# Woodmere Cemetery

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Woodmere_Cemetery
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Woodmere_Cemetery.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodmere_Cemetery
> Source revision: 1309148654
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Short description|Cemetery in Wayne County, Michigan, US}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2025}}
{{Infobox cemetery
| name = Woodmere Cemetery
| image = Entrance to Woodmere Cemetery, Detroit, Michigan.png
| location = 9400 W. Fort St., [Springwells](/source/Springwells%2C_Detroit), [Detroit](/source/Detroit), Michigan
| coordinates = {{coord|42|18|00|N|83|08|15|W|region:US-MI_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| country = United States
| established = July 8, 1867
| caption = Entrance to Woodmere Cemetery (1891)
| size_acre = 250
| findagraveid = 2007
| embedded = {{Infobox park
 |child = yes
 |designer = [Adolph Strauch](/source/Adolph_Strauch)
 |mapframe = no
 }}
| type = [Rural cemetery](/source/Rural_cemetery)
| website = [https://www.woodmerecemetery.com Cemetery website]
}}

'''Woodmere Cemetery''' is at West Fort Street and Woodmere Avenue in [Detroit](/source/Detroit), [Michigan](/source/Michigan), in the neighborhood of [Springwells Village](/source/Springwells_Village) in what was originally the township of Springwells.<ref>{{cite book |last=Woodmere Cemetery Association |title=Rules and Regulations of Woodmere Cemetery Association |year=1888 |location=Detroit, Michigan |page=5}}</ref> Woodmere Cemetery is operated by the Midwest Memorial Group.<ref>{{cite web |title=Midwest Memorial Group |url=http://midwestmemorialgroup.com/ |website=midwestmemorialgroup |access-date=January 25, 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

== History ==
The Woodmere Cemetery Association was organized on July 8, 1867, by a group of prominent Detroit businessmen who purchased approximately 250 acres to establish a [rural cemetery](/source/rural_cemetery) for the city of Detroit.<ref>{{cite book |title=Detroit's Woodmere Cemetery |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |last=Hershenzon |first=Gail D. |year=2006 |page=7 |isbn=978-0738541204}}</ref> Woodmere's layout was designed by [Adolph Strauch](/source/Adolph_Strauch), who also designed [Spring Grove Cemetery](/source/Spring_Grove_Cemetery) in [Cincinnati](/source/Cincinnati), [Ohio](/source/Ohio).<ref>{{cite book |last=Woodmere Cemetery Association |title=Rules and Regulations of Woodmere Cemetery Association |year=1888 |location=Detroit |page=6}}</ref> Construction began in 1868 and the [cemetery](/source/cemetery) was dedicated on July 14, 1869.<ref>{{cite book |last=Farmer |first=Silas |title=The History of Detroit and Michigan |url=https://archive.org/details/historydetroita00farmgoog |year=1889 |publisher=Silas Farmer & Co. |location=Detroit |page=57 |edition=Second}}</ref>

The first burials occurred prior to the cemetery's official opening. The first burial was for Anna Maria Schwartz, who was buried in Section C in November 1868.<ref>{{cite book |title=Detroit's Woodmere Cemetery |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |last=Hershenzon |first=Gail D. |year=2006 |page=8 |isbn=978-0738541204}}</ref> She was soon joined by approximately 2,000 removals from Detroit's City Cemetery that were reburied at Woodmere.<ref>{{cite book |last=Farmer |first=Silas |title=The History of Detroit and Michigan |url=https://archive.org/details/historydetroita00farmgoog |year=1889 |publisher=Silas Farmer & Co. |location=Detroit |page=57 |edition=Second}}</ref> In addition to these burials, the city of Detroit also contracted for approximately five acres for the burial of the city's poor.<ref>{{cite book |last=Farmer |first=Silas |title=The History of Detroit and Michigan |url=https://archive.org/details/historydetroita00farmgoog |year=1889 |publisher=Silas Farmer & Co. |location=Detroit |page=57 |edition=Second}}</ref> Section C is the cemetery's oldest section and where the large Elks' Rest monument can be found. Once Section C was filled, Woodmere ended its contract with the city to bury the city's poor.<ref>{{cite book |title=Detroit's Woodmere Cemetery |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |last=Hershenzon |first=Gail D. |year=2006 |page=38 |isbn=978-0738541204}}</ref>

