The Culbertsons owned all the land south and east of this point to the river from 1835-1983. Carroll Culbertsons estate designated burial rights to the families of 3 devisees who still use the cemetery.
This cemetery was illustrated in . . . — — Map (db m61711) HM
This Italianate style house was built in 1879-80 for Leverett and Amanda Hampson Clapp, who were among Centreville’s most prominent citizens. The 1880 tax rolls listed this house as the most valuable residence in Centreville. Amanda (1840-1931) . . . — — Map (db m72998) HM
Site of first St.
Joseph County Court
House in Centreville
authorized by
territorial governor.
George B. Porter
first judge, WM. Fletcher — — Map (db m212598) HM
(Front Side)
Michigan Territorial Governor George B. Porter proclaimed Centreville the St. Joseph County seat on November 22, 1831. On November 7, 1831, Robert Clark Jr., Electra W. Dean, Charles Noble and Daniel B. Miller donated the . . . — — Map (db m64540) HM
As They Died to Make Mankind Free,
Let Us Live to Complete the Task
Veterans of World War I
Austin, Harold Darwin • Baer, Clyde Cicero • Becker, Gustav G. • Behan, William J. • Blood, Robert B. • Brown, Arthur Floyd • Cole, Harold . . . — — Map (db m72997) HM
This handsome L-shaped residence retains the characteristics of Greek Revival architecture and features symmetrically placed windows flanked by distinctive pilaster trim. It was constructed in the 1840s by Daniel and Alexander Stewart who were . . . — — Map (db m64728) HM
(Obverse Side)
Colon
Known as the “Magic Capital of the World,” this small town has gained widespread recognition for the invention and manufacture of magic tricks. Colon's reputation as a magic mecca began after . . . — — Map (db m64551) HM
A Tribute to Veterans of All Wars
World War I
Arthur Stears • Welch Hull • Elmer Boyer • George E. Milner Jr.
World War II
Richard Bickel • Jerold Bonebright • Max Beesley • Ralph Greager • Pauline Guffey • James . . . — — Map (db m74954) WM
Methodism began in Meek's Mill (Constantine) in 1829 when the Reverend Erastus Felton came from the Ohio Methodist Episcopal Conference as a circuit rider to the St. Joseph Mission. This congregation, the earliest in Constantine, was organized in . . . — — Map (db m64543) HM
Memorial
to
Gov. John S. Barry
Born – 1802
Died – 1870
Governor of Michigan
1842 — 1844 — 1850
Statesman - Lawyer - Merchant
This tablet marks site of
his store and ware house
where steam . . . — — Map (db m75112) HM
Here resided from 1835 to 1849
John Stewart Barry
Governor of Michigan, 1843-46; 1850-52
He was born January 29, 1802, in Amherst, New Hampshire; came to White Pigeon in 1831; to Constantine in 1834; kept a general store and . . . — — Map (db m73001) HM
William Meek came to the area in 1828 from Ohio. In 1829, he purchased 121 acres where the Fawn River joins the St. Joseph River. His family came in 1829, as did four others. In 1831 the Village was platted. Meek built a grist mill and a saw mill. . . . — — Map (db m75254) HM
In Honor of
The Brave Men
Who From Leonidas
Bore Some Loyal Part
In The Great Civil War
1861—1865
World War II
Sgt. Gordon B. Culp
1920 1944 — — Map (db m74957) WM
(Front Side)
The Great Sauk Trail, which connected Detroit, Chicago and Green Bay, Wisconsin, crossed the St. Joseph River at a shallow spot in this vicinity. Responding to the westward migration of pioneers, the federal government . . . — — Map (db m64545) HM
The building at 100-102 W. Chicago
is the third in this location;
the previous two were claimed by fire,
in 1859 and 1898 or 1899.
The earliest occupant, in 1831,
was the first frame hotel on the
Sturgis prairie. It was rebuilt as
Prairie . . . — — Map (db m220926) HM
100 E. Chicago is the Sturgis branch
of FirstMerit Bank, formerly Citizens.
It is the longest-existing bank in
Sturgis, founded March 7, 1892,
at 106 W. Chicago.
In 1924, the bank opened its
first building at this location,
a 40-by-10-foot . . . — — Map (db m220929) HM
101 W. Chicago Rd.,
the oldest of downtown's buildings,
included a grocery store, men's and
boy's clothing store, Singer sewing
center, floral shop, and custom framer.
Sturgis Downtown Development
Authority purchased the building as . . . — — Map (db m220923) HM
103 W. Chicago has been
the site of a meat market
since the late 1800's.
It became the address of
the Central Meat Market
in 1926 which remained
at that location until 1963.
The owners then moved it
to its current address,
404 E. Chicago . . . — — Map (db m220920) HM
Only two buildings have occupied
107 W. West Street, and both were
schools. The first, a three-story
Union School, was built in 1861.
It was torn down in 1916 and the
present two-story building was built.
In its first 93 years, this . . . — — Map (db m220328) HM
In 1858 the Harmonial Society of Sturgis built on this site a free church dedicated to religious liberty the first of its kind in the world
to perpetuate the memory of its founders this ground is granted to the City of Sturgis to be forever . . . — — Map (db m220927) HM
US-12 developed from
the Sauk Trail, a much
earlier series of Native
American trails, and
eventually became the
primary route linking
Detroit and Chicago.
