Revisiting the Oak Point Cemetery

Unexpected changes near a cemetery completely change the character of a tranquil space.

I first visited the Oak Point Cemetery near Stella, WA a little over three years ago. It’s a peaceful, pleasant rural cemetery tucked up in a little hilly neighborhood off Highway 4.

Back then, I noticed a gate to the right of the cemetery entrance that led to an overgrown, unused road through a neighboring shady, forested area. I would have liked to have gone for a little hike, but the circumstances weren’t right.

Over the years that forest road tickled at my mind. I even looked up the property ownership to see what might be there—not much. Just forest.

Then one day recently….I really, really needed to get out of the house and out of my own head. I decided to go to Oak Point Cemetery again and maybe, finally go for that hike. If I couldn’t get past the gate, I’d find someplace else to go for a walk.

When I arrived at the parking area, I was shocked. There was the gate…and it was open this time…but the forest behind it had disappeared.

Almost all of it had been logged, right up to the fence line of the cemetery.

The old road was there, but now the “woods” was just a messy slope clogged by tree bark, small branches and debris, and scarred by heavy equipment treads. Huge piles of branches and debris were everywhere, chunks and slices of logs scattered about.

We all know progress is inevitable, but when the world is literally turned upside down, it’s a shock to the system.

I carefully made my way through the logged area, stopping to check out some old equipment that had been unearthed.

I heard a crunching noise and watched as a herd of startled elk clattered and crunched their way through wood debris into the woods on the far side of the area. It was great to see the elk.

It was also interesting to see the terrain itself, and how that hill fit into the surrounding area. I wondered how the neighbors felt about their view disappearing.

I’m glad I got a short walk in, and I’m glad I didn’t have to climb over the gate. But it was sad to see the woods disappear. I wonder what will happen to that acreage. I hope it grows back.

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Stump and Lamb explores personal growth and meaning via travels to pioneer cemeteries of the West.

This post was originally published at michellerau.com.