WOODMERE CEMETERY
9400 W. Fort Street
Detroit, MI 48209
(313) 841-0188
Established: 1869
Acres: 200
Official Website
Bella Morte Rating: 3.5 Tombstones
First things first. Do not confuse historic Woodmere Cemetery with nearby (30 minutes by car) Woodlawn. If you have a limited amount of time in the Detroit area, it would be a pity to choose the former over the latter as our TRS (Tombstone Rating System) indicates. This is not to say Woodmere doesn’t have some good points, but she cannot hold a candle to her older, slightly smaller, sister.
Woodmere was dedicated on 14 July, 1869. The newly-established grounds received 2000+ bodies which had formerly been interred in the Russell Street Cemetery; thereafter, the newly-deceased began to take their places among the trees and shaded lawns.
But to the cemetery as it now stands….
As often happens with burying grounds of this vintage, Woodmere is surrounded by depressed neighbourhoods. Once inside the main gate, however, it is easy to forget that fact unless one ventures towards the newer areas. Sadly, we found several bags of discarded trash along the roadway in the more recently opened sections. Nevertheless, the overall appearance of the cemetery is superb. It is well-maintained and feels like a perfectly safe oasis from the dreariness just beyond its borders.
Woodmere offers a number of truly exceptional monuments for visitors to enjoy. One of the first we encountered was the stone dedicated to Mollie H. Racz by her husband, Victor J.. The grey marble boasts a bust of young Mollie (1911-1942), resplendent in her bridal finery, wearing a simple cross around her neck and gazing into the distance, as if regarding the next world. What makes the monument even more poignant is the fact that Victor’s dates remain incomplete. Born in 1907, it is extremely unlikely he is still alive…and yet, there is no death date inscribed. It appears he is not laid to rest beside the woman who inspired such a lovely tribute. It may be he remarried later in life. It may be he moved elsewhere and was never returned to Mollie’s side. One can only speculate....
Lake Woodmere is a blissfully restful spot. On the day we visited, ducks and geese paddled slowly through the cool water or nibbled grass along the shores beneath the shade of weeping willows. On the north end, a white mausoleum glittered, beckoning us to investigate. This is the resting place of Hamilton Carhartt and his wife, Annette. Born in 1855, Mr. Carhartt grew up to run a successful furniture company. Later, he got into the peculiar business of manufacturing overalls for railroad workers. His company, Carhartt, Inc. has gone on to become an industry leader in rugged clothing for workers in industry as well as those who enjoy hunting, fishing and other outdoor sports. Sadly, on the 10th of May, 1937, Hamilton and Annette were involved in a car accident. Mrs. Hamilton died that day. Two days later, Mr. Hamilton followed her. Husband and wife were laid to rest in the family plot in Woodmere and there they remained until the year 2000 when their devoted granddaughter had the aforementioned mausoleum constructed for them on the shores of Lake Woodmere.
Those who stroll through the older sections of the cemetery might take note of the proliferation of children’s graves dating back to the late 1800s. Many of these were claimed by the ravages of Scarlet Fever. One particularly lovely memorialization of a fallen child is the weathered Schwankovsky stone. A mourning angel, himself a mere babe, leans against the half-shrouded angles of a diminutive casket. Inscribed on a banner which spills over simulated boulders are these words:
MARGARET
Beloved daughter
of Fred and Julia
Schwankovsky
Aug. 18, 1888
Aug. 19, 1891
Not all of Woodmere’s children were claimed by disease, however. Indeed, the Rheiner babes (aged 1 & 3) met a grim end…at the hands on their own mother! On 26 September, 1899, at 109 Catherine Street in Detroit, young Harold and his one-year-old sibling (name and gender unknown to us at this time) were given poison and died shortly thereafter. The reason for this horror? Cremation of the dead was just being introduced in America and many people found the idea more than a little repugnant. Apparently, Mr. & Mrs. Rheiner had discussed the topic and determined that, should it come to pass their children predeceased them, they would not commit their corpses to the flames. Later, however, Mr. Rheiner expressed a decided preference for cremation. Mrs. Rheiner, it would seem, found the idea of filicide more acceptable than the cremation of her babies. Perhaps she felt the latter would condemn them to an eternity of fire. Either way, the children were murdered. They were laid to rest in the same grave, three days later. Their mother was not in attendance. The Rheiner children are buried in Section F-- the stone can be located near a monument depicting an angel descending a set of stairs.
