How often does an outdoor recreation reporter decide to stroll through a 30-acre cemetery in the dense urban core of Southeast Portland?
That's what KGW's Grant McOmie did on Tuesday, joining the Friends of Lone Fir Cemetery and Metro to showcase this culture and habitat-rich oasis in the heart of Portland.
So what inspired McOmie to get outside and discover a cemetery? McOmie, host of "Grant's Getaways" on KGW, said his team was discussing some great fall attractions, but wanted to visit some place historical in nature which prompted a call to Kuri Gill with Oregon State Parks Heritage Program. Gill mentioned that Lone Fir Cemetery had recently been listed on National Geographic's Top 10 cemeteries to visit in the world, an honor that overjoyed many Oregon history and cemetery buffs.
The stroll was perfect in Lone Fir's 30 acre arboretum, as McOmie learned about many Oregon notables such as US Bank founder Donald MacLaey, African American suffragist Hattie Redman and Oregon pioneer Asa Lovejoy, who lost the famous coin toss that selected Portland's name. All the while, moms jogged by with their babies and couples enjoyed a simple morning bike ride.
McOmie learned about plans for the Heritage Garden and Memorial to honor the early Chinese workers and the benevolence of Dr. James C. Hawthorne. Patients of Hawthorne are believed to be buried throughout Lone Fir as records indicate Hawthorne, who oversaw the Oregon Asylum in southeast Portland, personally ensured that every patient had a proper burial.
The early Chinese were laid to rest in Block 14 of the cemetery, which later housed a Multnomah County maintenance building after it was believed that all of the remains of the Chinese were disinterred. The heritage garden and memorial is a tribute to the early Chinese workers who helped build the infrastructure of the west while honoring the unique and compassionate care of Hawthorne.
Frank Schaefer, chair of the Friends of Lone Fir Cemetery, proudly discussed the annual Tour of Untimely Departures, which every Halloween night draws more than 1,000 visitors into Lone Fir Cemetery who learn and discover the region's stories.
Proceeds of the event go back into the restoration and research for Lone Fir, and instead of keeping people out on Halloween, the cemetery invites people in – complete with tragic stories of untimely deaths while a bagpiper plays solemnly and owls visit from the Audubon Society.
McComie asked Rachel Fox, Metro's cemetery program manager, what sets Lone Fir Cemetery apart from other cemeteries, and why she thought the cemetery made it on National Geographic's Top 10 list.
"This cemetery is like the family album of Portland, of this region," Fox said. "It tells the story of how the west was settled from the pioneer era until today. It's rich in art, culture and horticulture, which is why so many have honored their loved ones here.
"I like to look at it this way, most cemeteries feel like being in grandma's sitting room, where everything is neat and the plastic is on the couch," Fox continued. "Lone Fir is more like the living room, with the lounge chair and the remote, relaxing and welcoming to anyone who visits. Simply, there is no other cemetery quite like this one."
"Grant's Getaways" is a weekly program produced by KGW, in conjunction with Travel Oregon, Oregon State Parks, the Oregon State Marine Board and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. It airs on Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. on KGW Channel 8.