The cemetery is situated on what was previously part of the David Hillland claim that was recorded on July 4, 1847.[2] Hill died in 1850, and in 1860 the Masonic Order and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) established a cemetery on the current site.[3] The IOOF portion of the cemetery was to the east of the Masons' part.[4] Around 1915 another section owned by IOOF was added west of the Masons' section.[4] On August 7, 1973, the city of Hillsboro received the deeds to the cemeteries and took over maintenance and operations.[4]
In 1995, 155 grave sites were vandalized, causing over $75,000 in damage.[5] The city made improvements in 2012 with the addition of an arched, wrought-iron entry and information kiosk.[3] Paid for in part by a state grant, the project cost $13,000 to complete.[3] In 2014, the city completed a master plan to make $1.7 million in improvements, including sidewalks, parking, and fencing.[6]
Details
Hillsboro Pioneer Cemetery is an irreducible fund cemetery organized under Oregon Revised Statutes 65.860 where all funds received go into a fund that is not reduced and only interest is used for maintenance.[7][8] Hillsboro's city recorder manages all records of the facility.[9] The Hillsboro Historical Society holds a semi-annual event at the cemetery that includes re-enactments by actors demonstrating the lives of some of those buried at the cemetery.[10]
