Submitted by Ann Lemna
Keep Noblesville Beautiful
Editor’s note: The following was written with the help of Noblesville City Clerk Evelyn Lees.
The following paragraph, written for The Noblesville Ledger in 1869, expresses concern for the beloved Riverside Cemetery, formerly known as the Old Cemetery. Today’s caretakers, while not regularly dealing with briars and thorns, can certainly appreciate the sentiment at the time for this historic treasure in downtown Noblesville.
“The old Cemetery here is so grown up with briars, thorns, weeds, &e., that it is almost impossible for persons to get about at all. Ladies cannot visit the graves of departed friends without having their dresses torn to ribbons, and the graves are so covered and the monuments so hid that it is nearly impossible to find the resting places of the loved ones. We propose that the citizens get together and have the ground cleared up.” The Noblesville Ledger, 23 Sept. 1869, Pg. 3.
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Riverside Cemetery sits along the banks of the White River in downtown Noblesville and is considered one of the oldest cemeteries in the county. Its six acres are bordered by Maple Street to the north, Cherry Street to the south, and 5th Street to the east. It was originally owned and cared for by Hamilton County until it was conveyed to the City of Noblesville in 1909. Shortly thereafter it was renamed Riverside Graveyard.
Over the years it suffered through storms, floods, neglect, and vandalism. An independent Board of Trustees was responsible for the cemetery for many years. Records from the 1970s show that attention was needed to address ground, fence and lighting issues to deter vandals. In 1981 the city took over management of the cemetery, and the Board of Public Works and Safety took responsibility as the Board of Trustees.
In 1989 a revitalization committee was formed to oversee needed upgrades. During the 1990s the Riverside Cemetery Revitalization Committee oversaw the addition of brick entrance walls, gates, and historic lights. Donated services came in the way of material and labor.
In 1990, a small group of Boy Scouts also took an interest in assessing and cataloging gravestones as part of an Eagle Scout project. They eventually cataloged more than 1,400 tombstones for Noblesville Preservation Alliance and made recommendations for the repair of damaged stones. A couple of years later, some Scouts added new landscape material and rose bushes around the perimeter of the cemetery, again to deter vandalism.
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A news article from 1890 describes how conditions in the Old Cemetery had improved since 1869.
“The old cemetery is now as near a “Thing of Beauty” as can be when we realize it is a city of the dead. Those who have interested themselves in the matter of beautifying it should be properly remunerated and thanked into the bargain. Of course it makes no difference to the sleeper whether briars grow upon their graves or not, but it does to the living and it is creditable to the city that it is in such good condition.” Hamilton County Democrat, 4 July 1890, Pg. 5.
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Beginning in 2016, GIS technology was used to map the entire cemetery, and it was discovered that some of the headstones had become buried over time. More than 50 headstones were uncovered by the GIS staff. The headstones were reset by various groups of volunteers and restoration workers. SERVE Noblesville provided volunteers to clean the headstones. The City Council approved funding in 2020, 2021, and 2022 for Stonehugger Cemetery Restoration to restore the historic portions of the cemetery, leaving the beautiful white headstones we see today.
Another significant improvement to the cemetery was the designation of Babyland in the northeast section of the cemetery. This portion of the cemetery had been established and used in the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s. There were 19 babies buried there, but only six had marked graves. In 2017, Babyland was fenced, and a sign was created and installed that lists the names of the babies buried in that area. In the fall of 2024, volunteers with Keep Noblesville Beautiful and the Hamilton County Master Gardener Association created a border garden to enhance the fence around Babyland.
Today, the city’s Board of Public Works and Safety continues to serve the cemetery as its Board of Trustees. The Clerk’s Office manages the burial records, and the Street Department takes care of mowing, maintenance, and interments. City Clerk Evelyn Lees credits her predecessors, Clerk-Treasurers Marilyn Conner and Janet Jaros, and their meticulous record keeping for making her role run so smoothly.
When Evelyn began working for the city in 2011, she did not know she would be working so closely with people making their final resting place decisions. She says it is a great honor to be able to help families in their time of need. Her first priority is making sure that every grave has a marker. She works tirelessly to make sure this happens, whether the death was a hundred years ago or just last week. To Evelyn, “Each life is important and worthy of being honored and remembered.”
2025 marks the 200th anniversary of Riverside Cemetery, and Evelyn is working with the Mayor’s Office, the Street Department, the Board of Public Works and Safety, the City Council, the Daughters of the American Revolution Horseshoe Prairie Chapter, and Keep Noblesville Beautiful to install a monument and reflection garden to honor this historic milestone and commemorate the first burial in Riverside Cemetery. Installation is scheduled for this fall along with a dedication ceremony.
From the early days of land donations to build the cemetery, to countless years of weather damage and disrepair, to today with many hands caring for this special piece of history, Riverside Cemetery stands as a beautiful burial site for pioneers, veterans, and local families. We hope to keep the momentum going.
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An article published in 1926 in the Noblesville Ledger shows that conditions had improved even further since 1890.
“When the people of this city and vicinity turn out for the Decoration Day services Sunday afternoon they will find that Riverside cemetery, commonly known as the old cemetery, a spot of unusual beauty. Never has this pioneer burial ground presented a prettier view to the eye than it does at the present time.
A Persian lilac bush with a spread of about ten feet is among the many decorations on this burial ground. There are also many flowers in bloom and some of them are arranged in artistic designs. The lawn has been mowed until it is as smooth as a carpet and the shade of the trees which are scattered here and there about the grounds, lend a scene to the place that makes one believe it is a spot for real rest for those who have gone on before.” The Noblesville Ledger, 28 May 1926, Pg. 1.
