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Newcastle’s Historic Coal Miners Cemetery was established in 1878.

Well, there is, and it is a registered King County Historic Landmark. Located on 129th Avenue Southeast, just north of the entrance to Lake Boren Park, lies a 2.02-acre parcel that has served as the final resting place for coal miners and their families since 1878.

The site consists of rocky non-arable land that overlooks Lake Boren. In fact, the ground was so rocky that blasting was often required to prepare a gravesite. Jim Rannie (34) was the first internment on the property given to the International Order of Odd Fellows in 1879. The IOOF maintained ownership of the property until 2001, when it was donated to the city of Newcastle.

We don’t know how many people are buried here, but existing headstones and documentation indicate at least 190 have been laid to rest at this site. Many of the original headstones have been vandalized or removed.

In addition, wooden markers and fences outlining gravesites were destroyed by two fires during the 1900s. In some cases, the graves were marked by a ring of stones and they have been covered by moss and natural vegetation.

The existing headstones tell a story of the migration of Irish and Scots in the 1880s, Welsh, Swedes, Belgians,  English, around 1900, followed by Blacks, Germans, Italians, Slavs, Finns, Croatians and Serbians. The deaths of children identify years of disease outbreaks. Frequently, the deceased speak to us through their epitaphs: “Weep not father and mother for me, for I am waiting in glory for thee.”

“Death to me short warning give; Therefore be careful how you live; Prepare in time, do not delay; For I was quickly called away.”

Not all stories about cemeteries are sad. In 1918, a lady named Emmy had a heart attack and was declared deceased. Now, Emmy was said to be a loud and obnoxious woman and would not be missed by too many. Her husband arranged a funeral service and burial in the cemetery.

The entrance to the cemetery is steep, and one of the pall bearers slipped and dropped the coffin. To everyone’s surprise, Emmy popped right up and demanded to know what was going on.

Two weeks later, the original diagnosis came true and Emmy died. Once again, her husband arranged a service and burial. This time, however, he cautioned the pall bearers to watch their footing because he could not afford another service for his wife.

The cemetery is closed to new burials except for relatives of those already interred.

It is generally closed to the public except for Memorial Day and during Newcastle Days. To arrange a visit, or to participate in the restoration of the cemetery, contact the Newcastle Historical Society.

Look for the next two articles in the series (set to publish in July and August), which will be about individuals at rest in the cemetery. This is the aspect of the history of Newcastle that is so exciting to me. Our mining history is only 150 years old, and we know about the people that made that history.

You endured the tests, the homework, the projects, the classes, the early start times and the occasional sleepless night to get to this point — right here, right now, the finish line is in sight.

Liberty and Hazen high school seniors will receive their diplomas at separate ceremonies June 12. Hazen’s is at the Kent ShoWare Center, while Liberty’s is at Safeco Field.

Now is the time to reflect. When you stare in the mirror, dressed in full graduation regalia, what will you remember most?

Is it that teacher that got more out of you than anyone, including yourself, could imagine? Is it the coach that cared more about the athletes than the wins and losses? Is it your parents, the ones who supported you along the way?

Is it your classmates, you know, the ones you relied on just to get through a long day? Is it your friends, the ones that stood by you through the ups and downs?

Or could it be the school itself? Will you miss that new state-of-the-art facility that Liberty students call home (all the while trying to erase the memories of “portable city”)? Will you miss driving down Hoquiam Avenue every day and rushing into Hazen just before the start of class?

Whatever it is, high-school graduation is a big life milestone and the moments that got you here shouldn’t be discounted.

As you sit on the floor of the ShoWare Center, or in the stands at Safeco, stop and remember this day. Laugh as your class speaker says something totally crazy, cry when your valedictorian says something really poignant and beam with pride when you cross the stage to receive your diploma.

When it’s all over, you deserve to celebrate, and you will, whether it’s at the school-sponsored post-graduation outing, or the many summer parties to come.

Just be sure to do so responsibly. You don’t need drugs or alcohol to commemorate the past decade of schooling.

Traveling to or from a summer celebration? Keep your eyes on the road and don’t drink and drive. A AAA Washington study calls the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day the “100 deadliest days for teen drivers and their passengers.”

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers, the study said. Impairment, speed and distraction are the major contributors to teen-driver involved traffic fatalities. Learn more at teendriving.AAA.com.

Start this next chapter of your life right by partying safely and responsibly.

The city’s Historic Coal Miner’s Cemetery will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Memorial Day. It’s a rare opportunity to explore the site that is locked most of the year.

Vickie Baima Olson, an active member of the Newcastle Historical Society, will lead two tours that day. The first tour begins at 10 a.m. and the other is at noon.

Olson, whose grandparents are buried in the cemetery, will share stories about the people buried there, raise awareness about the need to preserve old cemeteries and answer questions.

The cemetery is at 7811 129th Ave. S.E.