I recently discovered a series of “Hidden Cemeteries of Washington County'' videos on YouTube. These aren’t so much about “hidden cemeteries” but more about the hidden histories of some of the cemetery residents.
This short multi will introduce you to an interesting resident of Mt. Olive Cemetery, also known as Seghers Cemetery, near Gaston. The entrance to the cemetery is easy to miss - coordinates to the access road are provided as an additional waypoint. You will walk less than 600 feet over slightly sloping, uneven ground. The cemetery is open dawn to dusk.
The posted coordinates take you to the headstone of James Fuiten. He was a wartime hero - during WWII he was twice awarded a Silver Star, the US Army’s second highest award. He returned home after the war to Forest Grove, attended mortuary school, and entered the funeral business, becoming one of the first professional morticians in the area.
Before WWII, it was common for doctors to make house calls to treat sick and injured people. This was especially important in rural areas. That declined after the war. James Fuiten realized that his hearses could transport live people as well as dead. He started an ambulance service for the area. (... although some sick people refused to be transported in his hearses.)
His business continues to this day. The ambulance service he founded became Metro West, which still holds an exclusive contract for ambulance service for Washington county.
To find the cache, go to the headstone for James Fuiten, at the posted coordinates. Then look at the headstone that is about 5’ left/south of it (as you face James' and his wife's names). If the headstone is for:
J. HERMAN DETHLEFS, the final is at N 45° 28.418′ W 123° 08.409′
GUSTAV A. HERR, the final is at N 45° 28.417′ W 123° 08.378′
MONROE STANLEY GERDES, the final is at N 45° 28.399′ W 123° 08.369′
HELEN A. (GERDES) STUBBS, the final is at N 45° 28.394′ W 123° 08.426′
ELSE BUCHLE, the final is at N 45° 28.409′ W 123° 08.419′
If you would like to learn more about James Fuiten and some of his fellow early Washington County mortitians, here is the link to the video: Hidden Cemeteries of Washington County - UNDERTAKERS
I have a bookmark list of this and other Hidden Cemeteries of Washington County caches.
Links to the “Hidden Cemeteries of Washington County” videos are available on the below cache page:
GC9DTQM - Hidden Cemeteries of Wash. County - Hills Cemetery
There are seven videos in the series. You can also find them by searching for “Hidden Cemeteries of Washington County” on YouTube.