By Beth David, Editor
Approximately 60 people showed up to celebrate the 175th anniversary of Riverside Cemetery in Fairhaven on Saturday, 9/27/25. The garden-style cemetery was created by Warren Delano II during the height of prosperity and growth in New Bedford and Fairhaven. Featured speaker was his direct descendent, Frederic Grant, who is a trustee of the Cemetery.
Mr. Grant ran through the history of the cemetery, paying special attention to the three generations of Reids who were superintendents for a combined 94 years.
He shared memories of the different Reids he knew, and shared a bit about his famous family.
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- Frederic Grant, Jr., great, great, great grandson of Warren Delano, whose son, Warren Delano II, created Riverside Cemetery, speaks to the crowd during the celebration of the Riverside Cemetery’s 175th anniversary on 9/27/25 in Fairhaven. Photo by Beth David.
But, first, he extolled the beauty of Riverside, and Naskatucket Cemetery, which is also part of the organization.
He said the beauty of the grounds is not accidental, and includes variations in landscape, trees, shrubbery, walls, styles of monuments and structures.
“All of this was designed, some elements planned as early as 1850, but the great part of the triumph we know and enjoy was conceived and executed in gradual steps since then,” said Mr. Grant, adding a few words about the “joyful spirit of three generations of the Reid family.”
He also noted the tomb architects, and landscape architects.
“We experience fruits of the vision and the hard work of so many who loved this site before we were born,” said Mr. Grant.
He took the crowd through the years, starting with the horse and buggy days, the addition of land, the “receiving tomb” where bodies were held in winter until the ground thawed, the greenhouse that added revenue, and so much more.
Mr. Grant recounted Norman Reid telling of his memories of the hurricane of 1938 and the damage it did to the cemetery. All the trees had to be cleared by hand and hauled away by horses.
He also recounted stories of Hay Reid and Peter Reid.
“Riverside owes so much of its appearance and its soul to these three faithful Reids. We honor and miss them all,” said Mr. Grant.
He also recounted the process for building the crematorium, which was “no simple matter for an institution with scant funds.”
He segued into a memory of the Delano Homestead and mused about why Fairhaven does not celebrate more President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, “…a President whose soul came out of this earth. The everyman aspect of FDR, a critical part of his personality, is a legitimate child of the Town of Fairhaven. Not patrician Dutchess County.”
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- The Fairhaven Village Militia stands at the ready, while Fairhaven Veteran Services Officer, Mike Jenney, holds the American flag, and The Concordia Brass Quartet plays a musical selection during the celebration of the Riverside Cemetery’s 175th anniversary on 9/27/25 in Fairhaven. Photo by Beth David.
He then got back to the business of the cemetery, noting that the mortgage was paid off early because the crematorium was a success. They had a mortgage burning party.
The crematorium’s success, he said, is helping the “horse and buggy institution we all love to gradually modernize.”
“Our commitment to continuing to provide caring individual service to community members without regard to faith or background at hours of greatest need is steadfast,” said Mr. Grant. “Here modernization is not an end in itself but rather is in service to the trust vested in us by generations of lot holders and their families.”
Mr. Grant said Riverside and Naskatucket are still “modest institutions” that watch every penny.
“We are grateful for the support we receive, in cash or in kind,” he said and named off more people to thank.
“A few of so many names, a partial recent and inadequate listing. So many great friends, so many great caring families,” he said.
He closed by noting that the cemeteries have been important parts of many families’ lives since 1850.
“It has been a very important part of the lives and memories of my father’s mother’s family, who were immediately involved in helping others start this cherished institution,” said Mr. Grant. “It has been a great honor to have held the position of President, and to continue as Chair of the Board of Trustees, as the first member of my family to have held those posts since my great great great grandfather Warren I accepted those positions when Riverside was founded 175 years ago in 1850.”
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- Cathy Melanson, Trustee Chair of the Anniversary Committee, speaks to the crowd during the celebration of the Riverside Cemetery’s 175th anniversary on 9/27/25 in Fairhaven. Photo by Beth David.
Cathy Melanson, the chairperson of the 175th committee, said “it was a journey” to get to the completion of the program.
She said Riverside is more than just a cemetery. It is a place of beauty, a place of peace.
“We love Riverside,” she said.
Mark Jeffrey, President RiverSide Cemetery & Crematorium, welcomed the crowd and thanked the late Peter Reid, the last of the three generations of Reids who served as superintendents for a combined 94 years.
Mr. Jeffrey said the loss of Peter Reid, who died this year, was “significant,” but his legacy will live on through the work he did at the cemetery.
Mr. Jeffrey thanked a number of people, saying they are an “amazing group of workers and friends.”
He also formally announced the creation of two new funds to help maintain the cemetery: the Beautification Fund, and the gravestone Restoration Fund.
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- Emcee Mark Jeffrey, President Riverside Cemetery & Crematorium, addresses the crowd during the celebration of the Riverside Cemetery’s 175th anniversary on 9/27/25 in Fairhaven. Photo by Beth David.
He announced his family made a $10,000 donation to the restoration fund. He said his mother was “so touched” by the idea of the fund that will restore and maintain gravestones.
In closing, he said, “Life is not a dress rehearsal. If you love someone, tell them so.”
How will you be remembered, he said, when the curtain comes down?
“Life is not a dress rehearsal,” he repeated. “It is our one and only performance.”
After the program, Ms. Melanson invited everyone to join the tour of the cemetery.
“There’s a lot of history here, and you’re going to learn about it,” she said.
Buddy Gibson was there joining Tracy Travers, a trustee of the cemetery and a member of the 175th committee. Mr. Gibson said his wife is buried at Riverside.
“It’s a beautiful, beautiful place here,” said Mr. Gibson.
Other speakers included The Rev. Paul Wheeler, who gave the invocation; Select Board Chairperson, Charles Murphy, who presented a proclamation from the board; State Representative Mark Sylvia, who presented a proclamation from the Mass. House of Representatives; and Fr. Maiki Kamauoha, sscc, who gave the benediction.
The program also included: several musical selections by The Concordia Brass Quartet; the Fairhaven Village Militia, which fired the small cannon; and presentation of colors by armed forces color guard and Fairhaven Veterans Services Officer, Mike Jenney.
Refreshments and snacks included cookies and birthday cake.
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- The Concordia Brass Quartet plays a musical selection while Fairhaven Veteran Services Officer, Mike Jenney, holds the American flag, and smoke from the firing of the small cannon by the Fairhaven Village Militia wafts by in the background during the celebration of the Riverside Cemetery’s 175th anniversary on 9/27/25 in Fairhaven. Photo by Beth David.
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- L-R: Fairhaven Select Board Chairperson, Charles Murphy; State Representative, Mark Sylvia; and Riverside Cemetery Superintendent, Cody Gibney; listen to the speechmaking during the celebration of the Riverside Cemetery’s 175th anniversary on 9/27/25 in Fairhaven. Photo by Beth David.
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- State Representative, Mark Sylvia, speaks to the crowd during the celebration of the Riverside Cemetery’s 175th anniversary on 9/27/25 in Fairhaven. Photo by Beth David.
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