History of Juniper Haven Cemetery

Juniper Haven Cemetery is comprised of former City, Pioneer, Masonic, Union 
and IOOF Cemeteries.  About 6000 graves, 86 are unidentified.  The first 
Cemetery at Prineville was know as the City Cemetery, in which the oldest 
marked burial is R. Striethoff, 1870, age 51.  About 100 known burials had 
been made prior to 1895, when this land, Section 31, along with much other 
land, was sold by David Cahn and Alex Weill of San Francisco to Chas. Altchul, 
who resold it to Oregon & Western Colonization Co. in October 1917.

In 1916, members of the Commercial Club elected Carey Foster, M.D. Powell and 
T.H. Lafollette trustees to form the Prineville Cemetery Association, which 
purchased 4.6 acres, which included the City Cemetery, from the Oregon & 
Western Colonization Co. for $48.80.  This was then known as the Pioneer 
Cemetery.  How this could be sold by Oregon & Western more than a year before 
having a deed to it is not known.  Additional adjoining land was donated, two 
acres by the City of Prineville, one acre by Crook County and 1 1/2 acres 
bought from A. R. Bowman in 1946.

In 1895, Prineville Lodge #76 A.F. and A.M. bought 6 acres from Chas. Altschul 
and in 1916 bought an additional 6 acres from Oregon & Western Colonization Co. 
This was known as the Masonic Cemetery.

In May, 1896, Ochoco Lodge, Ancient United Order bought 5 acres from Oregon 
& Western Colonization Co.  This was called the Union Cemetery.  In October 
1896, this was sold to Ochoco Lodge #46 IOOF and in 1916, the Odd fellows 
Lodge bought an additional 6 acres from Oregon & Western Colonization Co.  
This and the Union Cemetery was then know as the Odd fellows Cemetery.  A 
deep well was drilled by IOOF Cemetery about 1950.  A well was also drilled 
jointly by Pioneer and Masonic Cemeteries.  A pump and pipe line were 
installed.  The light weight pipe could not withstand pressure and soon filled 
with sand pumped from the well.  Some shrubs and grass were planted by 
individuals.

In 1953, in a joint project by the three cemeteries, a pump was installed 
in the slough near Loper St. and pipe laid by volunteer labor, one-half acre 
of lawn was planted in the Masonic Cemetery.

In 1954, a petition was made to the County Court to form a Cemetery Improvement
District.  There being no objections, the Crook County Cemetery Improvement 
District was formed, including all of Crook County.  Voters approved a tax 
levy with only one dissenting vote.

Cary Foster, Ralph Breese and Russel Stanton were elected to the first Board 
of Directors.  Later Fred Houston served on the Board for several years.  The 
Pioneer, Masonic and IOOF Cemeteries were deeded to the Cemetery District and 
the name of Juniper Haven was chosen.

In 1956, when funds were available for operation, Russell Stanton was named 
Superintendent, continuing in that capacity until his retirement in 1972, 
being succeeded by Gail Cox and present superintendent Al Bidiman.