History of Fernhill Cemetery

Fernhill Cemetery, located in Skagit County, was established in July of 1892. Original ownership of the property can be dated to the Howard family. In February 1892 Ernest Howard met with Anacortes councilmen regarding the sale of a portion of his family’s property for the purpose of a cemetery. Later that year Jennie, Ernest’s mother, sold a portion of the Howard property to create Fernhill Cemetery. Ernest Howard was a long time sexton at Fernhill Cemetery. Jennie, Ernest and other members of the Howard family are buried at Fernhill Cemetery.

In 1957 Mr. Fred March, whose family is buried here, decided to do something about the upkeep of the cemetery. Over the years the cemetery had grown into a sort of wilderness, with fir trees, ferns and brush. Mr. Marsh learned he could turn the repair into a county project. He distributed petitions throughout the area to be allowed a public hearing to approve or reject the project. The project was unanimously approved. A date was set for an election and the first three cemetery district commissioners were elected.

According to available cemetery burial records the first burial at Fernhill took place on July 25th 1892 with the burial of Elmira Compton Tiffany, wife of George Tiffany.