== Notable sections ==
thumb|right|19th U.S. Infantry monument at Woodmere cemeteryThe [U.S. Army](/source/United_States_Army) section is at the cemetery's southern end, next to Dearborn Street. The army purchased this section which contains [veteran](/source/veteran)s from the [Civil War](/source/Civil_War_(United_States)) as well as [World War II](/source/World_War_II). In 1896 the Civil War soldiers buried at [Fort Wayne](/source/Fort_Wayne_(Detroit)) were moved to Woodmere as the cemetery there had fallen to decay and the records were in shambles.<ref>{{cite book |title=Detroit's Woodmere Cemetery |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |last=Hershenzon |first=Gail D. |year=2006 |page=96 |isbn=978-0738541204}}</ref> The [flagpole](/source/flagpole) in this section divides the [Grand Army of the Republic](/source/Grand_Army_of_the_Republic) section to the east from the U.S. Army section to the west.

[Temple Beth El](/source/Temple_Beth_El_(Detroit%2C_Michigan)) purchased two sections at Woodmere, Section Beth El and part of the adjacent Section NF. Many of the [mausoleum](/source/mausoleum)s in Section NF were vandalized in December 2012. The bronze doors were removed, leaving the mausoleums open to the elements. These doors were presumably sold for scrap.<ref>{{cite web |last=Schwartz |first=Robin |title=Scrappers target historic Detroit cemetery |url=http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/story/20297018/scrappers-target-historic-detroit-cemetary |work=Fox 2 News |access-date=2 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130424012151/http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/story/20297018/scrappers-target-historic-detroit-cemetary |archive-date=24 April 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The [American Moslem Society](/source/American_Moslem_Society) purchased a section at the northwest corner of the cemetery within view of its [mosque](/source/mosque) on Vernor Highway. This mosque was established in 1937 and is Michigan's oldest.<ref>{{cite web |title=AMS History |url=http://www.masjiddearborn.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=56&Itemid=69 |website=American Moslem Society |access-date=2 April 2013}}</ref>

Victims of the [Ford Hunger March](/source/Ford_Hunger_March) killed on March 7, 1932, are buried in the Ferndale section at the cemetery's north end abutting Vernor Highway. The victims are Joseph York, Joseph Bussell, Kalman Leny, and Joseph DeBascio. The [United Auto Workers](/source/United_Auto_Workers) also placed a headstone on an empty space in the same row as the others for Curtis Williams, a marcher who died several months later due to unrelated causes. Williams was [cremated](/source/cremated) at Woodmere, but his ashes were not interred there.<ref>{{cite book |title=Detroit's Woodmere Cemetery |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |last=Hershenzon |first=Gail D. |year=2006 |page=63 |isbn=978-0738541204}}</ref> A marker is located along the fence outside of the cemetery near these graves.{{citation needed|date=December 2018}}

Three [British Commonwealth war graves](/source/Commonwealth_War_Graves_Commission), of two [Canadian Army](/source/Canadian_Army) soldiers of [World War I](/source/World_War_I) and a [Royal Canadian Air Force](/source/Royal_Canadian_Air_Force) airman of [World War II](/source/World_War_II) are buried in the cemetery.<ref>{{cite web |title=Detroit (Woodmere) Cemetery |url=https://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/2073094/DETROIT%20(WOODMERE)%20CEMETERY |access-date=December 1, 2018 |website=CWGC}}</ref>

