On Covered Bridge Road (County Road 133) at Leland Road, on the left when traveling north on Covered Bridge Road.
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
On W. Main Street (State Highway 86) west of Jane Street, on the right when traveling west.
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
On West Main Street, on the right when traveling west.
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
On West Main Street (State Highway 86) at South Clark Street, on the right when traveling east on West Main Street.
(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
On W. Main Street (State Highway 86) at S. Clark Street, on the right when traveling east on W. Main Street.
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
On Holtom Road, 0.1 miles north of Michigan Highway 86, on the right when traveling north.
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
Near West State Street at St. Joseph Street, on the right when traveling west.
(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
Near Centreville Road, 0.1 miles east of Osborn Street, on the right when traveling east.
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
On White Pigeon Street at East Third Street, on the left when traveling south on White Pigeon Street.
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
On W. Water Street at Washington Street (Business U.S. 31), on the right when traveling west on W. Water Street.
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
On N. Washington Street (Business U.S. 131) at Birch Street, on the left when traveling south on N. Washington Street.
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
On E. Water Street east of S. Washington Street (Business U.S. 31), on the right when traveling east.
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
Near Fulton Road, 0.4 miles north of Michigan Highway 66, on the left when traveling north.
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
On West Chicago Road (U.S. 12) 0.1 miles east of North River Rd, on the right when traveling west.
(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
On West Chicago Road (U.S. 12) at South Nottawa Street (State Road 66), on the right when traveling east on West Chicago Road.
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
On East Chicago Road at North Nottawa Street (Michigan Road 66) on East Chicago Road.
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
On West Chicago Road (U.S. 12) at North Nottawa Street (State Road 66), on the right when traveling west on West Chicago Road.
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
On West Chicago Road (U.S. 12) at North Nottawa Street (State Route 66), on the right when traveling west on West Chicago Road.
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
On West West Street at North Nottawa Street (Michigan Road 66), on the right when traveling west on West West Street.
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
On East Chicago Road (U.S. 12) at South Monroe Street, on the right when traveling east on East Chicago Road.
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
On West Chicago Road (U.S. 12) at North Nottawa Street (State Road 66), on the right when traveling west on West Chicago Road.
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
On North Nottawa Street (State Highway 66) north of East West St, on the right when traveling north.
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
On E. Chicago Road (U.S. 12) at Pioneer Avenue, on the right when traveling east on E. Chicago Road.
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
On West Chicago Road (U.S. 12) at North Street, on the right when traveling west on West Chicago Road.
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
On S. Constantine Street south of South Street, in the median.
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
On Railroad Drive, 0.1 miles north of West Michigan Street (Michigan Highway 60), on the right when traveling north.
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
On Schweitzer Road at Covered Bridge Road (County Highway 133), on the left when traveling east on Schweitzer Road.
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
On North Main Street (Business U.S. 131) at Moore Street, on the right when traveling north on North Main Street.
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
On Sturgis Dam Road, on the right when traveling west.
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
Near South Main Street (State Highway 86) south of East Michigan Avenue (State Highway 60), on the right when traveling north.
(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
On North Main Street, on the right when traveling south.
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
On West Michigan Avenue, on the right when traveling west.
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
On West Michigan Avenue (U.S. 131) 0.1 miles east of Spring Street, on the right when traveling east.
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
On West Michigan Avenue, on the right when traveling west.
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
On West Michigan Avenue (State Highway 60) at Spring Street, on the left when traveling west on West Michigan Avenue.
(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
On South Main Street, on the right when traveling north.
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
On U.S. 131 at U.S. 12, on the left when traveling north on U.S. 131.
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
On West Chicago Road at South Washington Street, on the right when traveling east on West Chicago Road.
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
On West Chicago Road (U.S. 12) at South Washington Street, on the left when traveling west on West Chicago Road.
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
Near U.S. 131 at U.S. 12, on the left when traveling north.
“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
