Notes from Town Square: Riverview Cemetery then and now

Did you know that Green River’s original cemetery was located at 300 N. 1st E.?

The address probably sounds familiar to many; perhaps because that is the location of the Sweetwater County Library? The original cemetery was established in 1892 where it remained for nearly 25 years until 1917 when the burials were relocated to the present day location of 1079 N. 1st E.

In 1914, the city purchased land just up the hill and away from residential areas for the site of the current, Riverview Cemetery. Why the name “Riverview,” maybe, just maybe, because prior to the placement of Interstate 80, the river could be seen from this location. In 1917, relocation of the burials was well underway and continued for several years; many of the burials were relocated as “unknown burials” due to the lack of headstones or the wooden markers no longer revealing the identity. In 1926, the Clean Water Act was passed, and the remaining burial relocations were conducted. With the relocations being deemed complete, in the 1930’s the site was designated parkland and remained so until the ending of World War II. With the veterans returning home it was determined that the parkland would be the ideal location for development of veteran’s housing. It was during the 1944 construction of these homes that several burials were discovered and relocated to the new cemetery, being identified as “unknown burials.” As time has it, the sites was again designated; this time as the location for the new county library. During the 1978 construction of the building, 12 more burials were unearthed; again relocated to the present day cemetery, and again recorded as “unknown burials’. Further, during landscaping at the library in 1983, there were yet more burials unearthed and relocated to Riverview Cemetery, and again being identified as “unknown burials.” And yet again, in 1996 with the installation of a pipeline, two more burials were discovered; a male and female, both believed to be in their 40s, again being relocated to Riverview Cemetery, and once again, being identified as “unknown burials.”

Although the original cemetery was relocated a mere 25 years after its designation and although it has been 20 years since the last discovery of any remaining burials, it has been said that some spirits of those burials remain at the site of their original interments.

If you would like more information about the old cemetery and possibly some of its inhabitants, check out the Ghost Log at the Sweetwater County Library.

They also have loads of local history books and articles and librarians that can help you with your research. If you are interested in geology checkout the database at http://www.sweetwaterlibraries.com