In May when the flowering cherries are in bloom at the entrance of Riverside Cemetery, it’s a sight to behold. The wrought-iron gates lead you into a wonderland of flowering trees, shrubs and plants in all the shades of spring at its glorious best. The gently sloping roads throughout the grounds offer a break from the usual cemetery plan of straight formal rows of gravestones.
From a pamphlet written by a Delano descendent, Frederick D. Grant Jr., it is acknowledged that during the time period that this property was consecrated as a cemetery in 1850, towns and cities "moved to create garden or rural cemeteries of community pride, history and appreciation of nature." The Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge became a model for most newly built cemeteries for citizens to enjoy. The original grounds of Riverside were a gift from Warren Delano II, the grandfather of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. This property was added to over the years by acquisitions and gifts and it now contains about forty-four acres. A section of ground in the lower part is the burial ground for the Delano family.
When you enter the gates on Main Street it is like leaving the world behind. A quiet walk through the property is a peaceful meditation with birdsong and beauty all around. The upkeep of the property is under the care of Superintendent Peter Reid and his crew. Peter is one of the third generation of Reids to hold this position, following his grandfather Hay and father Norman, who was sexton for forty-seven years. You could find Norman, in his later years, sitting on a bench near the entrance with his little dog. He always took the time to welcome visitors and had a wealth of knowledge about the history of the cemetery and knew the names of trees and where they came from, including some that were given to him as saplings.
The Garden Club of Greater New Bedford noted some of the trees included Pink and White Flowering Dogwood, Tree of Heaven, European and American Beech, Chestnut, Sassafras, Umbrella Pine, Weeping Higan Cherry and many others, among which I have noticed Ginkgo. During the hurricanes in 1938 and 1944 more than 250 major trees were lost to wind damage. The trees were cleared by hand as no power tools were available at the time.
On one bird walk members of the Paskamansett Bird Club sighted Flicker, Carolina Wren, Great Crested Flycatcher, Redeyed Vireo, Black and White Warbler, Hummingbird, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow Rumped-Warbler and others such as Black-capped Chickadee, and Northern Cardinal.
There are so many longtime Fairhaven residents that are buried in the cemetery, as well as teachers that we all remember from our school days. On the Friday afternoon before Memorial Day music students from Fairhaven High School walk through the grounds placing geraniums on the graves of teachers and principals and stopping to play musical selections as a memorial to these well-loved people. On that day a wreath is laid at Henry Huttleston Rogers’ mausoleum. This memorial was designed by Charles Brigham and a team of thirteen horses was required to cart its roof down Main Street to the cemetery. If you look through the front metal door you can see a beautiful stained-glass window on the north wall.
On Memorial Day a ceremony is held at the Civil War monument with readings, choral music and selections by the Fairhaven High School Band. It is at the end of the Memorial Day Parade and is a fitting and moving way to honor those servicemen and women who gave their lives for our country.
Among those buried at the cemetery are William Whitfield, who rescued Manjiro Nakahama from a Pacific Island and brought him back to Fairhaven where he attended local schools. Nakahama is believed to be the first Japanese person to live in the United States. Whitfield’s grave is always visited by the many Japanese visitors who come to Fairhaven.
When the leaves turn in the fall is another beautiful time to walk through the grounds to enjoy the trees in their final show of color. The north wall is especially lovely at this time of year with all the red, orange and yellow maples showing their finery.
As a baby I lived in a house on Main Street that was taken down when Route 195 was built along Kendrick Avenue and Ball Street. My mother used to take me for walks in my carriage through the cemetery. She told me that one day while she was walking me through I kicked off one shoe and she didn’t miss it until we got home. She paid two neighborhood girls a nickel to go along our route and find it. I certainly can’t remember this happening, but, somewhere inside me, those walks were the beginning of a deep love for a place that continues today.
There are two yearly guided tours through the cemetery. One takes place this year on Sunday, May 23, at two o’clock. It is led by Christopher J. Richard and sponsored by the Office of Tourism.
