lAlthough a firemen’s section had been laid out in the Pioneer Cemetery on Flowery Hill years before, in May of 1868 the Virginia Fire Department purchased a section of the Silver Terrace Cemeteries for its use from undertakers Charles M. Brown and Josh W. Wilson for $50.00.  The Board of Alderman of the City of Virginia had sought other property for a firemen’s cemetery.  But after investigation of suggested property, First Ward Alderman T.M. Adams, and Fourth Ward Alderman Laurence Bass deemed the area unfavorable since it was located too close to buildings in Virginia City.  So purchase of the Silver Terrace property was concluded.

Members of the family of John Giandoni, a member of Knickerbocker Engine Co. No. 5 had already been buried in the cemetery prior to the fire department taking over the property.  In April of 1869, the Virginia Fire Department made what is believed to be its first interment with the death of Joseph McClellan.  The 32-year old Pennsylvania native and member of Knickerbocker Engine Co. No. 5 was killed in the catastrophic fire at the Yellow Jacket Mine in Gold Hill on April 7, 1869.

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