In 1858, the Portland Archdiocese established its first cemetery, St. Mary's Cemetery, in Southeast Portland adjacent to Lone Fir Cemetery. By the late 1800s, that site was becoming full and a new site was needed. In 1888, the Archdiocese purchased 100 acres (400,000 m2) in the West Hills and established Mount Calvary Cemetery.[1]
In 1930, St. Mary's was closed and the interments were relocated, mostly to Mount Calvary, and Central Catholic High School was built on the site of the old cemetery.[1] In 1961, the Archdiocese opened a second cemetery in the Portland area, Gethsemani Catholic Cemetery, located in Happy Valley.[2]
Facilities
The hilltop altar is located on the north side of the Cemetery and bears the Latin inscription "In Sacerdotum Memoriam"
From its location in the West Hills, Mount Calvary has views of Portland and the surrounding mountains in the Cascade Range, as well as the Columbia River. In addition to more than 20,000 graves, the site contains a mausoleum, columbarium, and a hilltop altar for the celebration of Mass.[3]
Notable burials
The cemetery is the final resting place for several archbishops of Portland as well as politicians, businessmen, actors, and sports figures.
^Hogan, Dave (December 22, 2001). "Biography Profile Local Obituary – Judge 'James the Just' Burns dies at 77 after long illness". The Oregonian. p. E1.
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