The municipality (of South Norfolk) has three cemeteries, namely Rossendale, and Bethel. These cemeteries have become beauty spots in the municipality and is indeed a great credit to those people in charge of their upkeep. The Methodist Church (South Rossendale) was in charge of the Rossendale Cemetery which was donated by Matthew Vennard, until 1919 when it was taken over by the council and made a public burial ground. Bethel Cemetery was started in 1897 on ground purchased from Alex McNeill and has since been expanded and further beautified. Woodlands Cemetery was started on the land of John Towns and run as a community cemetery until 1901, when the council passed by-law 314 on June 23, 1901 making it a public burial ground. In later years, they expanded it to suit modern needs.

(Source: Tiger Hills to the Assiniboine, pp 16f [1976; Adapted])

The history of East Treherne is interesting in the fact it was the start of a community before the Village of Treherne was established. The first homesteader came in about 1878 and on, among these were the Towns, Tarbaths and Scammells. However. I'm told a small post office was opened on the SW-09-08-09(-W1) south of the present golf course. Later it was moved to NW-05-08-09(-W1) on the Thomas Metcalfe property, and finally to Treherne.

In 1879, Mr. John Towns who homesteaded NW-04-08-09(-W1) donated a portion of ground in the NE corner of that quarter for a cemetery (now named Woodlands). A further portion was added on the south side being given by Bert Delahunt. Later a driveway was added on the east side given by my wife and I. Jack Tarbath made a model of a church in 1962 with one side which opens to disclose the visitors book. Woodlands is now one of the best-kept cemeteries with its trees and flowers that give it an air of quiet serenity in rural Manitoba. Many people give freely or their time and work to accomplish this. The first buried in Woodlands was Mrs. A. Hannah, July 9. 1884.

(Submitted by "Ted" H.G. Wheeler)

(Source: Tiger Hills to the Assiniboine, pp 46f [1976; Adapted])

It was Thos. Metcalfe who sold two acres of land to the Municipality at twenty-five cents per acre, for its

first burying-ground, now Woodlands Cemetery, in 1882.

(Source: A History of the Rural Municipality of South Norfolk, 1879-1939, p 51 [1939])

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Established in 1884, at this location is a small church model containing a visitors book. A plaque reads "In loving memory of Henry (Jack) TARBATHwho built this church and placed it here on Aug. 14, 1962. He died on Dec. 14, 1962. Ever remembered by nieces & nephews"

(Source: Manitoba Genealogical Society [Adapted])

The first burial in this cemetery occurred in 1884.

(Source: Manitoba Historical Society [Adapted])

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Dominion Land Survey coordinates: LSD14-04-08-09-W1

In the Rural Municipality of Norfolk-Treherne

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As noted above, a part of the town's story, and those of its inhabitants, from the early days of European settlement through roughly 1980 is told in the volume "Tiger Hills to the Assiniboine", especially on the cited pages, along with related volumes entitled "A History of the Rural Municipality of South Norfolk, 1879-1939" , "Treherne 100 years 1880-1980", and "Treherne in 1908".

Free digital versions of these and many other Manitoba local history books can be found online in the University of Manitoba Digital Collections. There is also a list of such books organized by district and town name on the Manitoba Historical Society's website on their page entitled "Finding Aid: Manitoba Local History Books".

A list of burials in this cemetery is available from the Manitoba Genealogical Society (reference #0563), transcribed by a member or members in 1990 and updated in 1992. Also available to MGS members is a searchable online database named the "MGS Manitoba Name Index" (or MANI). Some additional information is contained in the 1996 MGS publication "Carved in Stone: Manitoba Cemeteries and Burial Sites" (revised edition, Special Projects Publication, 106 pages).