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Images of America: Michigan
Detroit's Woodmere Cemetery
In 1867, a roomful of men gathered in the office of a noted attorney to discuss Detroit's need for a rural cemetery. They decided to form an association and invested their own money to purchase a plot of land that had once been occupied by Native Americans and then French settlers, a few miles from the heart of the city. They chose this heavily wooded area because it offered many acres of land that could accommodate the growing need for more burial space, and it became the cornerstone of one of the city's oldest and most historic cemeteries, Woodmere Cemetery. Cemetery acreage has been bought and sold, and buildings on the grounds have been raised and later razed. Funeral procedures have changed, as well as cemetery ownership. Still, Woodmere has remained one of Detroit's most beautiful treasures, where visitors can take a historical step back into time. From the very rich to the very poor, many thousands have chosen Woodmere Cemetery to be their final resting place. Through archival images, Detroit's Woodmere Cemetery takes a look at the movers and shakers of Detroit found in these bucolic grounds and glimpses the ordinary citizens who have lived and died through extraordinary circumstances.
128 pages, Paperback
First published November 13, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 18, 2013
July 28, 2008
I've been on a cemetery roll lately. Woodmere is Detroit's largest, known for its "beauty, size and professional management," created with characteristics of a park, as many cemeteries across the nation were at the time.
I was particularly impressed with landscape architect/superintendent Fred Higgins (1833-1910) a native New Yorker whose handiwork won acclaim throughout the United States. Other horticulturists made deliberate trips to examine new varieties of trees or plants he cultivated. The book illustrates his intention in several contemporary photographs contrasted with images from today that were not all that bad, but paved roads are not as attractive as ones that are non-paved/edged.
Unfortunately cemeteries don't have as many flowers and shrubs because of the extra the maintenance required. Even birdhouses were purchased for the grounds and Higgins selected all plants for Woodmere's beautification. At one point there were over 140 varieties of trees in the cemetery. Woodmere's roads follow paths used by Native Americans for hunting and camping. Baby Creek (pronounced Baubee) was filled in in 1967 but Deer Creek (now Lake Woodmere) remains, providing a serene environment.
Before the automobile, Detroit produced many millionaires in lumber, manufacturing, tobacco and retail. Vermont native Henry Leland (1843-1932) invented electric barber hair clippers, manufactured transmissions for Olds, produced Liberty aircraft engines, invented Cadillac (sold to GM) and formed Lincoln Motor Co. (acquired by Henry Ford). Moritz Kahn (1879-1939) worked at American Bridge Co. and Trussed Concrete Steel Co.; became VP of Albert Kahn, Inc. developed hollow concrete piles and steel-tile floor construction. David Buick (1855-1929) invented a bathtub enameling process, started Buick Manufacturing (later General Motors), went to California and bought land where oil was discovered. When his oil company folded he worked as a trade school instructor and died penniless. Non-Detroiters never heard of Massachussets native David Whitney (1830-1900) who made his fortune in farming, lumber and brick-making. His home has 42 rooms and 218 tiffany windows. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Wh... It is now a restaurant. Daniel Burnham designed the David Whitney Building (1915). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Wh...
New Yorker Dexter Ferry (1833-1907) has a street named for him where his mansion is now a hotel. He headed Ferry Seed Company. http://www.saveseeds.org/biography/fe... I particularly like the suggestion that gardening gives you connection to the land and your home, preventing lawlessness and debauchery! Click and scroll down to see 1878- 1919 catalogues archived at the Smithsonian here! http://www.sil.si.edu/digitalcollecti... His philanthropic deeds were too many to mention. He donated his land (and art collection) to the Detroit Institute of Arts. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/23/art...... a stadium in Ann Arbor http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/stad... and housing at Vassar http://residentiallife.vassar.edu/res... His grandson was another great benefactor http://www.nytimes.com/1988/01/28/obi...
New Yorker Hamilton Carhartt (1855-1937) manufactured overalls. Sigmund Rothchild (1836-1907) owned tobacco plantations in Cuba. Seymour Finney (1814-1899) built a barn used in the Underground Railroad. Oscar Rosenberger (1874-1918) directed United Jewish Charities and owned what was to become the largest cigar company in the U.S., The San Telmo Cigar Company. Another New Yorker, James Vernor (1843-1927) lost an eye in the Civil War. He came home to Detroit and opened a drugstore selling a drink he invented which became a hit. The Woodward bottling plant is gone but production continues to this day.
