United States Department of Veterans Affairs
United States Department of Veterans Affairs

Burial & Memorials

Cemeteries - Lakeside Cemetery Soldiers' Lot

Lakeside Cemetery Soldiers' Lot
Lakeside Cemetery
3781 Gratiot Street
Port Huron, MI 48060

Office Hours:
See General Information

Visitation Hours:
Open daily from sunrise to sunset.

Overall view of Lakeside Cemetery Soldiers' Lot surrounded by low, concrete curbing.  At the center of the lot is the 'Unknown Soldier' monument on either side are rows of government headstones.


Burial Space: This soldiers' lot is closed to interments.

Acreage: 0.2

Floral/Ground Regulations


Directions from nearest airport:
Go North on Interstate 69 until you reach Port Huron. Take Business Loop through Port Huron to 10th Street. Turn right on 10th Street. Travel 1/4 mile to the cemetery.



GENERAL INFORMATION

The private and community cemeteries that contain NCA soldiers' and government lots, and Confederate cemeteries, do not always have staffed offices on site. When administrative information for the larger cemetery is available, it is provided below.

This soldiers' lot is overseen by the Great Lakes National Cemetery.

Please contact the national cemetery for more information.

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HISTORICAL INFORMATION

Lakeside Cemetery was established in 1877 when the city of Port Huron, Michigan, purchased 148 acres from local resident John Hoffman. At one point the cemetery comprised 176 acres, but over time it was reduced to the current size of 96.5 acres.

The Lakeside Cemetery Soldiers' Lot encompasses lots 144 - 159. The 0.174-acre parcel was donated to the United States in 1881, when 135 remains from Old Fort Gratiot were re-interred at the cemetery. There were two installations known as Fort Gratiot; the first dated from 1814-1821, the second from 1828-1879. Both were located on the same site, on the west bank of the St. Clair River, approximately two miles south of Lakeside Cemetery. Of the 135 interments in the soldiers' lot, only 35 are known.


Monuments and Memorials
On July 7, 1884, the federal government dedicated a monument at the Lakeside Cemetery Soldiers' Lot to honor the unknown soldiers from Fort Gratiot who fell victims to the cholera epidemic, July 4, to 18, 1832. Built by Philo Truesdell of the Port Huron Marble and Granite Works, the shaft is constructed of Concord granite. A marble statue of a Union soldier attired in "those articles used in the [Civil] war" stands on top of the column. The monument is 24 feet in height, and cost $1,500 to complete.
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NOTABLE PERSONS

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FLORAL/GROUNDS REGULATIONS

Lakeside Cemetery, Port Huron Soldier's Lot has the following regulations from their handbook:
Section 12 - Decoration of graves in Veterans' Memorial Plots
The following shall be observed with regard to the decoration of cemetery lots in the Veteran's Memorial Plots:

(a) Plantings, urns, vases, hanging baskets and other obstructions are prohibited.

(b) Cut flowers will be permitted on Memorial Day, Armed Forces Day, July 4th, or any other legally designated holiday.  This flora may remain in the cemetery at the discretion of the Cemetery Superintendent for a period not to exceed ten (10) days.

(c) All flag stands and holders in the Veterans' Memorial Plots shall be placed close to the grave markers.  All flags shall be removed 72 hours following Memorial Day.

The rules for the Veterans' Memorial Plots are subject to the same stipulations and can be superseded by the Veterans Administration Cemeteries policies.
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