Story of the Little Red Brick Mausoleum
Thanks to Beth Hancock Cross for supplying the information and
photos for this page.

Donald Stearns, right-hand-man of Henry Pittock, the Oregonian publisher, was sent to Camas and directed to negotiate the purchase of 2800 acres which commanded the water supply of LaCamas Creek from its three lakes to its mouth at the Washougal River preparatory to the establishment of the paper mill. Mr. Stearns married Clara Dunaway, a Portland girl, who after living in Camas a couple of years, contracted pneumonia, and eventually died of tuberculosis, while her mother condemned Stearns for removing her daughter to a damp house on the north side of LaCamas Lake.

Stearns built this brick mausoleum for his wife. Her crypt had a glass cover to enable Mr. Stearns to view her whenever he wished. She is not buried there today.

The solid red brick mausoleum was constructed without windows. One door was placed on the north side. It later was converted to a rest room and then to a tool storage shed.

Sources:
Submitted to Clark County Washington Cemetery Records � Vol. Six, Camas Cemetery by Vincent Ast
(some information from 1984 Fort Vancouver Historical Society Quarterly)

Some of our graphics
are from Rhio's Sampler.
Click above to go to her site.

Last modified on Wednesday, October 28, 2009