In winter 1932, at the height of the Depression, 3,000 autoworkers, their families and union organizers marched to present a list of demands to Henry Ford at the Rouge Plant. Police were told not to shoot, only to use teargas. When marchers reached Dearborn a dispute over a permit ensued. Police hurled tear gas bombs. Protesters responded with rocks and frozen mud. They were bombarded with water and bullets. Four were killed and 19 wounded. UAW local 600 retirees bought plaques for the young men killed in what is now known as the Ford Hunger March.
German immigrants Jacob (1842-1924) and Benjamin (1860-1936) Siegel founded B. Siegel Company, a very successful womens clothing store.
New Yorker George Langdon (1833-1909) was famous for obtaining Belle Isle for Detroit. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belle_Is...
New Yorker Philetus Norris ((1821-1885) superintendent of Yellowstone National Park, created roads, collected specimens for the Smithsonian and wrote a guide for park visitors.
North Carolinian Jesse Farwell started as an undertaker, became involved with "ironizing" and paving, then two piano and organ companies, only to find his fortune in shipping. His company excavated the American Soo Locks and with his son he built the New York aqueduct. He helped build the first subway in New York and if that wasn't enough, he is believed to have created the first automobile showroom.
David MacKenzie (1862-1926) ran one of the largest schools in the U.S. which became the nucleus of Wayne State University. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Old...
People who read and like books don't need to know about the Scripps. James (1835-1906) published The Detroit News and was a founder of the Detroit Institute of Arts.
Other forefathers were illustrators (see Lynn Bogue Hunt (1878-1960) who gave Field and Stream its image, photo at bottom of page on this link: http://www.albionmich.com/history/his... ... bankers, legislators, lawyers, fur traders, tavern owners, sheriffs. Some fought in the Civil War, worked in the hardware business, manufactured matches, raised cattle, taught and owned lumber mills.
Scotsman Daniel Brown (1875-1958) owned a coal company, ice company, ran General Necessities Corporation and Brownie's drugstore chain.
Frederick Matthaei (1893-1973) founded American Metal Products and donated 800 acres to the University of Michigan for a golf course and botanical garden. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthaei... http://www.lsa.umich.edu/mbg/
Alexander Malcomson (1865-1923) a grocery clerk from Scotland, found his fortune in wood and coal. A partner of Henry Ford's before the company became prosperous, Ford bought him out and he continued in real estate and building supplies.
Leopold Wineman (1852-1923) let his customers buy furniture from his store on installment. The idea caught on.
John Judson Bagley (1832-1881) "did not live long but lived a great deal too much...managing an extensive business before he was much more than a boy. [He] indeed had no boyhood...sprang from childhood into the cares and work of middle age, never [had] a holiday. [He had] done the work of a long life before...30 [finding himself] spent before 50, although [he] started with a capital of vitality that should have lasted til 80." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_J._...
Wolf Himelhoch's (1845-1922) store modernized the retail business. James Findlater (1820-1891) worked in undertaking and ship building. Nathaniel Ross's daughter Lizzie willed their home to Dearborn upon her death in 1950. It's now a museum/research facility.
Issac Applebaum (1854-1928) came to New York from Poland without a cent. He was a butcher, sold machinery, worked in real estate and railway supply manufacturing. Martin Snyder Smith (1835-1899) from New York, started as a jewelry clerk, carrying everything "from earrings to statues." His store was one of the most elegant of its kind. He joined a lumber firm, was president of Michigan Condensed Milk Co. and American Eagle Tobacco.
Charles Irish Walker (1814--1895) from New York, had 12 brothers and sisters. He was justice of the peace, published the Grand Rapids Times, was a state legislator, an attorney and U of M law professor who helped form the state constitution.
Simon Jones Murphy (1816-1905) from Maine, made a fortune purchasing pine lands, later selling cleared lands to settlers. His Penobscott Building is named after a river in his home state.
The list goes on. There's a small section on baby graves. I've written this mainly for my own records but hope anyone whose read this far has gotten something out of it.
I've been on a cemetery roll lately. Woodmere is Detroit's largest, known for its "beauty, size and professional management," created with characteristics of a park, as many cemeteries across the nation were at the time.
