden opening in 1841 and named it Gig Harbor because they had entered the bay in a small captain's gig. The town boated a fleet of 70 fishing vessels by the early 1970s, but a ruling by Federal Judge George Boldt affirmed the rights of tribes to half the annual catch and by 1988 the fleet had dwindled to 30. Tourism gradually took the place of fishing, but the heritage of the town is zealously recorded and preserved.
Burial Significance:
Buried there are Dr. Alfred Burnham,1824-1896, who arrived in Gig Harbor in 1886 and purchased land from one of the three fishermen who found the village. Burnham was a physician, owner of the general store and publisher of the local newspaper; Lucy Goodman, 1869-1964 who had a 76 year teaching career, generally consider the longest in U.S. history, and veterans of the Spanish/American War, Civil War, WWI, WWI, Korea and Vietnam.
Ten Civil War veterans are buried in the cemetery. Three of the veterans had lain in unmarked graves for over 100 years. Due to the efforts of DAR member Kathy Veasey and the support of Elizabeth Forey Chapter, NSDAR, those three veterans now have special Civil War markers on their graves.
The marker for Hannibal Bickford was dedicated on October 7, 2017. He served with the MN 4th Infantry Regiment. The marker for Ole Christopherson was dedicated on October 6, 2018. Christopherson served with the MN 2nd Cavalry Regiment. The marker for Jeremiah Griffin was dedicated on October 5, 2019. He served with the 146th New York Volunteers and the 5th NY Infantry.
Historical Designations:
- Local Landmark
Physical Condition:
- Preserve
- Rehabilitate
Funding:
Gig Harbor Cemetery Association members provide oversight and maintenance. Jerry Guttormsen is President of the Association.
Tourism:
- Open to Public
- Family Friendly
Promotional Materials Available:
Acknowledgment:
DAR member Kathy Veasey has been an unpaid volunteer at the Gig Harbor Cemetery for many years dedicating hundreds of hours to research and rehabilitation and recording burials in the cemetery on Find A Grave. She is currently a member of the Gig Harbor Cemetery Board.
