Heritage \ Writings \

Pine Ridge Cemetery
South east corner of Ridge & Tuscola roads, Bay City, MI.

1861 May - Unauthorized burials. (Added December 2006)

Bay City Press and Times - May 9, 1861

A MISTAKE.
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About a mile from this village on the north side of the plank road there is a lot cleared off and intended for a private burying grounds. As we are informed it is exclusively private property. Strangers have no more authority to use it, than they have to appropriate the garden spot of any man in town. -- But we are told that some two or three persons unknown, under the impression perhaps that it was a public buring ground, deposited bodies within the enclosure. Before the privilege of burial is offered to the public, the grounds will necessarily have to be laid off into streets, alleys, and lots, marked, numbered and a map made of the whole. The place has already cost several hundred dollars, and as many more will have to be expended upon it before it is ready for use. It has so happened that the persons who have thus summarily appropriated the ground without leave have made interments on the exact line of the intended Streets. This will necessarily involve removal, and we wouild advise such persons to report themselves, so that the matter can be attended to satisfactorily and properly.

Note: Reference to "old plank road," is Trumbull Road today.

1893 Aug. - Soldier's Monument. (Contributed by Jim Petrimoulx. April 2008)

The Bay City Tribune - August 19, 1893 (Page 5)

The Soldier's Monument
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It Occupies A Conspicuous Place
In Pine Ridge Cemetery

The monument designed by the G.A. R. posts of this city to perpetuate the memory of the dead soldiers , has been placed in position in Pine Ridge cemetery. It is of Whitney granite resting on a base of the same material, and stands on a mound three feet high. On the sides of the monument are the following inscriptions:

“They saved their country
And fought for freedom.
They are quietly sleeping
Under the “Red,White and Blue”

“To preserve and strengthen those kind and fraternal feeling
which bind together the soldiers and sailors of the rebellion.”

1900 Jul. - Sale of cemetery. (Contributed by Alan Flood. Aug. 2007)

The Bay City Sunday Times - Sunday, July 8, 1900, Page 5.

BOUGHT A CEMETERY.
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The Resting Place of Bay City's Pioneers, Beautiful Pine Ridge.
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The sale of Pine Ridge cemetery by Mrs. Sophia Birney Blackwell to George W. Ames forshadowed several days ago by this paper has been consummated. Mr. Ames last night acknowledged having made the purchase. When asked what he intended doing with the cemetery he said: "My aim is to have the property properly taken care of. Within it are contained the remains of a great majority of the pioneer residents of Bay City. I become possessor of all of the unoccupied lots. My intention is to get all other lot owners to unite with me in building the fences, laying new walks, trimming the trees and keeping this beautiful spot from going to decay."

References:

Sophia Birney is the daughter of James and Amanda (Moulton) Birney, all three are buried at Pine Ridge cemetery at the Birney family plat. Sophia was born in 1848 at New Haven, CT., and was married to William T. Blackwell at the Trinity Lutheran church in Bay City on July 28, 1892.

George W. Ames was a realtor and insurance agent with an office in the Phoenix Building. He was born Oct. 31, 1852, Albion, N.Y., and came to Bay city in 1872, at which time he worked for the Detroit & Bay City Railroad, which later was purchased by the Michigan Central Railroad Co. He entered the real estate and insurance business in 1884.

1902 Mar.: Cannon donated. (Added April 2007)

Bay City Tribune - Sunday: March 9, 1902.

NOW GUARDS THE "SOLDIERS REST"
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Howitzer Secured by the Late Congressman Crump.
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G.A.R. Posts Send Fitting Letter of Thanks.
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During his second term in Congress the late Hon. R. O. Crump secured from the government a cannon to be placed in "Soldiers Rest" in the Birney cemetery, but death ensued before he fully carried out his intentions. The work has now been performed and the following letter sent to the family of the Congressman:

Bay City, March 7, 1902.
Shelley C. Crump, West Bay City,

Dear Sir -- The eight inch howitzer seige gun, belonging to your father the late Congressman R. O. Crump, and presented to H. P. Merrill and U.S. Grant Posts of the Grand Army of the Republic of Bay City, has been placed on the burial lot known as "Soldiers Rest," it. Birney cemetery.

Both posts passed votes of thanks to you at their last meetings. We wish to assure you that the veterans of the civl war fully appreciate your patriotic thoughtfullness and will value this gun as a relic and reminder of the struggle for national honor and existence in which we had a part as union volunteer soliders.

GEORGE TURNER, Chairman.
M. M. ANDREWS, Secretrary.
Joint committee from the two posts.

References:

{Hon. Rosseauo Crump} was born on May 20, 1843, in Pittsford, Monroe Co., N.Y. He was mayor of West Bay City for four years, and served in the U.S. Congress for three terms. He died in 1901, and is buried at Elm Lawn cemtery in Bay City.

Capt. George Turner was born Jan. 29, 1835, Clinton Co., MI. He came to Bay City in 1881 where he served as a city engineer for 23 years supervising the a new sewerage system, building of Belinda Street and 23rd Street bridges, and construction of city hall. He was married to Julia Smith of Michigan, and in 1865, to Sophia P. Thompson of Georgia. A Civil War veteran, he was a member of U.S. Grant Post, No. 67, G.A.R.

1953 May: Lot Owners. (Added Apr. 2008)

The Bay City Times - May 2, 1953

Cemetery Upkeep Plan Projected
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Owners of lots in Pine Ridge cemetery seek to form a corporation to raise funds for upkeep of the 90-year-old plot at Columbus avenue and Tuscola road.

Application for permission to organize is now before the Michigan Corporation and Securities commission in Lansing.

The property owners are banding together in an effort to preserve the 1,568-lot cemetery gone into decay since death last fall of Charles Cuthbert, cemetery owner and long time sexton.

Harold Merritt has been named chairman of a temporary association to push the corporation proposal under advice of Attorney Carlton L. Thompson. Mrs. Ricca W. Sutting is secretary.

Seven trustees include Merritt, Mrs. Harry Hogan, Mrs. Stutting, Donald Hawkins, Mrs. Earl Johnson, Mrs. Lois Spinner and John Smith.

Meanwhile, some $200 has been raised by voluntary contribution for rehabilitation by Memorial Day.

The organizational move came about when no purchasers for the cemetery property could be found. Only about 150 lots remain for sale.

1954 May: Group Officers. (Added Apr. 2008)

The Bay City Times - May 9, 1954

Cemetery Group Elects Officers
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Harold N. Merritt Renamed President
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Harold N. Merritt has been reelected president of the Pine Ridge Cemetery association, organized last year to assure maintenance of one of the oldest cemeteries in the city.

Founded back in the late 1800s, the cemetery was falling into decay because of lack of revenue. The association was established to raise funds for its maintenance and to attempt to sell some 150 remaining grave sites.

Association funds are obtained through contributions of approximately 250 members. Last year, better than $2,000 was spent on maintenance of the cemetery, located at the southeast cornery of Tuscola and Ridge roads, Merrit said. Funds also pay the salary of a sexton, Arthur Hawsan, who succeeds the late Charles Cuthbert, who had cared for the cemetery for many years.

Officers reelected with Merritt include Mrs. Ricca Stutting, secretary, and Don Hawkins, treasurer. New director is Adam Weller.