Averill Pioneer Cemetery
To find the Averill/Pioneer/G.A.R. Cemetery when you visit Bandon, from Old Town, go up the hill towards the Bandon Shopping Center on highway 101, take Harlem Ave north (left). Follow Harlem Avenue for about ¼ mile to the cemetery on your left. The sign will say “Averill Pioneer Cemetery”.
Not only is there a spectacular view of Bandon Old Town and the mouth of the Coquille River but there is over one hundred years of Bandon history there. You will see many “Pioneer Cemeteries” in this area of Oregon. There was a major westward movement (“Go west, young man.”), which began in the mid-1800’s. By 1850, the Oregon Trail was being used so much, unrelated wagon trains would often be within sight of each other. There’s an interesting account of this westward movement in the book, “The Oregon Trail”, which is available at the museum gift shop. “Pioneers” are those who are considered to be the original settlers of this area.
George Bennett Although the city of Bandon was founded by the Averill family, it was named by George Bennett who came to Oregon from Bandon, Ireland in 1873. He was an influential early settler and is responsible for naming the city “Bandon”. The citizens of the area incorporated under that name in 1891.
George Bennett is buried in plot #70 which is right on the bluff to the left of the cemetery road. Look for a fairly large tombstone.
Gallier One of the larger plots, about 24 feet square is directly back from George Bennett’s plot about 100 feet. You will see the name, “Gallier” on many of the headstones. The Gallier’s were one of the early families in the area and owned the Hotel Gallier among other businesses. There is a Hotel Gallier plaque on First Street as you go west out of Old Town on First Street towards the Port Building. The Hotel Gallier burned down in the 1936 fire that destroyed most of Bandon. At one time it was the largest hotel in Bandon.