Cemeteries . . . . . As the final resting places for Oregon country souls for over hundreds of years, nearby cemeteries hold immense historical value. Beyond symbols of mourning, cemetery monuments tell the intriguing stories of local people and events, bringing contemporary people closer to their rich local history.
However, one early local cemetery has vanished with time, There are no stone monuments, no wooden crosses, nothing but a field where the Methodist Meeting House Cemetery stands today.
The Methodist Meeting House was the first church built on the Tualatin Plains in1844. Visiting circuit riders performed religious services for the pioneers. The building also served as the center for government business and early court sessions for many years.
Next to the Meeting House was the burial ground. We know where it was because Joe and Virginia Meek’s five Nez Perce children are buried there. In 1865, when the Hillsboro Methodist Church was built, the large log timbers from that first Meeting House were removed and taken to Hillsboro to be reused.
Trees planted near the burial land [1.5 acres] grew into good-sized marketable timber. Although no one had disturbed the wooded area for 141 years, it was logged in 1985 stirring up controversy at that time because of the repeated references to the Meeting House and the cemetery, which was a historic cemetery of record with the state.
Early mapmaker, Robert L. Benson recorded the location of the Meeting House and the burial ground.
A monument was promised to be built on that acre of land where the Methodist Meeting Stood and where the burial ground is located. The City of Hillsboro, knew the sensitivity of the site when it sold the land to Majestic, a huge real estate developer who plans to cover the site with a parking lot. We, the Meek Plains Historians and the Five Oaks Discovery Coalition are demanding the one acre site be saved. We hope others will join the cause.
Judy Goldmann, great granddaughter of Joe Meek, stated, “I can see native, upland savannah plantings there; not too many trees, and suitable markers.”
We will keep readers updated as we get ready for the Appeals hearing.
DONATE TO THE LEGAL DEFENSE FUND HERE
The Planning Commission hearing is set for Sept 4, a Wednesday at 6 PM, Auditorium, City Building; they have wasted no time, using the 20 days from filing date. Anyone who has made comment before, in writing will be sent a notice of this meeting. And anyone who wishes to comment may do so.
Map Robert L. Benson
Photo: Robert A. Booth, 1900, former Methodist Circuit Rider when younger.
The Circuit Rider is a bronze sculpture by Alexander Phimister Proctor, located in Capitol Park, east of the Oregon State Capitol in Salem, Oregon, in the United States. The Circuit Rider depicts "one of Oregon's pioneer circuit-riding Methodist ministers" and commemorates "the labors and achievements of the ministers of the Gospel, who as circuit riders became the friends, counselors and evengels to the pioneers on every American frontier.
