The Independent-Record from Helena, Montana • Page 13

If ml ELIJAH M. Thii Heieno pioneer established the first major business block in Helena. Among other innovations, he built the tint bowling alley in the L. PRIEST Priest. Pom, toll rood over the divide near present MaeDonald Past, if named after L.

V. Priest. MAJOR JAMES R. BOYCE This man was a distinguished early citiien. His heirs erected the iron fence around the Benton Avenue Cemetery in memory of Montana pioneers.

The fence was built in 1929 or 1930, oldtimers say. EDWIN Buried in this family plat is Edwin Toole and hit son, Edwin Toole, Jr. Toole was a prominent corporate lawyer and a brother of the first governor of Montana, Joseph K. Toole. I affFTiffnal sassf SSBsl JOHN KINNA Kinna was the ff and established the first hardware City.

He was also a member of the City. tyor of Helena in the Capital Restoration of Old Cemetery Is Objective By Jack GIBaJv One of the dimming weath-ertd epiUpbj reads "Gone But Not Forgotten." But many of graves In the Benton Avenue Cemetery have been forgotten and others ire the weather, earthquakes, vandalism, and neglect. Hie Knights of Pythias, Red Cross Chapter No. 32, has offered also one of the oldest in Moo- Tbe burial area, which contains many of Helena's and Montana'i pioneers, is a mess. Headstones are overturned and broken.

Garbage piles have been dumped and burned. Weeds, bushes and grasses have grown rampant. And the iron fence, which surrounds the cemetery. As with most early i the Benton Avenue clouded in mystery as to its history and who is responsible for its upkeep. Few I Few records are available snd those that are still Intact are hary and incomplete.

The cemetery apparently was started in the late 1960s, shortly alter the birth of Helena. The earliest grave that was located is marked 1867, although there are Col. C. A. Broadwater and his Wile deed eg tne iana iot ine cemetery to Lewis and Clark County on Sept, 4, 1B82.

There fore Many Titles The landmark has had many titles. Before Broadwater deeded the area tn the county, it was known as the Helena Cemetery. Around 1888, it was called the Greenwood Cemetery. When the articles of incorporation for the Benton Avenue Cemetery Association were filed on June 22, 1922, it became the Avenue Cemetery. Is the county still responsible for the cemetery's upkeep? Many aeera to think so, since the Benton Avenue Cemetery Association, set up under the county's auspices, has long been dissolved.

The cemetery encompasses ten acres, an area 640 by 640. the northeast section-is set aside for of the Early Pioneers On a stroll through this historical site, one runs across many names of veterans of the Mexican, CiviL and Spanish-American Wars, as well as those vigilantes and pioneers responsible for the bringing of law enforce- tainment to the Last Chance Gulch diggings. The pictures of the gravestones on the left of this page indicate some of the famous persons buried in the Benton Avenue Cemetery. "Any single one of these individuals buried in the Benton Avenue Cemetery could serve as the subject for a western TV production," Bob Downs, historian for the Knights of Pythias, said. Markers Destroyed The cemetery was used for Interment as late as 1963.

The recent graves have been well cared lor. The earlier those having wooden are illegible or destroyed. A fire caused by cleanup party burned many of the wooden markers. "If each organization, such as the Elks, Eagles, Masons, and IOOF, would contribute to the workload of restoring the graves of their respective members, then this historical site will give the community a sense of pride rather than embarrassment. "There's charter members of each of these organitations interred at the Benton Avenue Cemetery.

They are certainly deserving of this respect," Downs' added. It will not be a pleasant duty. It's going to require some sweat and toil to make the restoration. it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it Vol. No.

147 Helena, Montana, Sunday, May 17, 1964 Second Section Two it ir it it it saP bBboB JUNK ALONG IRON FENCE Junk has bean piled tery fence. The city has asked many of the property along south and wast sides of the Benton Avenue Come- owners to clean up their premises. I VANDALISM AND EARTHQUAKES Acts of nature and acts of Benton Avenue Cemetery. vandals hove done much damage to the) MM 'A' MM I CARROLL -Members of the Carroll College PASSAGEWwY FOR Tracks backing op Circle Club clean along the front of the Ronton Avenue the cemetery's iron fence have bent it in many Cemetery fence. (Staff Photo, by Jtek Grtluty).