I was particularly impressed with landscape architect/superintendent Fred Higgins (1833-1910) a native New Yorker whose handiwork won acclaim throughout the United States. Other horticulturists made deliberate trips to examine new varieties of trees or plants he cultivated. The book illustrates his intention in several contemporary photographs contrasted with images from today that were not all that bad, but paved roads are not as attractive as ones that are non-paved/edged.
Unfortunately cemeteries don't have as many flowers and shrubs because of the extra the maintenance required. Even birdhouses were purchased for the grounds and Higgins selected all plants for Woodmere's beautification. At one point there were over 140 varieties of trees in the cemetery. Woodmere's roads follow paths used by Native Americans for hunting and camping. Baby Creek (pronounced Baubee) was filled in in 1967 but Deer Creek (now Lake Woodmere) remains, providing a serene environment.
Before the automobile, Detroit produced many millionaires in lumber, manufacturing, tobacco and retail. Vermont native Henry Leland (1843-1932) invented electric barber hair clippers, manufactured transmissions for Olds, produced Liberty aircraft engines, invented Cadillac (sold to GM) and formed Lincoln Motor Co. (acquired by Henry Ford). Moritz Kahn (1879-1939) worked at American Bridge Co. and Trussed Concrete Steel Co.; became VP of Albert Kahn, Inc. developed hollow concrete piles and steel-tile floor construction. David Buick (1855-1929) invented a bathtub enameling process, started Buick Manufacturing (later General Motors), went to California and bought land where oil was discovered. When his oil company folded he worked as a trade school instructor and died penniless. Non-Detroiters never heard of Massachussets native David Whitney (1830-1900) who made his fortune in farming, lumber and brick-making. His home has 42 rooms and 218 tiffany windows. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Wh... It is now a restaurant. Daniel Burnham designed the David Whitney Building (1915). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Wh...
New Yorker Dexter Ferry (1833-1907) has a street named for him where his mansion is now a hotel. He headed Ferry Seed Company. http://www.saveseeds.org/biography/fe... I particularly like the suggestion that gardening gives you connection to the land and your home, preventing lawlessness and debauchery! Click and scroll down to see 1878- 1919 catalogues archived at the Smithsonian here! http://www.sil.si.edu/digitalcollecti... His philanthropic deeds were too many to mention. He donated his land (and art collection) to the Detroit Institute of Arts. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/23/art...... a stadium in Ann Arbor http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/stad... and housing at Vassar http://residentiallife.vassar.edu/res... His grandson was another great benefactor http://www.nytimes.com/1988/01/28/obi...
New Yorker Hamilton Carhartt (1855-1937) manufactured overalls. Sigmund Rothchild (1836-1907) owned tobacco plantations in Cuba. Seymour Finney (1814-1899) built a barn used in the Underground Railroad. Oscar Rosenberger (1874-1918) directed United Jewish Charities and owned what was to become the largest cigar company in the U.S., The San Telmo Cigar Company. Another New Yorker, James Vernor (1843-1927) lost an eye in the Civil War. He came home to Detroit and opened a drugstore selling a drink he invented which became a hit. The Woodward bottling plant is gone but production continues to this day.
In winter 1932, at the height of the Depression, 3,000 autoworkers, their families and union organizers marched to present a list of demands to Henry Ford at the Rouge Plant. Police were told not to shoot, only to use teargas. When marchers reached Dearborn a dispute over a permit ensued. Police hurled tear gas bombs. Protesters responded with rocks and frozen mud. They were bombarded with water and bullets. Four were killed and 19 wounded. UAW local 600 retirees bought plaques for the young men killed in what is now known as the Ford Hunger March.
German immigrants Jacob (1842-1924) and Benjamin (1860-1936) Siegel founded B. Siegel Company, a very successful womens clothing store.
New Yorker George Langdon (1833-1909) was famous for obtaining Belle Isle for Detroit. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belle_Is...
New Yorker Philetus Norris ((1821-1885) superintendent of Yellowstone National Park, created roads, collected specimens for the Smithsonian and wrote a guide for park visitors.
North Carolinian Jesse Farwell started as an undertaker, became involved with "ironizing" and paving, then two piano and organ companies, only to find his fortune in shipping. His company excavated the American Soo Locks and with his son he built the New York aqueduct. He helped build the first subway in New York and if that wasn't enough, he is believed to have created the first automobile showroom.
