Acacia walking tour

By Jerry Pickard

The walking tour of Acacia Cemetery in Lake Forest Park was held on Saturday, May 5.

Open to the public, the tour was led by David Lukov of Acacia and Vicki Stiles from the Shoreline Historical Museum.

David Lukov of Acacia.
Photo by Jerry Pickard

David Lukov shows a picture of Acacia when it first opened and gives a background of Acacia Memorial Park. The name "Acacia" comes from Masonic Rites.  The Acacia tree is a symbol of the promise of rebirth and eternity.  Acacia Memorial Park was founded in 1926 by the Seattle Masonic lodge.

Acacia grounds.
Photo by Jerry Pickard

One of the water features at Acacia
Photo by Jerry Pickard

Acacia's grounds are very well maintained with statuary and water features toward the front of the property.  It was originally designed in the form of a Celtic cross when seen from above.

The grave of Amos Rusie
Photo by Jerry Pickard

First stop was at the grave of Amos Rusie, who was a baseball Hall Of Fame pitcher who played primarily for the New York Giants from 1889 to 1901.  He was known for his fast ball  and in 1893 the pitchers mound was moved back from 50 feet to 60 feet 6 inches to give batters a better chance of hitting it.  Rusie's catcher, Dick Buckley admitted to putting a sheet of lead in his glove to be able to catch Rusie's fast ball.  Originally from Indiana, Rusie's nickname was the "Hoosier Thunderbolt'.  In 1977, the Major League Baseball Veteran's Committee elected Amos Rusie to the Hall Of Fame.  

Governor Langlie has a simple stone
Photo by Jerry Pickard

Arthur B. Langlie graduated from The University Of Washington school Of Law in 1925 and practiced law in Seattle.  in 1935 he won a seat on Seattle's City Council.  in 1938 he was elected mayor of Seattle.  In 1940 he resigned as mayor after being elected Governor.  He lost reelection in 1944 but was reelected as Governor for two more terms in 1948 and 1952.  He was considered a rising star of Republican politics, and served as Keynote Speaker at the 1952 Republican National Convention and was Chairman of the National Governor's Conference in 1955 and 1956.  He was featured on the cover of Time magazine in 1956 as a Republican hopeful for national office.  In 1956 he challenged incumbent Warren G. Magnuson for his senate seat and lost the election.  He died in 1966 one day short of his 66th birthday.

Other famous persons on the tour were:

• Guy Francis Farley  A member of the Greater Seattle Masonic Lodge, he was the first interment  at Acacia.  He was buried on April 24th, of 1927.
• Robert Earl Bonney was a Congressional Medal Of Honor recipient for his actions aboard the USS Hopkins on February 14, 1910.
• Evelyn Rodrique was a Violist with Seattle Symphony from 1949 to 1983
• Henry Bendele, served 23 years as head football and baseball coach at Ballard High School.  He is considered one of the greatest Seattle high school coaches of the 20th century.
• H. Roger Morris was a member of the University Of Washington's rowing team in 1936 when the UW won the 1936 Summer Olympics In Berlin, the last Olympics before the start of WWII.
• Brooks Biddle a famous football player  for the University Of Washington and later owner of Brooks Biddle Chevrolet in Bothell.