Buchanan is located in southeastern Berrien County, Michigan, about six miles west of Niles, Michigan, and 15 miles northwest of South Bend, Indiana. From US-31, take the Niles-Buchanan Road west. This road becomes Front St. when it enters the city of Buchanan. From US-12, go north at the stop light at Redbud Trail S. toward Buchanan. The next stop light will be Front St.
Oak Ridge Cemetery is located on the west side of the city of Buchanan, and has entrances on Front St., Terre Coupe St., and Polis St. The first (east) Front St. entrance leads directly to the old part of the cemetery and the Civil War Memorial area. The second Front St. entrance brings you to the Potter's Field and "Old Burying Ground" Memorial area. The Polis St. entrance and the first (east) Terre Coupe entrance lead to the Knight Chapel and the parking lot. The second (west) Terre Coupe entrance is now the main entrance to the cemetery and leads directly to the Veterans' Circle and the Sexton's Office.
Most meetings of the Friends of Oak Ridge Cemetery are held at the First Presbyterian Church at 115 W. Front Street in Buchanan. The entrance to the Church is off the Church parking lot in the rear. The parking lot entrance is off Charles Court (which is the street that intersects S. Oak Street across parking lot entrance to the Historical Pears mill. Turn south at the stop light on the corner of Front St. and Oak, and then turn right on to the first street which is Charles Court then turn right after the first house on the right. (If you are going west on Front St., the Oak St. stop light is the next stop light after Redbud Trail South.)
Occasionally, meetings are held at the American Legion, 403 E. Front St., Buchanan, which is located halfway up the hill between the original business district and the east-end business district. (If you are going north on Redbud Trail S., turn right (east) on Front St.). Meetings are held at the Senior Center 131 S Oak Street, which is across from the first United Methodist Church.
The Buchanan District Library is located at 128 E. Front St. (SW corner of Front St. and Days Ave.). It has a Local History room which emphasizes Buchanan and southwestern Michigan. (One resource it has, which is not available elsewhere, is an index to the Berrien County Record, starting at the earliest holdings and extending into the 1930's. This index is on 3X5 cards, and includes references to births, deaths, marriages and land transfers.) The library’s website: www.buchananlibary.org.
The Niles District Library, 620 E. Main St., Niles 49120, also has a Local History Room, which includes, for example, past issues of The Pastfinder, and other local resources. The Niles library is open 60 hours a week: Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It has been announced that starting January 1, 2008, the Local History Room will only be open for 48 hours instead of 60 hours per week: Mon. & Wed.-Sat from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m, and Tue. from noon to 8 p.m. See www.nileslibrary.com or call 269-683-0075 for information.
For locations of other area cemeteries, see the "Cemetery Information" section.
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