Now to one of Woodmere’s real gems. The Woodmere Chapel which, among other things, houses the now defunct (1999) crematorium.
The chapel itself is certainly aesthetically pleasing with is soaring arches, rich red carpet, pipe organ and warm wood appointments. Two glass-fronted columbaria flank either side of the altar, though, as far as we could determine, there were no urns worth remarking on. But do not make the mistake of shrugging and departing the building. Instead, walk past the altar and open either of the massive sliding wooden doors. To your right, you will see a portrait of a woman in a gold frame. She is Barbara Schorr, a pioneer in cremation, being the first person in Michigan to have her corpse consigned to the flames on 10 December, 1887. At the time, the crematorium was located off the cemetery property and operated under the name Detroit Crematorium & Columbarium. On 25 September, 1929, it closed its doors forever and all cremains were transferred to the new Woodmere-Detroit Crematorium & Columbarium. Former niche owners were offered their choice of space in the new facility. Beneath Mrs. Schorr's portrait is a bronze plaque with a pro-cremation quote from Frances E. Willard which is also featured in Oakland, California's breathtaking "Chapel of Memories."
I have the purpose to help forward
progressive movements even in my latest
hours, and hence hereby decree that the
earthly mantle, which I shall drop ere long,
when my real self passes onward into the
world unseen, shall be swiftly enfolded
in flames and rendered powerless harm-
fully to affect the health of the living.
Let no friend of mine say aught to prevent
the cremation of my cast off body. The fact
that the popular mind has not come to this
decision renders it all the more my duty,
who have seen the light, to stand for it
in death, as I have sincerely meant in life
to stand for the great cause of poor
oppressed humanity.
You will also see a small columbarium room. This contains mostly white marble-faced niches, although a more modern bank of glass-fronted niches has been installed in the center of the space. In one of two alcoves, a beautiful marble column supports an urn of the same material. The column bears the inscription:
WITHIN REPOSE
THE REMAINS OF
C.D. ERICHSEN
Born April 3, 1822
Died August 18, 1887
Just above the alcove, a bronze plaque reads:
THIS NICHE
IS RESERVED FOR THE USE OF
DR. HUGO ERICHSEN
AND FAMILY
AS A PERPETUAL MEMORIAL
OF HIS SERVICES
AS THE FOUNDER OF
THE MICHIGAN CREMATION ASSOCIATION
AND DETROIT CREMATORIUM
_____
DETROIT, 1911
The good doctor’s remains occupy another niche elsewhere in the columbarium.
The room also enjoys a wash of golden light courtesy of an exquisite stained glass window.
Leaving the columbarium, you may turn to the right again and you will find yourself in the old crematorium. Note the two retort doors, painted black and standing starkly against the white brick walls. On the day we visited, the wooden door leading to the retorts was open and we were able to walk into the room and observe the actual mechanisms of cremation.
One last thing and your chapel visit will be complete. Step back into the room you entered after opening the sliding wooden door. You will see an impressive stone façade. The date 1898 and the word WOODMERE are carved in it and two beautiful bronze gates guard it. This is the cemetery’s former Receiving Vault. It was able to accommodate as many as 80 corpses at a time.
To be sure, the most commanding family mausoleum at Woodmere is one you might mistakenly take to be the cemetery’s chapel! We are referring to the Scripps mausoleum (1887) which was designed by architect H. Langford Warren (at William E. Scripps behest) to resemble an English Gothic castle, complete with slate roof and gargoyle downspouts.
Measuring 18 x 20 feet and boasting a vaulted ceiling and stained glass windows with a Christian motif, those who peer through the window will be puzzled by the lack of any vaults or stairs leading to a subterranean crypt. Yet this is precisely as Scripps wished. Resting beneath the bare stone floor, unmarked and unnoted, lie the mortal remains of five family members:
• James E. Scripps (Founder of The Detroit News & The Chicago Tribune)
• Harriet Scripps (his wife)
• William E. Scripps (their son)
• Nina (William’s wife)
• Francis Scripps (their son)
After more than 100 years, the mausoleum had begun to deteriorate, primarily owing to several leaks in the slate roof; however, in 2003 it underwent major restoration which cost in excess of $40,000. Today, visitors would never be able to guess its age.
