Enterprise Cemetery
7041 Vista Drive
Ferndale, Whatcom County, Washington 98248
360-366-5341
Legend is that two white men were buried at this site in the early 1820s. However, Jeffcott in "Nooksack Tales and Trials" says the first burial was an infant. Furthermore, an old-time resident states that members of the Brown family are the first burials, although this cannot be confirmed. Mr. Seriah Stevens, a Civil War veteran who died February 10, 1881, is the oldest confirmed burial. To date, we have 521 interred veterans, 25 of which are Civil War veterans.
Enterprise Cemetery was established January 30, 1886. Mr. David Wallace donated 1.5 acres to Mr. M. L. Gee, Mr. John J. Brown, and Mr. Franklin Brunson, newly established trustees (and their successors) in office, to use as a cemetery for burials. Over the years, several additional parcels of land were added, and by 1900, the cemetery totaled thirteen acres. In 1995, the board of trustees, Mr. Paul Larsen, Mr. Tom Long, and Mr. Leonard Sund, purchased fifteen additional acres, totaling 28 acres.
Ferndale Enterprise Cemetery in Whatcom County was founded in 1903 and handed to the City of Ferndale in 1915.
The Ferndale Enterprise Cemetery’s management was under the City of Ferndale until 1940, when the Ferndale Enterprise Cemetery Association took over after its formation. The association took over the administration until 2011, when the cemetery land was deeded again to the City of Ferndale.
The Ferndale Enterprise Cemetery has incorporated several graves from the local cemeteries. One notable relocation was done by Ferndale Catholic Cemetery in 1994. After the relocation, a memorial with a list of the names of the deceased whose graves were moved was erected.
Ferndale Enterprise Cemetery in Ferndale ranks number 1st out of the two cemeteries in Ferndale City in terms of popularity. Further, it ranks 10th out of 24 cemeteries in Whatcom County, 28th out of the 214 cemeteries in Washington State, and 2813 in the United States.
ENTERPRISE CEMETERY – Volume IV
Enterprise Cemetery is located on the west side of Vista Drive, between Grandview and Fox Roads (NW1/4 of SE1/4 of Sec 1, T39N R1E). To reach the cemetery from I-5, take the Grandview Road exit (Exit 266) Turn left (west) on Grandview Road and proceed 1 mile to Vista Drive. Turn right (north) on Vista Drive and continue .5 of a mile until you reach the cemetery entrance on your left (west side of the road).
There is a legend that two white men were buried at this site in the early 1820’s. However, Jeffcott in "Nooksack Tales And Trails" says the first burial was an infant. Further, an old time resident states that members of the BROWN family were the first burials.
According to records of deeds, the original plot of about 1-1/8 acres was donated by Mr. David WALLACE on 30 Jan 1886 to M. L. GEE, John J. BROWN, Franklin BRUNSON as trustees and their successors in office to be used as a cemetery for the burial of the dead. Several additional parcels of land have been added until there are now 13 acres. Enterprise Cemetery and Mountain View Cemetery comprise Whatcom County Cemetery District No 7. There is a resident sexton at Enterprise Cemetery. Cemetery records are very incomplete and have been extensively supplemented from other sources (i.e. newspaper clippings, family records, mortuary records, etc). Inquiries should be addressed to:
The Sexton, Enterprise Cemetery, 7041 Vista Drive, Ferndale, WA
