Carman Greenwood
The Dufferin History notes that: “By 1890, there was a pressing need for a cemetery in Carman. A public meeting was held in the Presbyterian Church and a committee made up of J.W. Haverson, W.J. Hemenway, D.G. Rodgers, R. McKnight and J. Palmer was appointed to look into the matter. They were empowered to purchase three acres of land ‘…in the most convenient place, at the lowest possible price, and on the most favourable terms and to act as trustees and exercise such powers as conferred by Sec 145 of Cap9 of the consolidated Statues of Manitoba’.”
From this initial action, a cemetery was laid out in the south end of Carman and named Greenwood cemetery. On August 15, 1891, the R.M. of Dufferin passed a motion granting $50 for the purpose of fencing the cemetery.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Church later established a burial ground on the south side of the cemetery.
See also: Historic Sites of Manitoba: Greenwood Cemetery (Carman)
Note: Burials had been made at this location prior to designation of the site as a cemetery. The earliest date that can be read on the early markers is 1874, hence the date on the Greenwood sign.
Unmarked Graves:
It’s been long suspected that the cemetery has early unmarked graves. In November 2015, CDMAC received email communication from a contact who was searching for her great-grandfather‘s grave. Francis “Frank” Jessop was one of the early, pre-1885 settlers in the Almassippi district north-west of present-day Carman. His obituary, which we located in The Carman Standard for July 24, 1894 (online through Pembina Manitou Archive), confirms the family’s understanding that he was buried in Carman Cemetery. Unfortunately, the grave doesn’t have a headstone nor does it appear on cemetery records. It’s been long suspected that the cemetery has early unmarked graves; now we know that this is likely the case, but we still have no clues to the exact location(s).
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Church later established a burial ground on the south side of the cemetery.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery (N49.49461, W98.00141) is located in the southwest corner of Greenwood Cemetery on Hwy #3 just south of Carman.
Layout of CemeteryLying to the right as you enter the south entry road at Greenwood Cemetery, the Catholic portion of the cemetery is bordered on the east by an attractive grotto set among fir trees and shrubs. Plots are laid out in north-south rows with graves facing east and west.