Christina Lake residents have restored the historic Cascade cemetery in Christina Lake by clearing brush, making new headstones, and fencing the 27 graves.
“I remember visiting here with my grandmother,” said Bev Bolduc, long-time Christina Lake resident. “It was back in 1962 that they asked my grandfather if they should keep maintaining the cemetery. He said not to bother and it went back to nature.”
Over 40 years later Bev and a group of residents started to peel back the brush to see what had survived. They brought in an x-ray operator to find all of the graves.
“We know of approximately 27 people buried here and we found 27 graves,” Bolduc said. “Only two headstones were left so we don’t know who is buried where.”
The cemetery was in use from 1897 to 1955 and held many colourful characters like Tim Sullivan. He died in 1898, shot while attempting to break his friend out of the local lockup. Others, like Sam Swanson, Sara Bullock and Jens Skands, have a living link to Lake residents or landmarks.
The cemetery is accessed across Highway 3 from Highway 395. There is no vacancy at this time.