Luper Pioneer Cemetery Open Memorial Day Weekend – May 27-29

Luper Cemetery will be open 9 am to 4 pm May 27, 28, 29 so people can walk the grounds and take a self-guided tour. Special presentations will be made by Mountain Man Ken & Marmie Beagle (Great-great granddaughter of wagon train leader James McClure) on Sunday afternoon and Monday morning. Ken has researched the Mountain Men of the early 1800’s and has replicated an authentic hand crafted Mountain Man outfit based on his research. He will explain the clothing & gear and also talk about the history of the Mountain Men and how they were utilized by the wagon trains during their immigration west. Marmie will model a typical prairie dress of that era. James McClure and 17 other 1853 wagon train pioneers are buried at Luper Cemetery. Ken will give short talks on Sunday, May 28 at 1:00, 2:00, & 3:00 p.m. and on Monday, May 29 at 10:00 and 11:00 a.m.

In early May, Scout Troup 182 and Santa Clara neighbors all pitched in to prepare the cemetery site paths with fresh wood chips. Many volunteers helped to clear the ice storm damage earlier in the year. Contributions from Sperry Tree Service, Lane Forest Products, and others are much appreciated in preparation for Memorial Day.

Luper Cemetery (also known as Irving or Baker Cemetery) was founded in the mid-1800s. Eighteen of the interred arrived in 1853, by way of the Oregon Trail and the Free Emigrant Road across central Oregon. The story of The Lost Rescue, written by Daniel Owen, about the wagon train rescue party, will be on sale to benefit Luper Cemetery, Inc., the non-profit organization that helps take care of this Oregon historic site. Over 160 people are buried at Luper Cemetery.

DIRECTIONS to Luper Cemetery: From Eugene, take River Rd. north to Beacon Drive, on the north boundary of Santa Clara, and follow signs west. From Junction City, take River Rd. south, turn west onto Beacon Drive and travel about a ½ mile to a white metal gate, on the north side of Beacon Drive. Proceed through the gate approximately 1/2 mile to the parking lot and cemetery entrance. The cemetery may be accessed every day from dawn to dusk by walking the half-mile gravel road from West Beacon Drive to the cemetery. Please check www.lupercemetery.com for more information about the cemetery, and other resources.