A lighted star guides visitors to the Nativity scene of Mary with baby Jesus in her arms at the Calvary Catholic Cemetery. A simple statement of "Let Us Adore Him" rests among the holly before the figures. The plywood cutouts are flanked by two tall pillars of light in this December 31, 1954, photograph. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Cemeteries--Tacoma; Calvary Catholic Cemetery (Tacoma); Creches (Nativity scenes)--Tacoma; Plywood; Christmas decorations; Signs (Notices); Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

Christ's crucifixion in stone or marble appears to be on permanent display at the Calvary Catholic Cemetery. Two angels kneel in prayer on either side of the monument which is decorated in native greenery. Women are portrayed collapsed in grief while others stand and pray. The juxtaposition of plywood angels and stone sculpture apparently works; it is a pleasing blend of materials. The Calvary Catholic Cemetery was one of Tacoma's oldest, purchased in 1905 to be used as burial grounds for the area's Catholic community, and spanned 35 acres. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Cemeteries--Tacoma; Calvary Catholic Cemetery (Tacoma); Monuments & memorials--Tacoma; Sculpture; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

Another view of a Nativity scene at Calvary Catholic Cemetery was taken on December 31, 1954. This was photographed during daylight hours but still shows the plywood cutouts of Mary and baby Jesus in great detail. The creche is located before a brick house, perhaps the sexton's office or lounge, on part of the cemetery's 35 acres. The wooden materials blend with the attending fir trees to become a part of the natural landscaping. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association. TPL-8112

Cemeteries--Tacoma; Calvary Catholic Cemetery (Tacoma); Creches (Nativity scenes)--Tacoma; Plywood; Christmas decorations; Signs (Notices); Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

A fallen grave marker from the Pioneer Catholic Cemetery, a four acre plot on the corner of the Calvary Catholic Cemetery, at the end of South Villard. This is one of the oldest cemeteries in the county. The land was originally donated for burials by John and Eliza Rigney. No written records exist for the Pioneer portion which had been in use since about 1850, and there are probably even earlier graves that lie unmarked.. ("A History of Pierce County, Washington 1992", vol. 3)

Cemeteries--Tacoma; Tombs & sepulchral monuments; Pioneer Catholic Cemetery (Tacoma); Calvary Catholic Cemetery (Tacoma);

Calvary Catholic Cemetery's 35 acres was located next to the 4 acre old Rigney cemetery (Pioneer Catholic Cemetery) and was purchased in 1905 from Tony Portman to supply a burial ground for the Catholic community since the smaller cemetery was full. In the first 80 years of operation, 20, 657 interments took place at Calvary. A new entrance was added in 1935 patterned after a large country estate. New brick buildings, containing the sexton's office and a lounge with restrooms, were constructed, as well as massive wrought iron gates. (TDN 6/12/1905, pg. 4, "A History of Pierce County, Washington" vol. 3)

Cemeteries--Tacoma; Tombs & sepulchral monuments; Calvary Catholic Cemetery (Tacoma);

These wooden crosses mark burial sites in the Pioneer Catholic Cemetery, a portion of the Calvary Catholic Cemetery. One of the oldest cemeteries in the county, it has been in use since about 1850. The four acre old cemetery was located on the Steilacoom Road near South Tacoma and was donated for burials by John and Eliza Rigney. There were no written records of the burials in the Pioneer section. ("A History of Pierce County, Washington" vol. 3)

Cemeteries--Tacoma; Tombs & sepulchral monuments; Calvary Catholic Cemetery (Tacoma); Pioneer Catholic Cemetery (Tacoma);

Pioneer Catholic Cemetery, part of Calvary Catholic Cemetery, in use since 1850. Toppled grave markers and overgrown weeds dot the grounds. In 1905, the Calvary Cemetery Association incorporated and bought the adjoining acreage to establish a new cemetery since the old one was full. Pioneer Catholic Cemetery is not owned by the Association, but is maintained by the group. No burials took place in Pioneer after that time and there are no written records of the older cemetery. Information gathered from the headstones is incorporated with the records from Calvary. The condition of the grounds in this picture were probably due to the 1950 cemetery workers strike. ("Calvary Cemetery" Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society, 1985)

Cemeteries--Tacoma; Tombs & sepulchral monuments; Calvary Catholic Cemetery (Tacoma); Pioneer Catholic Cemetery (Tacoma);

Pioneer Catholic Cemetery, part of Calvary Catholic Cemetery, at the end of South Villard, in use since 1850. The older graves lie unkempt and overgrown, with the wooden and stone markers tumbled over. Pictures from this series were used in an interesting ad in the Tacoma News Tribune (TNT 4/14/1950, pg. 8), contrasting these old and forgotten graves with the "perpetual care" given by modern cemeteries. The ad continues to say that excessive wage demands mean cuts in staff and care. This was probably a reference to negotiations with the Cemetery Workers Union and the following strike by workers. The ad was a joint effort of the New Tacoma Cemetery, the Old Tacoma Cemetery, and the Calvary Cemetary.

Cemeteries--Tacoma; Tombs & sepulchral monuments; Calvary Catholic Cemetery (Tacoma);Pioneer Catholic Cemetery (Tacoma);