02-10-14 Council Agenda & Packet

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United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10 -900 OMB No. 1024 -0018 South Bend City Cemetery St. Joseph, Indiana Name of Property County and Stale Developmental History /Additional historic context information COMPARISON CEMETERIES Bowman Cemetery The City of South Bend maintains one other cemetery and that is Bowman Cemetery on South Miami Street. In 1835, Mr. Jacob Bowman gave a half acre of the comer of his farm for a burial ground intended for Dunkards or German Baptists. Just as City Cemetery, the land once considered so far out of the town limits has been embraced by neighborhood all around. The original tract has been enlarged several times to its current six acre property. Bowman Cemetery was turned over to the City of South Bend in 1957 when the private Bowman Cemetery Association, established in 1876, could no longer maintain the property. It is state law that cities are required to take the burden of cemetery maintenance when the owner cannot pay for it. The view to the north from the entrance is of a terraced lawn. Bowman cemetery consists of three distinct sections, and represents the characteristics of a municipal cemetery. In great contrast with the later circular lawn movement designs of City Cemetery, Bowman cemetery plats are very regular, with virtually no curved paths. Only in section three, there are three round plats, located as opposite points in the section. These round forms, particularly the middle one, were inevitably designed to serve as visual landmark to direct the viewer and encourage the walk - through. There are many towering trees on the property. Separated from Bowman Cemetery by only a chain link fence is the Rosehill Jewish Cemetery. The current is the second location of the cemetery, as the graves were removed from their original location on the property where Singer built its factories on Madison Street between N. Niles Ave. and the East Race in 1868. Riverview Cemetery Another cemetery of note is Riverview Cemetery, also in South Bend, which was established in 1900. Like City and Bowman cemeteries, Riverview, too began outside city walls, on land that at the time was farmland. In 1900, this farmland was purchased by Albert Myers, who established the cemetery. Riverview consists of 80 acres, 72 of which are developed. Riverview Cemetery has 2 Chapel Mausoleums, 4 Garden Mausoleums, and 26 Private Estates on the grounds. Although 58 years younger, Riverview is almost 4 times as large as City Cemetery. LaSalle Park, a tract which joins the cemetery to the north, was dedicated to the Indiana Historic Society as the site for a monument to the explorer LaSalle who traveled up the St. Joseph River. To the west, Riverview is joined with the Highland Cemetery. It is now the place of burial for the Studebakers, who were relocated from City Cemetery. Section 8 page 23