The annual Hobart reunion is scheduled for 1-3 p.m. April 16 at the Hobart Community Church, 27525 S.E. 200th St.

The event is hosted by the Maple Valley Historical Society.  The program presented by society vice president, Dick Peacock, will discuss the oldest cemetery in the Valley.

Peacock will be assisted by Sherrie Acker, president of the Hobart-Maple Valley Cemetery Association.

The cemetery is located on two elevated acres on the Hobart Road, now known as 208th Street.  The land was donated for the cemetery in 1879 by Mr. and Mrs. C.O. Russell whose homestead was located there.  It was administered by the United Farmers Alliance until May, 1899, when the Maple Valley-Hobart Cemetery Association was organized by pioneers:  William Sidebotham, George Sidebotham, L.W. Clifford, C.W. Smith, Charles Peacock, C.O. Russell and William Scott.

Later, Roger Williams, whose property was next to the cemetery, donated a piece of land for a community church.  Two different buildings were constructed on the site and were used as a neighborhood meeting place for years.  A church was being built in 1924; but before it could be completed, it was blown down in a storm on Dec. 23, 1924.  It was rebuilt and dedicated April 1925 as the Highline Church, this building burned down in 1953.

The first regular Maple Valley school, located next to the Highline Church, opened its doors in 1881.   One of the projects of the Maple Valley pioneers was the construction of a monument to the school, which was dedicated in May of 1940.  The marker includes the names of the first teachers:  Miss Ollie Carter, 1881; Mrs. Mary B. McManus, 1884-1885; and Miss Lillian Titus.

A walk through the cemetery is a trip back into history relating the deaths of the pioneer families. The earliest date on a tombstone is Jan. 31, 1879, when Kitturah Ann Ames died, only 5 years old.  This same family lost two other daughters, aged 8 and 8.  Five of the Sidebotham family are buried there:  Henry, Selina, Henry Jr., Jennie and George.

Graves were maintained by family members until 1966 when Bill and Ina Mitchell took an interest in the cemetery.  They worked hard with other volunteers to get it leveled out and grass planted.  Bill was the cemetery president from 1966 to 1976, when he died.

The program will be followed by a coffee hour for socializing and all are welcome.

For further information contact Dick Peacock, 425-432-0141 or Sherri Acker, 425-432-0266.