For The Proprietors, however, the most wonderful monument in the cemetery lacks the grandeur of Scripps, but possesses a quiet, commanding beauty all its own. At first glance, one might mistake it for a diminutive mausoleum. Pyramidal in shape, with a heavy bronze door decorated with a laurel wreath encircling a letter “M,” the monument is actually a columbarium. It is located diagonally from that of Scripps.
Step up to the glass, peer inside and you will see a glorious, rectangular white marble urn bearing this inscription:
HEREIN REPOSE THE ASHES OF
*LYDIA*
Wife of Louis Mendelssohn
__________________
Born – London. Eng.
Feb.1.1856.
Dead-Detroit.MICH.
March 28, 1901.
This engraving is offset to the right. To the left, a blank square can be seen. Clearly, when Lydia’s monument was built, Mr.Mendelssohn intended to one day intermingle his ashes with that of his spouse. Sadly, like Victor J. Racz (see paragraph 5 of this review) that plan never came to fruition. Whether the reason owes to a new allegiance, death in a faraway place, or survivors unwilling to honour his wishes, the end result is the same. Quite sad.
Forming the last part of the triangle comprised by Scripps and Mendelssohn is the blocky and solid Wm. N. Rowe mausoleum which was completed in 1904. Mr. Rowe owned a shoe store and also ran THE RUSH…the first ferry to offer night service between Detroit & Windsor. Mr. Rowe met his end after being struck by a streetcar on 25 June, 1919. He was 89 years old.
Elsewhere on the property stands a sizeable mausoleum which bears this peculiar notation, set in mosaic tiles above the doorway:
LOVE SHRINE
ERECTED BY FLORA SCHLOSS ADLER
TO THE LOVING MEMORY
OF HER DAUGHTER
ALICE ADLER SIMON
1919
No information is available, save these tidbits. Alice Smith died at the age of 25 years, 3 months & 5 days. At the time of her death from influenza she was in New York City. The undertakers who tended her remains and carried them to their final rest were P. Blake & Sons.
How, you might ask, do we know this? Well, it is thanks to the excellent work of dedicated friends of Woodmere who are currently cataloguing an online database of the 200,000 souls thus far entrusted to the cemetery's earth. At present, 60,000 records have been recorded, covering the dates between 1868 and 1916. 1918 is also complete. More records will follow as work progresses. Please follow this link to do your own research.
{F}
9400 W. Fort Street
Detroit, MI 48209
(313) 841-0188
Established: 1869
Acres: 200
Official Website
Bella Morte Rating: 3.5 Tombstones
First things first. Do not confuse historic Woodmere Cemetery with nearby (30 minutes by car) Woodlawn. If you have a limited amount of time in the Detroit area, it would be a pity to choose the former over the latter as our TRS (Tombstone Rating System) indicates. This is not to say Woodmere doesn’t have some good points, but she cannot hold a candle to her older, slightly smaller, sister.
Woodmere was dedicated on 14 July, 1869. The newly-established grounds received 2000+ bodies which had formerly been interred in the Russell Street Cemetery; thereafter, the newly-deceased began to take their places among the trees and shaded lawns.
But to the cemetery as it now stands….
As often happens with burying grounds of this vintage, Woodmere is surrounded by depressed neighbourhoods. Once inside the main gate, however, it is easy to forget that fact unless one ventures towards the newer areas. Sadly, we found several bags of discarded trash along the roadway in the more recently opened sections. Nevertheless, the overall appearance of the cemetery is superb. It is well-maintained and feels like a perfectly safe oasis from the dreariness just beyond its borders.
Woodmere offers a number of truly exceptional monuments for visitors to enjoy. One of the first we encountered was the stone dedicated to Mollie H. Racz by her husband, Victor J.. The grey marble boasts a bust of young Mollie (1911-1942), resplendent in her bridal finery, wearing a simple cross around her neck and gazing into the distance, as if regarding the next world. What makes the monument even more poignant is the fact that Victor’s dates remain incomplete. Born in 1907, it is extremely unlikely he is still alive…and yet, there is no death date inscribed. It appears he is not laid to rest beside the woman who inspired such a lovely tribute. It may be he remarried later in life. It may be he moved elsewhere and was never returned to Mollie’s side. One can only speculate....
