FEBRUARY 14, 2024:
Improvements continue to be made at Fort Pierre’s Cedar Hill Cemetery.
Cemetery Board Chair Doug Mortenson says a kiosk that will provide a map of the graves and some history about the cemetery is being built.
Mortenson says in some cases, the records of who is buried where weren’t kept up to date.
Mortenson says the cemetery board has applied for, and received, some small grants, but more dollars are needed to in order to complete a new survey of the centuries old cemetery.
Mortenson says the survey could cost anywhere from $15-thousand to $35-thousand.
People are currently able to buy lots in the areas of the cemetery that are known to be available. The cost is $300 for one lot—which is eight graves– or $200 for a half lot, which is four graves. Those interested should contact Mortenson at 323-401-5695. Once a location has been chosen, one of the Cedar Hill Cemetery board members will accompany you to the Fort Pierre City Office to purchase your lot.
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AUGUST 11, 2023:
Those who would like to have their final resting place be in Fort Pierre’s Cedar Hill Cemetery are once again able to purchase lots.
A moratorium on selling lots at the prairie cemetery was implemented in 2019 while a committee appointed by Mayor Gloria Hanson worked through current and historical information to determine who may– or may not– be buried where.
Cemetery Board President Doug Mortenson says about half-a-dozen plots have been sold in the areas of the cemetery where space is known to be available.
Lots may be purchased at a cost of $300 for eight graves (one lot) or $200 for four graves (½ lot).
Mortenson says there’s plenty of space available.
Mortenson says the Cedar Hill Cemetery Board is also considering allowing “green burials” as well as designating an area where pets can be buried. Those details are still being researched. Cremated remains are already allowed to be buried there.
For information about Cedar Hill Cemetery, including information about location of available lots, people should contact Mortenson at 323-401-5695.
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JUNE 9, 2023:
Those who would like to have their final resting place be in Fort Pierre’s Cedar Hill Cemetery are once again able to purchase lots.
A moratorium on selling lots at the prairie cemetery was implemented in 2019.
Cemetery Board Chair Doug Mortenson says in some cases, the records of who is buried where in the centuries old cemetery weren’t kept up to date.
Mortenson says people are able to buy lots in the areas of the cemetery that are known to be available.
Lots may be purchased at a cost of $300 for eight graves (one lot) or $200 for four graves (½ lot).
Mortenson says there’s plenty of space available.
Mortenson says the Cedar Hill Cemetery Board is also considering allowing “green burials” as well as designating an area where pets can be buried. Those details are still being researched. Cremated remains are already allowed to be buried there.
For information about Cedar Hill Cemetery, including information about location of available lots, people should contact Mortenson (323-401-5695). Once interested parties have decided on a location, one of the board members will accompany you to the Fort Pierre City Office (located in the Stanley County Courthouse) to purchase your lot.
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JUNE 8, 2023:
Those who would like to have their final resting place be in Fort Pierre’s Cedar Hill Cemetery are once again able to purchase lots.
In some cases, the records of who is buried where in the centuries old cemetery located west and south of Fort Pierre weren’t kept up to date. A moratorium on selling lots at the prairie cemetery was implemented in 2019 while a committee appointed by Mayor Gloria Hanson worked through current and historical information to determine who may– or may not– be buried where.
People may buy lots in the areas of the cemetery that are known to be available. Lots may be purchased at a cost of $300 for eight graves (one lot) or $200 for four graves (½ lot).
A committee of local community members is also working on having Cedar Hill Cemetery resurveyed to get updated information on where, exactly, the lot lines are for each set of graves. Mapping the cemetery will help determine how much space is actually available. The committee is also considering allowing “green burials” as well as designating an area where pets can be buried. Cremated remains are already allowed.
For information about Cedar Hill Cemetery, including information about location of available lots, people should contact committee Chair Doug Mortenson (323-401-5695). Once interested parties have decided on a location, one of the committee members will accompany you to the Fort Pierre City Office (located in the Stanley County Courthouse) to purchase your lot.
BACKGROUND:
Originally known as Union Cemetery, Cedar Hill Cemetery was established May 27, 1894, when the area was surveyed and laid into a cemetery plat by F. W. Pettigrew. Originally the prairie cemetery was divided into Protestant and Catholic sides. There are different sections including an area called Boot Hill where there are graves of the unknown.
After an addition of city land, the name was changed to Cedar Hill Cemetery in 1933, in reference to the abundance of cedar trees naturally growing.
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