== Notable burials ==
* [John J. Bagley](/source/John_J._Bagley) (1832–1881), [Michigan Governor](/source/List_of_governors_of_Michigan) (1873–1877)
* [Charlie Bennett](/source/Charlie_Bennett) (1854–1927), [Major League Baseball](/source/Major_League_Baseball) player
* [David Dunbar Buick](/source/David_Dunbar_Buick) (1854–1929), founder [Buick Motor Company](/source/Buick_Motor_Company)
* [Hamilton Carhartt](/source/Hamilton_Carhartt) (1857–1937), founder of [Carhartt Inc.](/source/Carhartt)
* [Nig Clarke](/source/Nig_Clarke) (1882–1949), [Major League Baseball](/source/Major_League_Baseball) [catcher](/source/catcher)
* [Conrad Ten Eyck](/source/Conrad_Ten_Eyck) (1782–1847), politician, member of the [Michigan Senate](/source/Michigan_Senate) starting in its inaugural session in 1835, and as a member of the [Michigan House of Representatives](/source/Michigan_House_of_Representatives) in 1846
* [Dexter M. Ferry](/source/Dexter_M._Ferry) (1833–1907), founder of [D. M. Ferry & Co.](/source/D.M._Ferry_%26_Co.)
* [Dexter M. Ferry Jr.](/source/Dexter_M._Ferry_Jr.) (1873–1959), politician
* [Moses W. Field](/source/Moses_W._Field) (1828–1889), member of the [United States House of Representatives](/source/United_States_House_of_Representatives), instrumental in organizing the Independent [Greenback Party](/source/Greenback_Party)
* [Levi T. Griffin](/source/Levi_T._Griffin) (1837–1906), politician, member of the [United States House of Representatives](/source/United_States_House_of_Representatives)
* [Ignaz Grossmann](/source/Ignaz_Grossmann) (1825–1897), [Hungarian](/source/Hungary)-born [rabbi](/source/rabbi) who ministered in [Moravia](/source/Moravia), [Croatia](/source/Croatia), and America
* [Lillian Hollister](/source/Lillian_Hollister) (1853–1911), temperance and church worker, Supreme Commander of the [Ladies of the Maccabees](/source/Ladies_of_the_Maccabees)
* [Lynn Bogue Hunt](/source/Lynn_Bogue_Hunt) (1878–1960), wildlife artist, and illustrator of magazines and books
* [Gene Krapp](/source/Gene_Krapp) (1887–1923), [Major League Baseball](/source/Major_League_Baseball) [pitcher](/source/pitcher)
* [Henry M. Leland](/source/Henry_M._Leland) (1843–1932), founder of [Cadillac](/source/Cadillac) and [Lincoln](/source/Lincoln_(automobile)) luxury car brands
* [Sophie Lyons](/source/Sophie_Lyons) (1848–1924), criminal, one of the country's most notorious [confidence women](/source/Confidence_trick)
* [Frederick Matthaei](/source/Frederick_Matthaei) (1892–1973), founder of [Matthaei Botanical Gardens](/source/Matthaei_Botanical_Gardens)
* [Philetus Norris](/source/Philetus_Norris) (1821–1885), founder of Norris, Michigan (now [Hamtramck](/source/Hamtramck%2C_Michigan)) and 2nd superintendent of [Yellowstone National Park](/source/Yellowstone_National_Park)
* [John Pridgeon Jr.](/source/John_Pridgeon_Jr.) (1852–1929), head of a marine transport company and [mayor of Detroit](/source/mayor_of_Detroit)
* [Charles A. Roxborough](/source/Charles_A._Roxborough) (1888–1963), [first African-American man](/source/List_of_first_African-American_U.S._state_legislators) elected to the [Michigan Senate](/source/Michigan_Senate)
* [James E. Scripps](/source/James_E._Scripps) (1835–1906), founder of [The Detroit News](/source/The_Detroit_News)
* [Ahmad Bakhsh Sindhi](/source/Ahmad_Bakhsh_Sindhi) (1917–2000), Former [Law and Justice Minister](/source/Ministry_of_Law_and_Justice_(India)) in [Rajasthan, India](/source/Rajasthan%2C_India)
* [Eddie Slovik](/source/Eddie_Slovik) (1920–1945), only [World War II](/source/World_War_II) U.S. soldier executed for desertion
* David Vartanian (1890–1966), RMS ''[Titanic](/source/Titanic)'' survivor
* [James Vernor](/source/James_Vernor) (1843–1927), inventor of [Vernor's Ginger Ale](/source/Vernor's_Ginger_Ale)
* [David Whitney](/source/David_Whitney_House) (1830–1900), lumber baron
* [Grace Whitney-Hoff](/source/Grace_Whitney-Hoff) (1862-1938), philanthropist, founder of the [Foyer International des Etudiantes](/source/Foyer_International_des_Etudiantes) in [Paris](/source/Paris).
* [Joe Yeager](/source/Joe_Yeager) (1875–1937), [Major League Baseball](/source/Major_League_Baseball) [infielder](/source/infielder) and [pitcher](/source/pitcher)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official|https://www.woodmerecemetery.com/}}
* {{Find a Grave cemetery}}

Category:Buildings and structures in Detroit
Category:Cemeteries in Wayne County, Michigan
Category:Rural cemeteries
Category:1867 establishments in Michigan
Category:Cemeteries established in the 1860s

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Woodmere Cemetery](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodmere_Cemetery) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodmere_Cemetery?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.