Lake Woodmere is a blissfully restful spot. On the day we visited, ducks and geese paddled slowly through the cool water or nibbled grass along the shores beneath the shade of weeping willows. On the north end, a white mausoleum glittered, beckoning us to investigate. This is the resting place of Hamilton Carhartt and his wife, Annette. Born in 1855, Mr. Carhartt grew up to run a successful furniture company. Later, he got into the peculiar business of manufacturing overalls for railroad workers. His company, Carhartt, Inc. has gone on to become an industry leader in rugged clothing for workers in industry as well as those who enjoy hunting, fishing and other outdoor sports. Sadly, on the 10th of May, 1937, Hamilton and Annette were involved in a car accident. Mrs. Hamilton died that day. Two days later, Mr. Hamilton followed her. Husband and wife were laid to rest in the family plot in Woodmere and there they remained until the year 2000 when their devoted granddaughter had the aforementioned mausoleum constructed for them on the shores of Lake Woodmere.
Those who stroll through the older sections of the cemetery might take note of the proliferation of children’s graves dating back to the late 1800s. Many of these were claimed by the ravages of Scarlet Fever. One particularly lovely memorialization of a fallen child is the weathered Schwankovsky stone. A mourning angel, himself a mere babe, leans against the half-shrouded angles of a diminutive casket. Inscribed on a banner which spills over simulated boulders are these words:
MARGARET
Beloved daughter
of Fred and Julia
Schwankovsky
Aug. 18, 1888
Aug. 19, 1891
Not all of Woodmere’s children were claimed by disease, however. Indeed, the Rheiner babes (aged 1 & 3) met a grim end…at the hands on their own mother! On 26 September, 1899, at 109 Catherine Street in Detroit, young Harold and his one-year-old sibling (name and gender unknown to us at this time) were given poison and died shortly thereafter. The reason for this horror? Cremation of the dead was just being introduced in America and many people found the idea more than a little repugnant. Apparently, Mr. & Mrs. Rheiner had discussed the topic and determined that, should it come to pass their children predeceased them, they would not commit their corpses to the flames. Later, however, Mr. Rheiner expressed a decided preference for cremation. Mrs. Rheiner, it would seem, found the idea of filicide more acceptable than the cremation of her babies. Perhaps she felt the latter would condemn them to an eternity of fire. Either way, the children were murdered. They were laid to rest in the same grave, three days later. Their mother was not in attendance. The Rheiner children are buried in Section F-- the stone can be located near a monument depicting an angel descending a set of stairs.
Now to one of Woodmere’s real gems. The Woodmere Chapel which, among other things, houses the now defunct (1999) crematorium.
The chapel itself is certainly aesthetically pleasing with is soaring arches, rich red carpet, pipe organ and warm wood appointments. Two glass-fronted columbaria flank either side of the altar, though, as far as we could determine, there were no urns worth remarking on. But do not make the mistake of shrugging and departing the building. Instead, walk past the altar and open either of the massive sliding wooden doors. To your right, you will see a portrait of a woman in a gold frame. She is Barbara Schorr, a pioneer in cremation, being the first person in Michigan to have her corpse consigned to the flames on 10 December, 1887. At the time, the crematorium was located off the cemetery property and operated under the name Detroit Crematorium & Columbarium. On 25 September, 1929, it closed its doors forever and all cremains were transferred to the new Woodmere-Detroit Crematorium & Columbarium. Former niche owners were offered their choice of space in the new facility. Beneath Mrs. Schorr's portrait is a bronze plaque with a pro-cremation quote from Frances E. Willard which is also featured in Oakland, California's breathtaking "Chapel of Memories."
I have the purpose to help forward
progressive movements even in my latest
hours, and hence hereby decree that the
earthly mantle, which I shall drop ere long,
when my real self passes onward into the
world unseen, shall be swiftly enfolded
in flames and rendered powerless harm-
fully to affect the health of the living.
Let no friend of mine say aught to prevent
the cremation of my cast off body. The fact
that the popular mind has not come to this
decision renders it all the more my duty,
who have seen the light, to stand for it
in death, as I have sincerely meant in life
to stand for the great cause of poor
oppressed humanity.
You will also see a small columbarium room. This contains mostly white marble-faced niches, although a more modern bank of glass-fronted niches has been installed in the center of the space. In one of two alcoves, a beautiful marble column supports an urn of the same material. The column bears the inscription:
WITHIN REPOSE
THE REMAINS OF
C.D. ERICHSEN
Born April 3, 1822
Died August 18, 1887
Just above the alcove, a bronze plaque reads:
THIS NICHE
IS RESERVED FOR THE USE OF
DR. HUGO ERICHSEN
AND FAMILY
AS A PERPETUAL MEMORIAL
OF HIS SERVICES
AS THE FOUNDER OF
THE MICHIGAN CREMATION ASSOCIATION
AND DETROIT CREMATORIUM
_____
DETROIT, 1911
The good doctor’s remains occupy another niche elsewhere in the columbarium.
