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Some History of The St Francis Cemetery

With Thanks to Liz Trudell

The History of the St Francis Cemetery begins along with their Church in 1855. At that time there was a log church built on the property which was located right where the large cross is now. (in 2012) It was later upgraded to a new wooden one, but it was soon decided that they should have a better and more modern one and that it should be nearer to the rail road and should be in what was the town today.

The Jesuits began to have meetings there in 1855. We are told that they took care of the spiritual needs of those there for 17 years. The church was ran from their "Home base" in Chatham.

The original 5 acres of land was donated by Francois Xavier Lanoue on the basis that the cemetery would be named after his Patron Saint. At one point 5 more acres was purchased but apparently there is now no record as to when this was done. The purchase seems to have been made from a family named Jeroux.

In 1995 10 more acres were purchased from a family named St Denis.

The cemetery has always been Catholic but since 1955 apparently anyone can be interred there.