The land for the Crystal Lake Cemetery was deeded to Corvallis Masonic Lodge #14 in 1860. Before the Willamette River was tamed by dams, a meander on the east side of the cemetery formed a small lake; which most likely inspired the name Crystal Lake Cemetery, and it was officially adopted by the Lodge on January 20, 1866. Cemetery operations and management were transferred to Benton County in 2001. A walk through the Cemetery will reveal some of the most prominent of names known to Benton County, Oregon State University and Corvallis; Joseph Avery, General Thomas Jones Thorp and Benjamin Lee Arnold, just to name a few.