Greenwood Cemetery

Honoring the Lives and Legacy of Buena Vista’s Early Citizens

Greenwood Cemetery is a historic burial site located near Enderly Heights Elementary School in Buena Vista. Established by the City in 1895, the cemetery served residents of the early community, including White, African American, and Native American citizens. More than 200 individuals who lived and worked during the formative years of Buena Vista are believed to be buried at this site, with the last known burial taking place in 1940.

Many of those laid to rest here helped build Buena Vista — working in its homes, businesses, and early industries. Today, Greenwood Cemetery stands as a quiet but powerful reminder of the people whose lives shaped the community we know today.

A Forgotten Cemetery Rediscovered

Over time, Greenwood Cemetery fell into disrepair as family members moved away and regular maintenance ceased. Trees, shrubs, and vines gradually grew throughout the area, and many headstones and grave markers were lost or buried over time.

Within the wooded area today, subtle depressions in the ground mark the locations of graves. Some remnants remain, including fieldstones, concrete grave markers, and pieces of metal fencing that once surrounded family plots. Only one clearly identified marker has been documented — a hand-carved stone bearing the name Katie Curtis — though many other individuals are believed to be buried at the site without identifiable markers.

While much of the cemetery’s physical history has faded over time, the importance of the site and the lives connected to it remain deeply significant.

Community Efforts to Restore Greenwood Cemetery

In 2021, a group of local citizens formed the Friends of Greenwood Cemetery to help restore and preserve this historic burial site and ensure those buried there are properly honored and remembered.

The group is working to:

 

• • Survey and document the cemetery area

• • Identify gravesites and individuals buried there whenever possible

• • Clear brush, fallen trees, and debris from the property

• • Establish fencing to protect the cemetery boundaries

• • Install interpretive signage sharing the history of the site

• • Create a memorial to honor those buried at Greenwood Cemetery

Many of the individuals buried here helped build the early homes, businesses, and industries of Buena Vista, making this restoration effort an important part of preserving the city’s shared history.

Get Involved

Community members who have information about individuals buried at Greenwood Cemetery — or who are interested in helping preserve this historic site — are encouraged to get involved.

Volunteers and donations support ongoing efforts to clear the cemetery, identify gravesites, and share the story of those buried there.

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