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Every Village/Ward gave up their individual identity to form the greater City of Three Rivers. In becoming the City First Ward/Three Rivers, Second Ward/Lockport, Third Ward/Canada and Fourth Ward/Brooklyn gave up their names, powers, schools, and their small cemeteries.
Bowman Park in 1893 at Hoffman & North Main was a cemetery and now a park that is home to the Civil War Monument that used to be at the four corners downtown. The Bronze Plaque dedicates it to the perpetual memory of the soldiers of all wars – defenders of the Republic. Lockport Cemetery in Second Ward was established 1840. Most bodies were moved to Riverside in 1859. Third Ward probably had small private sites but information is limited. Oak Dale Cemetery land was owned by Orville and Mary Dougherty. Riverside Cemetery was laid out in 1858 and included Oak Dale. In 1903 Oak Dale Chapel was built. Located at the curve of East Michigan Avenue and 201 Jefferson Street, the 87 acres /10,000 graves, is now over 13,000 graves, with 10,000 additional plots.
Feb. 2,1995, American Legion Auxiliary of Hice-Shute Post 170 dedicated a dogwood tree. It commemorates 75 years of service to the community, state, and nation by the auxiliary. Jerry Payne, City of Three Rivers cemetery director, was thanked for helping the auxiliary plant the tree.
1996 a building was built to house the cemetery office, computer room, monument show room, family business room, storage room, and 2 bathrooms ($61,000 funds from the Cemetery Memorial Fund).
Some of the tall lovely monuments have been damaged and 80 great old trees were lost to the March 6, 2026 EF-2 tornado with 70 being uprooted and 10 leaning at bad angles that were removed. The cemetery has rules as to what is good or bad to plant. If you want to help with monetary donations or are interested in helping in any way contact the Cemetery office about fixing the cemetery for future generations to explore and enjoy. (269-273-2821).
A Farewell. This is my last History and Mystery article. Hope you enjoyed them and found out “new” things about your hometown. More things to find out; like what rivers did the elephants swim in? When, Why, Where? When, who and why things happened in TR. Holly Stephenson at the St. Joseph County Historic Society will send you copies of any of my TR articles from the past five years (269-718-7013). My favorite poem “Trees” by Joyce Kilmer”. Look it up! Enjoy. Anna
Submitted by Anna Smith, a Three Rivers history and mystery lover.
