Local Initiatives
Taking Care of the Past
Just west of Junction City, Ore., is a place known as Union Cemetery.
Co-op staffers would like to learn more about the soldier memorialized by this grave marker. (Photo By: Blachly-Lane Cooperative)
About 30 people were buried there between 1856 and 1954.
But over the years, many of their descendants have left the area, and cemetery maintenance has been neglected.
That’s where some employees from Blachly-Lane County Cooperative Electric Association came in.
With the support of the cemetery’s caretaker, the group recently spent a day helping to fix up the graveyard as part of a United Way Days of Caring project.
They carefully cleaned the vintage grave markers, which led to a mystery when they uncovered a stone with only the name “David Hasler” and the inscription, “Co. G. 24 Mo. Inf.” There was no other information, such as when he died, and the co-op hopes someone might have some insight.
The Blachly-Lane employees also piled brush, and when conditions allow they will return to chip it, as well as remove dead trees. “Old pioneer cemeteries are often neglected, so this was a great community project for our co-op to be involved with,” said Joe McFadden, Blachly-Lane manager, key accounts/member services.