LUPER PIONEER CEMETERY
An Historic Pioneer Cemetery
Memorial Weekend, May 27-29, 2023
Luper
Pioneer Cemetery will open the vehicle gate at 30391 Beacon Drive West
(north of Eugene’s Santa Clara neighborhood) from 9 AM to 4 PM May 27,
28, 29 (Saturday, Sunday, and Monday) so people can walk the grounds and
take a self-guided tour of this historic site.
On Monday, Memorial Day, the following activities will take place between 10 AM and 2 PM:
- Musical entertainment by the Poodle Creek Pickers.
- Historical presentations by 'Mountain Man' Ken Beagle and his wife Marmie Beagle (great-great granddaughter of wagon train leader James McClure).
- Informational tours by local historian Daniel Owen.
- Members of the Luper board of directors will be in attendance to answer questions, and a self guided 'I spy' activity will also be available.
- Authors Kathy Box and Daniel Owen will each be present with copies of their respective books for sale about Oregon Pioneers. Each book purchased comes with a free copy of "They Came, They Went," a local history book by John Harn, while supplies Last
On Saturday and Sunday, information for completing a self-guided tour of the cemetery will be available, including interpretive signs describing the 18 people interred at the cemetery who arrived on the 1853 wagon train. There are over 160 people interred at Luper Cemetery.
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The maintenance and preservation of Luper Cemetery is done by a volunteer organization that established a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Public Benefit Corporation in 2009. We are supported solely by donations and grants. Please help us continue our work by making a tax-deductible contribution to the Luper Cemetery Support Fund or the Luper Cemetery Legacy Fund. You can donate by mail or through the "Donate" buttons at the bottom of any page on this website that will take you to PayPal. There you have the option of using your PayPal account, a debit or credit card. Checks can be mailed to: P.O. Box 2588, Eugene OR 97402. The Support Fund helps with current expenses for maintenance and preservation. The Legacy Fund is set aside for future care of the cemetery. If contributing by check please specify what Fund(s) to direct your donation to. Thank you for helping us preserve the historic Luper Pioneer Cemetery!
An article for the Oregon Encyclopedia about James A. Bushnell written by Timothy Bergquist PhD, Professor Emeritus at Bushnell University can be accessed by clicking here. Bushnell University is named for James A. Bushnell. In 1895 Bushnell co-founded the Eugene Divinity School that went on to become Northwest Christian University and now Bushnell University. He was the first chairman of the university's board of trustees. He started several churches in the area, started the area's first chamber of commerce, had businesses, was president of the Lane County Evangelistic Board and held other titles. James Bushnell and many of his family members are interred at Luper Cemetery.
Luper Cemetery is one of the oldest pioneer cemeteries in the southern Willamette Valley dating to the mid 1800's. There are dozens of early pioneer families represented in the cemetery with over 160 people interred. The gate to Luper Cemetery on West Beacon Drive is normally locked for vehicles except for Memorial Day and Veterans Day activities. On other days visitors are welcome to walk the 1/2 mile to the cemetery from dawn to dusk. Arrangements can usually be made to unlock the vehicle gate on W. Beacon Dr. by email to one of our "Contacts" 72 hours in advance. The cemetery is not locked to pedestrian visitors.
Increased security and reporting measures are being used to address vandalism and unauthorized night visits. All incidents (damage, fires, candles, suspicious debris or activity) are reported to the Lane County Sheriffs office.
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The Adkins Family Organization's Gravestone Project placed a new marker for Elizabeth Crawley Adkins Bushnell. A dedication ceremony was held on Saturday November 11, 2017. This marker is in keeping with historical aspects of the pioneer cemetery and has been approved by the Board of Directors. The marker dedication and biography of Elizabeth can be read on our Information page.
Mission Statement: The mission of Luper Cemetery, Inc. is to: preserve the pioneer cemetery, the history of the people who lived in the Irving area, engage local residents in the history of Luper, honor the people buried at Luper, and to maintain the site in a historically correct way.
Meetings are usually scheduled for 5:30 pm on the second Wednesday of each month. The meeting location can vary. If you plan to attend please call or email people on the Contacts page to confirm that the meeting and location for that month has not been changed or cancelled. Weather permitting summer meetings will be at the cemetery.
Donations can be made to the Luper Cemetery Support Fund or the Luper Cemetery Legacy Fund through the buttons below that will take you to PayPal where you have the option of using your PayPal account, debit or credit card. You can also donate by check mailed to:
P.O. Box 2588, Eugene OR 97402
Luper Cemetery, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Public Benefit Corporation established for the purpose of maintaining, improving and protecting Luper Cemetery. Donations are tax deductible.