Visiting a cemetery is on par with dropping in to a museum; each occasion occurs with a new perspective. The public is invited to a guided tour of Black Diamond Cemetery on Saturday, Oct. 26. To enhance the event, several speakers are scheduled beginning at 11:00 am. Topics range from coal mine disasters, Civil War veterans who are buried in the cemetery, and a Memorial Garden created by Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). There will even be mention of paranormal activity that has occurred at the cemetery.
Speakers and their subjects will be: Melanie Self, city administrative assistant, on “How and When the City and Cemetery Began”; Mayor Carol Benson, six of the earliest known graves; Bob Beers whose great grandmother was the first non-native woman to live in Black Diamond; Elaine Parks, DAR “Women of American History” award presentations; George Sato, five Civil War vets who are buried in the cemetery; Katie Hanzeli, DAR “Never Forget Memorial Garden”; Steve Israel – “Lawson Mine Explosion” the tragedy and loss of 16 coal miners. Burial site for eight of those miners is part of the tour.
The cemetery tour is sponsored by City of Black Diamond, Black Diamond Historical Society, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and King County 4-Culture. Dee Israel is tour coordinator.
