Historic Sites of Manitoba: Melita Cemetery and Winter Vault (Municipality of Two Borders)

This cemetery, situated west of Melita in the Municipality of Two Borders, was established in 1887 on land purchased from local farmer Thomas Dickson Sturgeon. A small building on the southeast corner of the grounds was constructed in 1908 at a cost of $400 by contractor George Arthur Pope using locally-made red bricks. It is used to store coffins during the winter when the frozen ground makes it difficult to dig graves.

Melita Cemetery (May 2013) Source: Gordon Goldsborough Winter vault in the Melita Cemetery (May 2019) Source: Gordon Goldsborough Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.26684, W101.01857 denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Memorable Manitobans: Thomas Dickson Sturgeon (1852-1932)

Memorable Manitobans: George Arthur Pope (1876-1950)

MHS Resources: Manitoba Bricks and Blocks: Melita Lumber and Manufacturing Company / Melita Brick and Tile Company

Sources:

A list of burials in this cemetery is available from the Manitoba Genealogical Society, including a searchable online database available to members at the MGS Manitoba Name Index (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.

Our First Century: Town of Melita and Municipality of Arthur by Melita-Arthur History Committee, 1983, pages 36-37, 377, 693.

Grave transcription [George Arthur Pope], Brandon Cemetery.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 30 January 2024

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