The History of Woodinville's Only Cemetery

Editor's Note: Periodically we will feature articles about the history of Woodinville. In this article, cemetery board president, Linda McCune, writes about the cemetery from a historical perspective and about it's present operations.

By Linda McCune

In the early 1880s, Ira and Susan Woodin offered the SE acre of their 160-acre homestead for the burial of the local citizens. It wasn’t until 1888, however, that the first burial was documented.

Across the street to the east was the town church. The entrance to the cemetery grounds was on 132nd NE directly across the street where Play It Again Sports is now located. Thus, the oldest graves are on the east side of the cemetery.

In 1898, the Woodin family officially deeded the acre of their homestead to the citizens of Woodinville for the cemetery. In 1910 they donated a second acre to create the grounds you see today. Soon the entrance was moved to the southern boundary on NE 175th.

 The group that managed the cemetery then was the Woodinville Cemetery Association, a group of local citizens who had purchased plots and then maintained the grounds. Today there is still a board of twelve volunteers who decide corporate issues, but paid workers do the maintenance.

There were many unmarked graves of pioneers who died during the Depression years when only wooden markers could be afforded. A recent Boy Scout Eagle Project made and installed 70 markers for those graves. The cemetery board compiled the list and marked to locations.

For many years, Woodinville pioneer Elmer Carlberg maintained the cemetery and built many improvements including the original ornate entrance on NE 175th, the fountain, the pergola and most of the landscaping. He died in 1987 and is buried there.

In 1986, The Woodinville Cemetery Association became a 501(c)(13) non-profit corporation with a tax number of 91-1334756. The 12-member board meets annually to decide policies, currently two board members are descendants of Susan and Ira Woodin.

There are still available plots. Each is four feet by eight feet. One full burial or four cremations can be accommodated in each plot. Current plot price is $1500. Plots may not be resold by the owner, but can be deeded to family. Unused plots are sold back to the Woodinville Cemetery Association for the price originally paid. Our cemetery is not commercial land as are most cemeteries. Thus, it is not a commodity that can be sold to another person by the plot owner.

The Woodinville Cemetery is one of the few cemeteries that allow an above-the-ground headstone. There is a one-time $250 fee that is deposited in a permanent endowment fund for future upkeep costs. Many eastern Europeans in the area are using the cemetery, their culture favors elaborate markers.

The cemetery has two walk-through gates on the north and south sides.  There is parking by the north gate. Visitors may enter from dawn until dusk daily. Please contact the cemetery if there is a need to bring a vehicle in.  No dogs are allowed inside the cemetery boundaries. 

Each Memorial Day weekend the drive-through gates are opened for visitors. On Memorial Day from 12:00 noon until 4 p.m., members of the Woodinville Cemetery Association are present to answer questions. A self-guided walking tour brochure is distributed that tells about many pioneers buried here.