West Greenwood Cemetery
West Coulee Hite & Gray Rd.
Spokane, Spokane County, Washington 99029
509-796-5374
Also known as Deep Creek Cemetery, Indian Prairie Cemetery, Reardon Cemetery, Four Mound Prairie Cemetery, Coulee Creek Cemetery, Hite Cemetery
“To reach this cemetery from Hwy 2, go north on Wood Rd to Coulee-Hite Rd, turn left on Gray Rd. The cemetery is located in the NW quarter of Sec 22, Twp 26 N, R 40 E in Coulee Twp, about 15 miles NW of Spokane.”
“It is now owned by the West Greenwood Cemetery District #2. It is managed and maintained by an appointed committee, under the supervision of the County. It is maintained by volunteers.”
The West Greenwood Cemetery index lists individuals interred at this cemetery located in Spokane County, Washington. Death dates on the markers range from 1881-2011, and 1819 is the earliest birth date shown.
The West Greenwood Cemetery was incorporated in 1896 as the Greenwood Cemetery. With time the name was changed, perhaps to remove confusion with Greenwood Memorial Gardens in Spokane, which organized in 1888. It is now owned by the West Greenwood Cemetery District #2. It is managed and maintained by an appointed committee, under the supervision of the County. It is maintained by volunteers.
West Greenwood Cemetery is located West of the city of Spokane, Washington on Coulee Hite Road. The cemetery is outside the city limits of Spokane and is often confused with Greenwood Memorial Terrace, located within the city limits. West Greenwood is a rural cemetery that was used by the many small communities surrounding it. The name West Greenwood did not become standard until the mid 1930s. Most early death certificates simply call it Greenwood. Other names for the cemetery include Deep Creek Cemetery, Indian Prairie Cemetery, Hite Cemetery, Reardon Cemetery, Crescent Cemetery, Four Mound Prairie Cemetery and Coulee Creek Cemetery. West Greenwood Cemetery was not used by the city of Spokane for the burial of its poor and needy deceased. Both Greenwood Memorial Terrace and Fairmount Memorial Park within the city limits have pauper sections that were used for that purpose.
Greenwood Cemetery resulted from an increase of workers coming to Spokane, due to jobs in the mining and railroading industries. Because so many people came for work, more people were dying in this small town. This resulted in a purchase of land in 1888 that was established as the Greenwood Cemetery. Workers and families would be buried together in the plots, and in some cases, would be dug back up for other projects. But when the booming town died down, the cemetery remained unsullied, for the most part.
Enough bodies were being buried that it was necessary to build terraces. The first floor was mainly filled with the workers and their families, but the second terrace was where many higher-ranking townsmen were buried. In 1961, a third terrace was constructed and is the highest of the terraces.
This cemetery with so much depth and death is said to be haunted. Although it is out of the way and located on private property, the infamous One Thousand Steps leading up to it may also be haunted. It earns this name since it is rare for any individual to reach the top. As one climbs the staircase, they'll be haunted by faces of men, women, and children, all of whom are presumably buried in the cemetery. However, if you can brave it to the top of the stairs, the fun doesn't end there. Upon reaching the top, you'll hear blood-curdling screams and screeches. It's also been reported that once the screaming starts, you'll feel drops of rain. This place is not for the faint of heart, but if you want to venture to a haunted cemetery in Washington, look no further.
