Near Bertrand in Berrien County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

St. Joseph's Mission

Photographed by Duane Hall, April 29, 2013

1. St. Joseph's Mission Marker

Inscription. Here, in 1837, in the then flourishing settlement of Bertrand, a fine brick church, dedicated to St. Joseph, was built to serve the Catholics of this area. In this church, on September 8, 1844, the habit of the Sisters of the Holy Cross was given for the first time in America. Those who received the habit were Sister Mary of the Holy Cross, Sister Mary of the Nativity, and Sister Mary of Mount Carmel. The sisterhood opened a school this same year in a dwelling which still stands a thousand feet to the north. This mission in the Detroit diocese was directed by the Reverend Edward Sorin, C.S.C., founder of the University of Notre Dame. In 1911, the church was torn down. Madeline Bertrand, wife of the town's founder, is among those buried in this historic cemetery.

Erected by Michigan Historical Commission. (Marker Number 260.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical date for this entry is September 8, 1844.

Location. 41° 46.707′ N, 86° 15.877′ W. Marker is near Bertrand, Michigan, in Berrien County. It can be reached from Madaline Street 0.1 miles west of

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Adams Road, on the right when traveling west. Marker is accessed by a 200-foot dirt driveway from Madaline Street (approx. 300 feet west of Adams Road). There is a pipeline block valve enclosed by a chain-link fence at the corner of the driveway and Madaline Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Niles MI 49120, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Michigan

and specifically in one of the Lake Michigan Shore counties. It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Bertrand (approx. 0.3 miles away); Parc Aux Vaches (approx. 1.1 miles away); Fort St. Joseph (approx. 2.4 miles away); Niles Community (approx. 2.4 miles away); Father Claude Jean Allouez S. J. (approx. 2½ miles away); Ring Lardner (approx. 3.1 miles away); Saint Mary’s (approx. 3.2 miles away); PA-WA-TING (approx. 3.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bertrand.

Photographed by Duane Hall, April 29, 2013

2. St. Joseph's Mission Marker

View from end of driveway at entrance of cemetery

Catholic Cemetery associated with St. Joseph's Mission image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, April 29, 2013

3. Catholic Cemetery associated with St. Joseph's Mission

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on May 1, 2013, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,053 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 1, 2013, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.