News Articles

During the spring of 2023 funds were raised to build a new 330' retaining wall to prevent further erosion of the Sokol Lodge Cemetery.  This project also provided a safer entrance to the cemetery.  Thank you to the many individual donors who helped make this project possible.  A special thanks to the Shoemaker Foundation for their donation of $5,000 and the Great Tacoma Foundation, Bill & Nancy Smith for their $10,000 donation!

In 2023 new steps to the Serbian Cemetery replaced the old concrete stairs that had been damaged during an early winter.  Volunteers added historic double loop wire fencing along the perimeter of the expanded cemetery.  Thanks to individual donors and the Suncadia Enhancement Fund for their generous donations to this project.

Pictured (left to right): Representative Alex Ybarra, Frank Brozovich, Croatian Ambassador Pjer Šimunović, Beverly Prkacin Read, Consul General Renee Pea, Dick Watts, County Commissioner Laura Osciadacz   In 2017 Frank Brozovich, Honorary Consul to the Republic of Croatia at Seattle, Washington, appointed Beverly Prkacin Read as Project Manager to build a monument in tribute to the Croatian coal miners of Roslyn, Ronald and Cle Elum, Washington.  The monument was designed by Architect Ivo Gregov.  The Croatian Memorial Monument was dedicated May 26, 2018.   On October 2, 2023 we celebrated the 5-year anniversary.  Beverly Prkacin Read and Maria Adams, President...

Two family members told the story of their decedents during the Kiosk Dedication Ceremony on May 29, 2021. Kelly Clift told the story of Frances Cusworth, her great-great grandmother who lost her husband and oldest son living at home in Roslyn during the 1892 mine explosion.  Many of the Cusworth family members are buried throughout the Roslyn Cemeteries. https://youtu.be/kGZimHQhxCo?si=x5Xrap1ugAldHS6t Raymond Donaldson told the story of Jessee Donaldson, his great-great grandfather who escaped slavery and enlisted in the Union Army during the Civil War.  Jessee was buried under a Civil War military grave marker in the Mt. Olivet Cemetery. https://youtu.be/Em8Tr3upHqU?si=FIH5rqQAPAKM5I5J

The stories of hardship and loss that early immigrants to Roslyn endured are exhaustive.   On Sunday, May 30th, 2021 family members gathered at the Slovak Cemetery for an unveiling ceremony of 14 headstones on previously unmarked babies’ graves.    Dale Briese, great grandson of Izidor and Elizabeth Magda tells the story how his great grandmother coped with the loss of seven babies from 1902 to 1912.   She carried a doll for comfort and remembrance of her babies – John, Andy, George, Steve, Joe, Elizabeth and Mary.   https://youtu.be/yceagqUVCPs?si=f2jCqSgzXHkZxQiW Beverly Prkacin Read, granddaughter of Andras and Anna Vargo Jasso, learned of her uncle,...

The Cle Elum Lodge of the Order of Sons and Daughters of Italy in America raised funds to design and erect a monument honoring people of Italian descent that are buried in the Roslyn Cemeteries.  They celebrated with a dedication ceremony on May 29, 2021.  The Italian Monument is located in the Silvio Pellico Cemetery, one of Roslyn's Historic Cemeteries.

Celebrations for Memorial Day 2021 at the Roslyn Cemetery have wrapped up! A big thank you to everyone who stopped by the cemetery for Memorial Day weekend and contributed to the event.   Thank to our donors who made this project possible.   We received large grants from the The Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, Suncadia Community Enhancement Fund, Shoemaker Fund, Boeing, and Bill & Nancy Smith’s Greater Tacoma Foundation.   In total we had the support of over 170 companies, organizations, and individuals, an impressive show for our small community.  A big shout out to our event sponsors:...

The Roslyn Historical Cemeteries Kiosk nearing it's completion in January, 2021 After much eager anticipation, the Roslyn Historical Cemeteries Kiosk and updated entrance structure will be nearing it's final reveal Memorial Day 2021! With the concept of this structure and interpretive kiosk first being envisioned back in 2018, the development of both the entrance structure and online kiosk database has been in progress both on land and online for the past three years.    Final testing on the interactive kiosk, January 2021 While the entrance structure begins to receive its finishing touches, the interpretive kiosk and its online database is...

A new computer in the kiosk will provide family members with the exact location of those interred and it will honor those veteran’s interred by posting their photo and military history. It will share cemetery history with visitors who come to visit this historical treasure. Many hours of work have gone into transforming the idea to reality.  This is how the Roslyn Cemetery Kiosk appears in 2018 (prior to the proposed improvement plan)

Concept Illustration for the new kiosk and entrance improvements plan. (2018) For several years the Roslyn, Ronald, Cle Elum Heritage Club has been working with cemetery commissioners and Representative Matt Manweller to secure a Capital Improvements Grant from the Department of Archeology and Historic Preservation. The grant would support our plan to build a new Interpretive Kiosk at the entrance to our historic cemeteries. The plan we envision is to build a large, covered kiosk providing a benefit to local families, while increasing historical information to visitors. Photos on the current kiosk would be retained and...

ALMOST SOLD OUT Explosion Kills 45 Miners in Roslyn, Washington The Tragedy of May 10th, 1892 This book is sure to be treasured for generations to come The Upper County is built upon a foundation of coal mining This book pays tribute to the 45 miners who lost their lives in the 1892 explosion at the No. 1 Mine in Roslyn and their families. These are their stories. Told as only someone from their time could recount them. As gripping as they were 125 years ago. “This book is dedicated to Seattle Press-Times reporter Ryerson, an eye-witness who ventured into the...

Roslyn’s Coal Miners Memorial Located in front of the “Old Company Store”From 8-18-1989 Ellensburg Daily Record By Paul Fridlund May 10, 1892. Benjamin Ostliff, an English immigrant, left home for the mine. For the father of six children this day promised something that had been infrequent lately. He would work a full shift in No.1 Mine in Roslyn. The family needed the money during this depressed time. For Ostliff, Roslyn had become home. After immigrating to the United States, he moved to Illinois. In 1886, he ventured west to Roslyn. He helped open the first mine...

Dear Friends, This has been an amazing summer for the completion of our restoration projects in Roslyn's Cemeteries. Members of the various lodges have done a great job of improving the appearance of their respective cemeteries while volunteers continue with their efforts to restore the few remaining cemeteries. Here is an update: Our local Boy Scout Troop, under the leadership of Mark Huthcinson, is drawing plans to replace the picket fence separating Silvio Pellico from Redmen. Mark's leadership on this project will fulfill the requirements for him to achieve Scouting's Eagle Award. Mark will have the entire troop cutting pickets...