Early photographs of
US-12 through Sturgis
taken in the late 19th
Century show a . . . — — Map (db m220918) HM
The Sturges-Young Auditorium opened in 1955 to fanfare and celebration. The 986-seat multipurpose facility was much larger than would be expected for a small community like Sturgis. Spurred by private donations, the city began construction on the . . . — — Map (db m64548) HM
Place of
First Settlement
Sturgis Prairie
By Judge John Sturgis
And Family
August 1827
Donated by their Descendants
Erected by the Womans Club
1915 — — Map (db m75057) HM
In the middle of the 20th
Century the bricks that
once paved US-12 gave way
to asphalt and concrete
(above). As buildings rose
and fell in the downtown
area, one thing remained
the same US-12 formed
the heart of Sturgis as
shown by the . . . — — Map (db m220329) HM
Hereabouts stood the old French trading post kept by Cassoway and Gibson. When the first white settlers came to Three Rivers in 1829. This post was probably established before the Revolutionary War. The French traded with the Indians of the St. . . . — — Map (db m75113) HM
The Downtown Three Rivers Commercial Historic District has one of the best-preserved Victorian streetscapes in southwestern Michigan. Three Rivers, settled in the 1830s, grew with the development of local water power and a railroad in the 1850s. St. . . . — — Map (db m64542) HM
This is the longest of Michigan's few remaining covered bridges. It is 282 feet long with three, 94-foot spans of the Howe-truss construction. The bridge was built in 1887 by Pierce (?) Bodner of Parkville, using the best quality white pine for . . . — — Map (db m212484) HM
Built in 1904, this structure served as a public library for seventy-five years. Financed by an Andrew Carnegie grant, it was designed by A.W. Rush & Co. and built by H.V. Snyder & Son. Warren J. Willits donated the site. The exterior pink granite . . . — — Map (db m64547) HM
Providing Power for Over a Century
The Sturgis Hydroelectric Project began producing electricity for the City
of Sturgis in 1911. It was Michigan's first municipal water power plant.
The reservoir created upstream resulted in the need to . . . — — Map (db m212600) HM
(Front Side)
Arthur Silliman deeded this property named “Riversbye” to his daughter Sue in 1914. Sue Silliman was Three Rivers librarian and historian for forty-two years. During that time she also served on national, state, and local . . . — — Map (db m64541) HM
This plaque is issued by the
Historical Society of Michigan
in recognition of
The First National Bank of Three Rivers
founded in 1864.
For more than 100 years of
continuous operation in service
to the people of Michigan
and for contributing . . . — — Map (db m212603) HM
In recognition of dedicated service
S. N. Crose, Fire Chief
April 19, 1937 - December 31, 1985
The Meneely Bell was purchased in 1868 for a fire station
located on what is now known as the North Main Parking
Lot. From 1919 to . . . — — Map (db m212649) HM
Here the Rocky and Portage rivers join the winding St. Joseph River. Many centuries before the coming of the white man the junction of these water routes made this a favorite camping site for Indians. La Salle came through the region in 1680 on his . . . — — Map (db m64727) HM
This plaque is issued by the
Historical Society of Michigan
in recognition of
Three Rivers Elks #1248
founded in 1911.
For more than 100 years of
continuous operation in service
to the people of Michigan
and for contributing to the
growth . . . — — Map (db m212650) HM
On this Memorial Site
Forever Set Apart and Maintained by
Riverside Cemetery Association
There has been Erected this St. Joseph County
Native Boulder
By Ed. M. Prutzman Post G.A.R. and Woman’s Relief Corps
Citizens Generously . . . — — Map (db m75266) WM
(Front Side)
Before the Civil War local militias in Michigan were supplied with arms and equipment donated by the Federal Government under the Militia Act of 1808.
During the Mexican War (1845-47) the army's new artillery system was . . . — — Map (db m61720) HM
Traditional site of seventeenth century
Jesuit Mission
and scene of ceremony naming
Three Rivers in 1836
by McInterfer and Bowman Families — — Map (db m212601) HM
Side 1
Potawatomi Chief Wahbememe (White Pigeon) was a signer of the 1795 Treaty of Greenville, which placed Michigan Great Lakes forts in U.S. hands. The chief was known as a friend to the white settlers in Michigan. According to legend, . . . — — Map (db m47179) HM
Standing on this site since Andrew Jackson was president of the United States, the building where the White Pigeon Land Office conducted business from 1831 to 1834 is one of the historic treasures of Michigan. From this building, title to much of . . . — — Map (db m61725) HM
Signed on August 29, 1821, the Treaty of Chicago resulted in the Potawatomi and other tribes in southwestern Michigan Territory turning over their lands to the federal government. In 1831, after the land was surveyed, the government opened this . . . — — Map (db m64544) HM
“These Gave Their Last Full Measure”
World War I
Pvt Robert E. Swartz Sep 23, 1918
World War II
S2C Lyle E. Burdick Sep 24, 1942
PFC Arthur R. Gowker Feb 21, 1944
SGT Richard L. . . . — — Map (db m73055) WM
