Fairview Cemetery in Cheney
1530 Salnave Rd.
Cheney, Spokane County, Washington
(509) 994-4453
Directions
It is located at the edge of the city limits, about one-half mile southwest of Cheney on Salnave Road.
History
In 1880, the town site of Cheney was surveyed, leading to the establishment of a new city. During this year, the citizens shaping what would become Cheney held a meeting to select a site for a burial ground. They chose 10 acres located on the southeast quarter of Section 14, about a mile west of the town. Another meeting in January 1881 led to the formation of a Cemetery Association, which selected the name Fairview Cemetery for the 10 acres purchased from Thomas J. McFerron. According to the Spokane City Directory of 1890, he was a Nurseryman. The cemetery was not officially dedicated until 24 December 1914. According to Find A Grave, the earliest recorded death at the cemetery is George Herman Cook, who passed away in 1867, marking the beginning of a significant chapter in our local history.
The property is situated on a steep hillside and covers approximately 6 acres, with an additional nearly 2-acre parcel to the west that adjoins Sections 5 and 6. Unbeknownst to the cemetery, a builder acquired over three acres from the city to construct houses, which led the Association to purchase the 2-acre parcel from the Cheney Dome Corporation in 1988.
Since the late 1940s, the city has shown little interest in Fairview, which remained unkempt for many years. However, around 1988, the Cheney Cemetery Association, a nonprofit organization, took over the cemetery’s management, initiating a series of restoration and maintenance projects to preserve its historical significance.
The Cheney Cemetery Association, a nonprofit organization, manages three historic cemeteries in and around Cheney: Fairview, New England, and Green Mound. Burial plots and arrangements for interments can be purchased in any of these cemeteries, with Fairview Cemetery being the most popular choice.
The Association Historian plays a crucial role in preserving Fairview’s history and the stories of many individuals buried here. The sexton of the Cheney Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 461, Cheney, WA 99004, maintains the names and locations of the graves, ensuring the continuity of our cemetery’s legacy.
Visitors to Fairview Cemetery are always welcome and can easily borrow a gate key from the Cheney Police Department located at 215 G Street, ensuring convenient access to our historic site.
Additional information
Tombstones an index of region’s rich history
Visit the Fairview Cemetery in Cheney Website
