Cemetery History

The Town obtained ownership of some of the Cemetery property on June 20, 1881 when the St. Louis and Denver Land and Mining Company deeded it the to the Town. If you read the deed, in the legal description it says "The boundary lines are due north, south, east and west on and surrounding the present site now being used as a Burying Yard or Cemetery for the inhabitants of Erie and vicinity. How long it had been a burial yard prior to 1881 is not known at this time.

Why is it a special place?

This is the oldest historic place still standing in Erie. Mount Pleasant Cemetery has both local and regional historic significance. The cemetery is a tangible link with the past, and a place that is sacred and significant. As you walk through Mount Pleasant you will see many different types of monuments and plots. These historic markers provide us with some of the earliest written local history. The Headstones reveal names and dates for locally significant persons as well as provide valuable information to those interested in their family histories.

Has it always been known as Mount Pleasant Cemetery?

Probably not, but no one is quite sure when it was called Mount Pleasant. The first deeds were issued in 1901 and they refer to the "Erie Cemetery". The Methodist Church has a very long history in Erie, in 1925 the Methodist Church in Pleasant View Ridge near Longmont closed and the church building was moved here. There was an old sign from the 1940's that was replaced in 1991 with the name "Mount Pleasant" so it has been around a while.

What is the exact location?

520 Colliers Boulevard - Section 18, Township 1, Range 68.

Which is the oldest grave?

The oldest headstone in the Cemetery dates back to 1869 but is probably a memorial, and the next oldest date is 1871.

How many graves are there at Mount Pleasant?

There are approximately 1,300 burials with over 300 unmarked graves. Many of the original markers were made of wood and have worn away. There are approximately 1,400 spaces still available.

Has the cemetery been enlarged through the years?

In 1900 the Town was deeded the section due east of the first cemetery, this was called the new north and south because of a division running east and west between the roads. In 1942 the Town was deeded the section to the north, this became the "New North" section.

Are cemetery burial records intact and available to view?

There are virtually no records prior to 1901, the only record would be the headstones that are still intact. There are receipts for plots sold, but no actual interment records until the 1960's and those are still not complete. In the files were almost 200 copies of Burial Transit permits, over 100 with no idea where the person was buried. More than half of those have been matched up with deeds and their burial locations recorded. In 2009 the Town purchased new software and the cemetery records are now recorded electronically.