David MacKenzie (1862-1926) ran one of the largest schools in the U.S. which became the nucleus of Wayne State University. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Old...
People who read and like books don't need to know about the Scripps. James (1835-1906) published The Detroit News and was a founder of the Detroit Institute of Arts.
Other forefathers were illustrators (see Lynn Bogue Hunt (1878-1960) who gave Field and Stream its image, photo at bottom of page on this link: http://www.albionmich.com/history/his... ... bankers, legislators, lawyers, fur traders, tavern owners, sheriffs. Some fought in the Civil War, worked in the hardware business, manufactured matches, raised cattle, taught and owned lumber mills.
Scotsman Daniel Brown (1875-1958) owned a coal company, ice company, ran General Necessities Corporation and Brownie's drugstore chain.
Frederick Matthaei (1893-1973) founded American Metal Products and donated 800 acres to the University of Michigan for a golf course and botanical garden. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthaei... http://www.lsa.umich.edu/mbg/
Alexander Malcomson (1865-1923) a grocery clerk from Scotland, found his fortune in wood and coal. A partner of Henry Ford's before the company became prosperous, Ford bought him out and he continued in real estate and building supplies.
Leopold Wineman (1852-1923) let his customers buy furniture from his store on installment. The idea caught on.
John Judson Bagley (1832-1881) "did not live long but lived a great deal too much...managing an extensive business before he was much more than a boy. [He] indeed had no boyhood...sprang from childhood into the cares and work of middle age, never [had] a holiday. [He had] done the work of a long life before...30 [finding himself] spent before 50, although [he] started with a capital of vitality that should have lasted til 80." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_J._...
Wolf Himelhoch's (1845-1922) store modernized the retail business. James Findlater (1820-1891) worked in undertaking and ship building. Nathaniel Ross's daughter Lizzie willed their home to Dearborn upon her death in 1950. It's now a museum/research facility.
Issac Applebaum (1854-1928) came to New York from Poland without a cent. He was a butcher, sold machinery, worked in real estate and railway supply manufacturing. Martin Snyder Smith (1835-1899) from New York, started as a jewelry clerk, carrying everything "from earrings to statues." His store was one of the most elegant of its kind. He joined a lumber firm, was president of Michigan Condensed Milk Co. and American Eagle Tobacco.
Charles Irish Walker (1814--1895) from New York, had 12 brothers and sisters. He was justice of the peace, published the Grand Rapids Times, was a state legislator, an attorney and U of M law professor who helped form the state constitution.
Simon Jones Murphy (1816-1905) from Maine, made a fortune purchasing pine lands, later selling cleared lands to settlers. His Penobscott Building is named after a river in his home state.
The list goes on. There's a small section on baby graves. I've written this mainly for my own records but hope anyone whose read this far has gotten something out of it.
May 14, 2010
Woodmere Cemetery isn't blessed with lots of permanent residents, but Gail Hershenzon's book does a wonderful job of bringing the place to life. She's specially skillful at summing up interesting residents in a paragraph, pointing out a number of fascinating monuments, and spinning some gruesome stories.
My favorite is about Amelia Buck, buried in an unmarked grave. Her sister kept Amelia's body, convinced she could pray her back to life. She tried to feed her dead sister a little coffee each day and even propped her up in a chair on the porch to watch the Fourth of July parade.
The reason this book doesn't get five stars is that Amelia Buck is said to have died July 27 -- several weeks after the Fourth of July. Probably the first date is a typo and should have said June 27, but it does call into question other facts and figures in the book.
My favorite is about Amelia Buck, buried in an unmarked grave. Her sister kept Amelia's body, convinced she could pray her back to life. She tried to feed her dead sister a little coffee each day and even propped her up in a chair on the porch to watch the Fourth of July parade.
The reason this book doesn't get five stars is that Amelia Buck is said to have died July 27 -- several weeks after the Fourth of July. Probably the first date is a typo and should have said June 27, but it does call into question other facts and figures in the book.
July 24, 2008
I am originally from Detroit and love to read its history. I lived by the cemetery when I was growing up.
January 7, 2016
Excellent fun and super informative. Well educated author.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews