Also known as The Scheel Family Cemetery, the old German Hill Cemetery is located on the northern side of the George valley near the settlement of George, OR. on Gruber Rd. This cemetery is the resting place for many German immigrants who came here in the 1800's. Now covered with natural overgrowth, the cemetery is slowly disappearing into 'Mother Nature's arms.'

The walk here is interesting. Gravemarkers can be found in several places but my research found that the actual locations of these graves is truly unknown, which is consistant with the placements of some of the markers that appear random and tidy for a cemetery of this age and type. According to a neighbor, a logger who was falling trees in the late 1960's or early 70's fell trees in and around the graveyard and markers were disturbed and consequently moved. At one time there were also several steel marker stakes but they were also knocked over and taken up during the logging and piled in one place. I found only one steel marker stuck in the ground but the printed info had long ago deteriorated, and there was no way to tell if it was actually on a grave or not. The other steel markers were not found.

Some flat markers still exist, some granite and others cement, as does a raised marker and a tall, double columned headstone with one column and the cross topper on the ground, due to a vandalism by two local boys in the late 1980's or early 90's, according to one long-term neighbor.

There is no way to tell how many graves there are here but the last known burial was for Edward N. Scheel in 1977. The Scheel name is the most common family name found here, but Steinke and Cochran are here, too, and Gravenhein and Swearman (?) are also known to be buried here.

-J.M.Favata
16 May, 2008