THE HISTORY
OF GREEN MOUNTAIN CEMETERY

In 1904, a local real estate developer by the name of David D. Dobbins bought the entire property from the City. He recognized its beautiful setting; its value for Boulder's expanding residential needs, and the convenient location near the Chautauqua facilities. He certainly appreciated the proximity of both Baseline and Broadway and being located directly west of the Denver & Interurban train line. Mr. Dobbins was also aware of Boulder's need for a new cemetery, and he reserved about 40 acres on the southern side of his property as he began development of the residential streets on the remaining 120 acres.

Dobbins extended the existing north-south numbered streets south from Baseline and created four new east-west streets, naming them Columbine, Mariposa, Bluebell and Chautauqua (now renamed King) Avenues. The area west of 20th Street, which was then a main road into town, he named Floral Park because of the street names, and the area east of 20th he called Interurban because of its proximity to the train to Denver. The hilliest area west of 15th was not developed until later and became known as Bellevue Heights. All of these neighborhood names have now been largely forgotten, except by some longtime residents. In order to promote residential development of Floral Park, Dobbins built the first four houses there, four almost identical modest brick bungalows, strategically located on the northwest corners of Bluebell avenue and 15th, 16th, 17th, and 19th Streets. These pleasant houses all still exist and are virtually unchanged.

By the turn of the century, Columbia Cemetery (Boulder's first and only cemetery which started in 1870) was largely filled and was not well maintained, and more importantly had no endowment fund for continued maintenance. In October of 1904, D.E. Dobbins and seven other prominent Boulder businessmen formed the Boulder Cemetery association for the purpose of creating a new and properly run cemetery for the City. One month later the Association purchased the southern 40 acres of Dobbins' property and elected Dobbins as Secretary, the first paid employee of the newly formed Green Mountain Cemetery.

The Association began immediate development of the land. W.W. Parce was hired to develop a "subdivision and planting plan" for the layout of grave plots and roads for the cemetery. Several members of the Board traveled to cemeteries in Pueblo and Denver to determine prices and sizes for the plots, and the gravesites were initially priced from $75 to $500 depending on size and location. On December 20, 1904, Archibald Chalmers, a 50-year old miner from Marshal, Colorado, was the first person to be buried in Green Mountain Cemetery. In the following year the Association paid the architectural firm of Redding and sons $153 to design a "Superintendent's Cottage." This handsome stone and plaster house was completed in 1906 at a cost of $3,100! It still stands today at the southwest corner of King and 20th Streets, which was then the entrance to the cemetery and equipped with impressive stone and iron gates. Later a large barn for horses, equipment, and a workshop for maintenance purposes were added west of the house, but these buildings are now gone. The roads were paved with crushed sandstone, then later with crushed granite. Rustic stone bridges that are still in use were constructed over Skunk Creek and the Anderson Ditch which flow through the grounds. Small pine and spruce trees were planted and have now become massive evergreens in the gently sloping landscape. All of these improvements were to be maintained with the proceeds from the perpetual care endowment fund, accumulated from portions of each gravesite sale. This, the latest method of "modern" cemetery maintenance, was the foundation of today's existing maintenance programs.

Shortly after green Mountain Cemetery was established, many Boulder families chose to move burials from the old Columbia Cemetery to the new one to take advantage of the better facilities and upkeep from the promise of "perpetual care." A total of 91 "re-interments" occurred, the last in the 1930s. Also in the early years, cemetery records indicate that a large number of burials were of persons from out of state and out of the country who died in Boulder of tuberculosis. These were probably patients of the Boulder Tuberculosis Sanitarium, now the Mapleton Rehabilitation Center, who did not recover from their illness. Over the years, many of Boulder's most prominent and colorful citizens have been buried at Green Mountain Cemetery. There are now over 12,000 graves, but there is still room for many more. The cemetery is currently developing new sections to the west and south sides, as well as quality above-ground mausoleum and various cremation inurnment options.

In the early 1930's, Percy Emmet established the Boulder Monument Company, the manufacturers of many of the gravestones in Green Mountain Cemetery. In 1950, the Company moved from downtown Boulder to the cemetery, where it operated as Boulder's only monument shop. Claude Snyder, the chief monument designer and engraver, has produced almost all of the custom-designed stones during the last 95 years. His is known for his distinctive and custom work which you will see throughout the cemetery and the pride and quality of his work is evident.

The original Boulder Cemetery Association had its financial ups and downs, and in the early 1950's sold the strip of land between the present cemetery and King Street, including the Supervisor's Cottage, for residential development. In 1970, Bill Howe, the third generation owner of Howe Mortuary, purchased Green Mountain Cemetery. Bill, his parents, his uncle, and his grandparents, have had a long involvement with the Cemetery since it was founded.

In 1994, the cemetery and mortuary were sold to the present management, which has generously and enthusiastically made the cemetery all that it is today. In the latest brochure it is mentioned that Green Mountain Cemetery is "one of Boulder's best kept secrets." Gaze around at the peaceful grassy landscape and the spectacular view of the Flatirons beyond, and we think you will agree with the statement. Come back again. Cemeteries are for visiting and remembering.