Spirit Quest - Union / Pioneer Calvary Cemetery
You will need to go enter the cemetery to find this cache; take your time and have a look around. The cache should be an easy find especially with the use of the hint. Although this cemetery is no longer active, the neighboring cemetery is still currently active and often very busy.
When you drive into this cemetery, you will need to drive through the Mills and Mills Funeral Home and Cemetery, but you're here today to visit the old pioneer cemetery which is on your left as you drive in. This cemetery was formally dedicated in 1867; with a few burials from the early 1850s as well.
The back portion of this cemetery, where the cache is located, started out as the Pioneer Calvary Cemetery. Established in 1873, this was the first Catholic cemetery in the area. It remained separated from the front portion of the cemetery until 1909, when a new cemetery was established on Cleveland Ave. At that time, the burials from the Pioneer Calvary Cemetary were exhumed and moved to the new location, which allowed the Union Cemetery to expand into that area.
The cemetery fell into disuse and by the 1970s had suffered from periodic vandalism and had become overgrown. In 1975, there was a movement to get the city of Tumwater to take action to preserve the cemetery, and in 1977 the city took over ownership. The merged Union Pioneer Calvary Cemetary was operated as a cemetery permitting new burials until 1991 when it was closed to new burials. The city, teamed with students and local organizations, completed a major cleanup in 1992. The city still maintains the cemetery.
While there are no posted hours, please limit your search during daylight hours only. Remember to be respectful. Since the neighboring cemetery is still currently active, it is possible that you might run into mourners, or other visitors who might not understand our geocaching game. The cache is NOT located on or near any graves. This should be an easy find and the hint will lead you right to it.
Congratulations goes to 2nutsACKs, skjacksontum, Finn, Frisbee'r & Trailcub for an amazing 5-way first to find!