Volunteers expand Marshfield Pioneer Cemetery programs as grant work approaches

Volunteer manager Cricket Souls told the Coos Bay Parks Commission on Jan. 15 that volunteers and local students are increasing programming at Marshfield Pioneer Cemetery and preparing for grant-funded repairs.

Souls described recent events—Veterans Day flags, a December craft activity and a Jan. 12 remembrance tied to the 1910 wreck of the Czarina—and said she is coordinating with local maritime/JROTC classes and teachers to involve students in monthly activities. “Of all the 24 that were on board, only 1 survived,” she said while recounting the shipwreck and its local historical ties.

Souls said several sandstone headstones are so deteriorated that names are unreadable; staff and volunteers prefer bronze markers or marble where appropriate and plan targeted conservation work. She said the group is preparing for a CLG (Certified Local Government) grant that must be completed by April and is also seeking smaller foundation match grants from the Roundhouse Foundation to cover uncovered needs identified in a recent assessment.

The commission discussed logistics, storage for materials and the need to coordinate with tribal partners for Native plots; Souls and commissioners also discussed a headstone-cleaning workshop in spring aimed at stable veteran markers. Commissioners and staff praised volunteer efforts and encouraged continued outreach to schools and heritage organizations. The update also included operational notes—contractor timelines for CLG work and an inventory of artifacts for a planned exhibit tied to the Oregon bicentennial and other anniversaries.

Next steps: the cemetery team will finalize the CLG grant deliverables, pursue Roundhouse Foundation match funding, and notify the commission when contractors are scheduled to begin on-site stabilization work.