Novelty Hills Cemetery
28031 NE 116th
Duvall, King County, Washington
530-289-8019
Novelty Cemetery dates back to 1901 when a five acre piece of land was donated by a local resident. A sign at the cemetery entrance says it was established in 1902.
It replaced the historic Pioneer Cemetery that is located at the Dougherty Farmstead Museum in Duvall. That cemetery had to be closed due to the multitude of springs on the hillside. Many war veterans, mayors and other prominent Duvall residents are buried in the Novelty Cemetery.
The oldest marked grave was from 1889 and the cemetery is still actively used.
Property Description:
Novelty Hills Cemetery is located on a hillside off Novelty Hill & 124th Street roundabout south 3.6 miles of the town of Duvall and east of the Snoqualmie River. The land occupies a roughly rectangular 4.41-acre property.
History:
In 1886, an early pioneer and saloon keeper James O'Leary deeded an acre of land to the Squak Methodist Church for the building of a church and cemetery. The half-acre cemetery behind the church was used by Duvall's early pioneers, but for only a few short years because seepage from the upper slopes kept the ground constantly wet & soggy.
In 1900 a committee was formed including; Haratio Allen, Milo Clark, Alexander Adair, Alfred Pickering, John Dougherty Sr., Daniel McKay, and Andrew Peterson, all whom are buried at Novelty Hills, homesteaded the cemetery. The land was purchased by Mr. C Dameyer, also buried at Novelty Hills.
In 1909 and 1910 when a portion of the pioneer cemetery had to be excavated for the Great Northern Railroad right-of-way, about 20 bodies were moved, many to the new Novelty Hill Cemetery south of Duvall. The Novelty area was originally settled in the 1870's. The community was in favor of naming the area "Boyce" after a popular local figure. Mr. Boyce preferred instead they name the area "Novelty" after the home town of his youth, Novelty, Missouri.
Visit the Novelty Hills Cemetery Website