The room also enjoys a wash of golden light courtesy of an exquisite stained glass window.
Leaving the columbarium, you may turn to the right again and you will find yourself in the old crematorium. Note the two retort doors, painted black and standing starkly against the white brick walls. On the day we visited, the wooden door leading to the retorts was open and we were able to walk into the room and observe the actual mechanisms of cremation.
One last thing and your chapel visit will be complete. Step back into the room you entered after opening the sliding wooden door. You will see an impressive stone façade. The date 1898 and the word WOODMERE are carved in it and two beautiful bronze gates guard it. This is the cemetery’s former Receiving Vault. It was able to accommodate as many as 80 corpses at a time.
To be sure, the most commanding family mausoleum at Woodmere is one you might mistakenly take to be the cemetery’s chapel! We are referring to the Scripps mausoleum (1887) which was designed by architect H. Langford Warren (at William E. Scripps behest) to resemble an English Gothic castle, complete with slate roof and gargoyle downspouts.
Measuring 18 x 20 feet and boasting a vaulted ceiling and stained glass windows with a Christian motif, those who peer through the window will be puzzled by the lack of any vaults or stairs leading to a subterranean crypt. Yet this is precisely as Scripps wished. Resting beneath the bare stone floor, unmarked and unnoted, lie the mortal remains of five family members:
• James E. Scripps (Founder of The Detroit News & The Chicago Tribune)
• Harriet Scripps (his wife)
• William E. Scripps (their son)
• Nina (William’s wife)
• Francis Scripps (their son)
After more than 100 years, the mausoleum had begun to deteriorate, primarily owing to several leaks in the slate roof; however, in 2003 it underwent major restoration which cost in excess of $40,000. Today, visitors would never be able to guess its age.
For The Proprietors, however, the most wonderful monument in the cemetery lacks the grandeur of Scripps, but possesses a quiet, commanding beauty all its own. At first glance, one might mistake it for a diminutive mausoleum. Pyramidal in shape, with a heavy bronze door decorated with a laurel wreath encircling a letter “M,” the monument is actually a columbarium. It is located diagonally from that of Scripps.
Step up to the glass, peer inside and you will see a glorious, rectangular white marble urn bearing this inscription:
HEREIN REPOSE THE ASHES OF
*LYDIA*
Wife of Louis Mendelssohn
__________________
Born – London. Eng.
Feb.1.1856.
Dead-Detroit.MICH.
March 28, 1901.
This engraving is offset to the right. To the left, a blank square can be seen. Clearly, when Lydia’s monument was built, Mr.Mendelssohn intended to one day intermingle his ashes with that of his spouse. Sadly, like Victor J. Racz (see paragraph 5 of this review) that plan never came to fruition. Whether the reason owes to a new allegiance, death in a faraway place, or survivors unwilling to honour his wishes, the end result is the same. Quite sad.
Forming the last part of the triangle comprised by Scripps and Mendelssohn is the blocky and solid Wm. N. Rowe mausoleum which was completed in 1904. Mr. Rowe owned a shoe store and also ran THE RUSH…the first ferry to offer night service between Detroit & Windsor. Mr. Rowe met his end after being struck by a streetcar on 25 June, 1919. He was 89 years old.
Elsewhere on the property stands a sizeable mausoleum which bears this peculiar notation, set in mosaic tiles above the doorway:
LOVE SHRINE
ERECTED BY FLORA SCHLOSS ADLER
TO THE LOVING MEMORY
OF HER DAUGHTER
ALICE ADLER SIMON
1919
No information is available, save these tidbits. Alice Smith died at the age of 25 years, 3 months & 5 days. At the time of her death from influenza she was in New York City. The undertakers who tended her remains and carried them to their final rest were P. Blake & Sons.
How, you might ask, do we know this? Well, it is thanks to the excellent work of dedicated friends of Woodmere who are currently cataloguing an online database of the 200,000 souls thus far entrusted to the cemetery's earth. At present, 60,000 records have been recorded, covering the dates between 1868 and 1916. 1918 is also complete. More records will follow as work progresses. Please follow this link to do your own research.
{F}
