The following is an overview of the Arkhangel’skoye Doukhobor Cemetery located 13 miles north of Arran, Saskatchewan. Rural Municipality of Livingston No. 331. Land location: NW 16-35-31 West of First. Latitude: 52°00.564. Longitude: 101°50.149. Compiled by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff with Peter and Laura Verigin and Fred Petroff on October 27, 2007.
Distant view of the cemetery from the grid road (southwest corner of quarter-section) facing east. The cemetery (northeast corner of quarter-section) is in the ridge of trees at centre of photo.
Historical Background
Arkhangel’skoye Cemetery was established in 1906 by the Doukhobors of Arkhangel’skoye village near Pelly. After the abandonment of the village in 1917, the cemetery ceased to be actively used. Over the years, it has become badly overgrown. The cemetery is owned by the Crown.
Layout
The cemetery is approximately one tenth of an acre in size and is unenclosed. There is dense scrub and brush throughout. The cemetery contains at least six interments in a single section comprised of two rows facing east-west. The graves are unmarked, however, the mounds are still clearly visible. They remain unidentified. The mounds are the only visible indicator of the cemetery.
Driving Directions
This cemetery is very difficult to access. In order to do so, travel north from Pelly on Secondary Route No. 661 for 8 miles (12.8 km). Turn east on the grid road and continue for 3 1/2 miles (5.6 km). Then turn north on the grid road and continue for 2 miles (3.2 km). Turn east at the approach marked by the conservation easement sign and follow the southern property line of the quarter-section for approximately 1/4 mile (.4 km) until you reach a creek. Stop your vehicle there and continue by foot. Cross the creek (rubber boots recommended) and continue along the southern property line of the quarter-section for approximately 1/4 mile (.4 km) until you reach the bluff of spruce trees (southeast corner of the quarter-section). Follow the west edge of the spruce bluff north until you reach the walking trail through the ridge of poplar trees that runs along the eastern property line of the quarter-section. Continue north along the walking trail for approximately 1/2 mile (.8 km) until you reach a fence gate across the trail. From the fence gate, follow the fence running north to the left of the trail for approximately 65 yards (60 meters). Then walk 10 yards (9 meters) west of the fence to reach the cemetery. The cemetery is located approximately 200 yards (182 meters) east of the creek and approximately 50 yards (45 meters) south of a sharp drop-off. It is on Crown property and permission to access should be obtained from the owner.
Burials
There is no burial register, cemetery plot map, death certificates, grave markers or other records for this cemetery. However, the following families resided in Arkhangel’skoye village and may have members buried at Arkhangel’skoye Cemetery: Esauloff, Fofonoff, Kalmakoff, Negraeff, Ozeroff, Perepelkin, Pereverzeff, Plaxin, Popoff, Postnikoff, Ribalkin, Strelaeff, Tarasoff, Wasilenkoff.
Two leaf-strewn burial mounds. A fallen tree runs diagonal from the foot of one (bottom left) to the head of the other (upper right). Six mounds in total were identified at the site.
View from the cemetery (northeast corner of quarter-section) facing south. The bluff of spruce trees (southeast corner of quarter-section) provides a handy landmark.
Notes
Various sources of data have been used in compiling this information including: oral tradition. This is a work in progress. If readers have any comments, corrections or additions with respect to the Arkhangel’skoye Cemetery, please contact Jonathan J. Kalmakoff.
