The Pioneer cemetery is the oldest cemetery in continuous use in Boise. The cemetery, located on the west end of Warm Springs Avenue, has been used since unofficially since Boise’s founding in 1863.

The cemetery served as a public burial ground until 1872, when the new owner of the land, John Krall, sold five acres of the land to two Boise lodges; The Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, to serve as burial grounds for their families. From then the cemetery was known as the Masonic cemetery.

Faced with an increase of expenses and the new popularity of Morris Hill cemetery, the Odd Fellows deeded their section to the city of Boise in 1920, who has been maintaining the cemetery ever since.

From that point until 1990 the cemetery got little use, the fences built by the lodges disappeared and exposure to the elements took its toll on the headstones and other markings. With a cooperative effort between the Boise Metro Rotary club and Boise Parks and Recreation, the park was restored, funds reintroduced and an interpretive park was created nearby.

A list of notable people buried there includes Alexander Rossi (Idaho Pioneer) Civil War Memorial Corilla (Tolman) Robbins (Pioneer Woman) Cyrus Jacobs (Mayor of Boise) David Falk (Built First Smelter in Idaho) Edward J. Curtis (Governor) Edward A. Stevenson (Governor) Frank R. Coffin (Idaho Pioneer) Frank W. Hunt (Governor) Fremont Wood (U.S. Attorney for Idaho Territory) George L. Shoup (Governor, Senator) Helen Coston (First Female Probation Officer in Ada County) Isaac Newton Coston (Idaho Pioneer) James A. Pinney (Mayor of Boise) Jesus Urquides (Started Pack-Train Business) John Hailey (Idaho Pioneer) Lafayette Cartee (Built Idaho's First Sawmill) Leona Hailey Cartee (Proponent of the Idaho State Historical Society) Milton Kelly (Owner/Editor of the Idaho Statesman) Nathan Falk (Idaho Pioneer) Orlando "Rube" Robbins (U.S. Marshall) Peter Sonna (Mayor of Boise) Thomas Jefferson Davis (Founding Father of Boise City) Thomas E. Logan (Mayor of Boise)

By visiting the website visitors can take a “walking tour” and learn more about those buried in the Pioneer Cemetery.

Works Cited:

http://www.cityofboise.org/Departments/Parks/CaringForParks/Cemeteries/page3815.aspx

http://www.cityofboise.org/Departments/Parks/CaringForParks/Cemeteries/page48948.aspx