HAPPY VALLEY, Ore. — Just off Scouters’ Mountain in Happy Valley, a quiet cemetery has stood for more than 170 years, hidden away behind a chain-link fence while neighborhoods grew around it. Now, for the first time since its founding, the Christilla Pioneer Cemetery is opening to the public, offering residents a chance to connect with the early history of their community.
A Cemetery with Pioneer Roots
The cemetery was established in 1852, just two years after pioneers Christian and Matilda Deardorff settled the area in a covered wagon from Iowa. Their graves remain at the heart of the site, surrounded by the headstones of other early settlers.
The first recorded burial was a man identified only as “Covered Wagon Pioneer,” a somber reminder of the hardships faced by those traveling the Oregon Trail. The cemetery officially closed in 1932, but a handful of burials continued into the 20th century — the most recent being an infant in 1988.
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A Family Heirloom
For generations, the cemetery was maintained by descendants of the Deardorff family. Dennis Deardorff, a retired pastor and direct descendant, has long taken on the responsibility of preserving the site.
“You can see how tranquil it is here — this really is serene,” Deardorff said. “This hasn’t changed much at all, other than the fact that the stones are deteriorating.”
Family reunions often included time spent cleaning the graves and clearing brush, followed by picnics in the surrounding woods. But as the years passed and family interest waned, upkeep became more difficult. Headstones were damaged by weather and overgrowth, and some were vandalized or stolen.
“It was one of those things you almost took for granted,” Deardorff reflected. “Now it’s falling on my generation to make sure it’s preserved.”
Restoring and Preserving History
Concerned about the cemetery’s future, Deardorff reached out to the City of Happy Valley and community organizations for help. The result has been a new partnership to both preserve the site and make it accessible to the public.
Steve Campbell, Happy Valley’s director of community services, said residents care deeply about preserving their heritage. “I know they have a big sense of pride in their community and where they came from,” Campbell said. “This is why it’s so important to make sure people never forget the sacrifices that the Deardorff family made to get over here on the Oregon Trail.”
Recently, dozens of volunteers from groups such as the Rotary Club, Boys Team Charity, National Charity League, and Happy Valley Hikers joined in a large clean-up event, removing weeds and clearing debris.
Plans for a History Trail
The city and the Deardorff family envision turning the five acres surrounding the cemetery into an interpretive history trail, with multiple stops that tell the story of Happy Valley’s earliest settlers. Campbell said he hopes the trail can be completed within a year, offering both recreation and education for residents.
There is also an effort underway to document all who are buried at the cemetery. While 29 graves are currently identified, many sections lack visible markers. Wooden markers have long since deteriorated, and some headstones are so weathered their inscriptions are unreadable.
Deardorff hopes to secure a grant for ground-penetrating radar, a tool that can detect unmarked graves without disturbing the remains.
Community Connection
Despite the challenges, Deardorff says he is encouraged by the renewed interest in the cemetery.
“Even though they’re not related, there’s an affiliation,” he said. “It’s exciting to see now that this generation is saying, ‘No, my roots are important.’”
For Happy Valley residents, the cemetery offers more than a link to the past — it’s a reminder of the endurance and sacrifices of the pioneers who helped shape Oregon. And for the Deardorff family, opening the site to the public ensures that the history they’ve carried for nearly two centuries will not be forgotten.
