CEMETERIES OF GRAND RAPIDS TOWNSHIP, KENT COUNTY, MI

 T7N R11W formerly called Kent Township until 1842

City of Grand Rapids, 300 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, 616-456-3000. Www.grcity.us

Please note: The City web site has a map of cemetery locations but
1. It's inaccurate 2. It has the top of the map pointing East, North is to the right.

Township of Grand Rapids, 1836 East Beltline NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525, 616-361-7391 www.grandrapidstwp.org
 

INSERT MAP LINK
A - Vet's, B - Fairplains, C - Mason, D - Kent, E - Fulton, F - St. Andrew's, G - Temple Emanuel, H - Oak Hill, I - Graceland, J Catholic, K Cherry and Madison

GRT West of the Grand River      GRT East of the Grand River

Be patient: It takes a minute for each aerial map to download.

Catholic Cemetery
gore of land at the corner of Cherry Street and Lake Drive purchased by Fr. Viszosky in the 1840's. "Several years ago (before 1950), at the excavation of land at this site, several skeletons were unearthed. ^McGee

Cherry and Madison and State Street
gore of land that current City employees believe was used for a while when the Village of Kent Cemetery was first closed as that's what the old-timers said.

FAIRPLAINS CEMETERY
2005 Tax Address: 1145 Knapp St NE
Lat/Long: 43.001 / 85.642 or 43.153 / 85.699
Directions: North of Knapp Street, West of Fuller Avenue.
Ownership: City of Grand Rapids.
Owner Contact Information: City of Grand Rapids, Cemetery Division of Parks and Recreation Dept., 201 Market SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 (616) 456-4500. Office Hours: 7 -11:30, 12:30- 4.
Section: 8 of Grand Rapids Twp
Local Government: City of Grand Rapids
2005 pp#: 41-14-08-376-002
2005 tax description Extract: S ½ of SE ¼ of NE ¼ SW ¼ of Sec 8 T7N R11W except (for streets)
Street Boundaries: Knapp on the south, Diamond on the west, Fuller on the east, Evelyn street and Ecklund Street roughly on the north.
History:
1851 began as a private cemetery
1872 strip added on the north side
1940 City took over.
"Organized in March 1851 as Mount Pleasant Burial Ground. In November 1872 a strip was added on the north side and the name was changed to Fairplains Burial Ground. Purchased by Fairplains Burial Association, with initial group led by Foster Tucker, president and Erastus Knapp, treasurer. In June 1940, the City Commission voted to take over control of the cemetery from J. A. Richards, Association President. Sixty acres. 51,000 estimated burials. The cemetery was about one-half full in 1966. Cemetery averages 180 to 200 burials a year." (History of Grand Rapids by Lydens, 1966)
Detail Deeds: Detail Deeds
Religious/ Ethnic Affiliation: Was restricted for White humans only.
Description: mostly flat with some trees. Knapp is the section line. Fuller is the 1/4 section line.
Map: Designation B on township map shown above, aerial map: enter 14-08-376-002 at  accessKent | Online Services plat map: Fair Plains
 The school on this plat map is Knapp School which was relocated and renamed Huff.

FULTON STREET CEMETERY
2005 Tax Address: 805 Fulton St E
Lat/Long: 42.964 / 85.649
Directions: It is on the north side of Fulton Avenue two blocks East of Lake Drive. Entrance is off Eastern.
Ownership: City of Grand Rapids.
Owner Contact Information: City of Grand Rapids, Cemetery Division of Parks and Recreation Dept., 201 Market SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 (616) 456-4500. Office Hours: 7 -11:30, 12:30- 4.
Sections: 29 and 30 of Grand Rapids Twp
Local Government: City of Grand Rapids
2005 pp#: 41-14-29-154-001
2005 Tax Description Extract: part of Sec 29 T 7N R11 W
commencing at W ¼ post of said section
thence east 8 chains (528 feet)
thence north 10 chains (660 feet)
thence east 2 chains (132 feet)
thence north to N/S line of Fountain Street
thence west to west section line to beginning
AND ALSO part of Sec 30 T7N R11W
bounded on the east by the east line of said section
bounded on the north by the south line of Fountain street
bounded on the west by the east line of eastern avenue
bounded on the south by north line of Fulton street
History: Began as the Village of Grand Rapids Cemetery. The tombstone for Haldane has the oldest death date but as he died before the cemetery existed and is buried in Section 5 it is unlikely that he was the first burial.  He was probably re-interred from some earlier, now defunct, graveyard, most likely Kent. . 
General:
1838 original cemetery established outside village limits as Grand Rapids Village Cemetery.
1862 addition
1864 addition
1868 Fulton Street Cemetery Association formed by lot owners with T D Gilbert as president.
1869 addition
1948 City of Grand Rapids assumes operation from dormant association citing "moral obligation."

Specifics:
Original plat c1838 not recorded. Original blocks 1,2,3,4 in Sec 29. Then blocks 5,6 extending to Fulton St

"Fulton Street Cem plat of blocks 7,8,9" on 6 Nov 1862 Liber 1 Page 39
"Fulton Street Cem plat of blocks 10-13" on 2 Nov 1864 Liber 1 Page 53 expands cemetery to Sec 30 and creates Cemetery St.
"South East Addition" plat of blocks 14,15,16 in 1869  Liber 2 Page 13
WD 23 March 1836 from Geo. M Mills to Chester Walbridge
D 2 Feb 1838 from Chester Walbridge to James Ballard
D 16 Jun 1838 from Geo. M Mills to James Ballard ½ interest in NW ¼ Sec 29
D 9 Jul 1838 James Ballard to Village of Grand Rapids (History of Kent County Chapman 1881.)
"Number of burials is unknown due to inadequately kept (early) records and fire, which destroyed early records. Repossessed grave spaces only remain. The cemetery averages 25 to 30 burials a year. First recorded burial is dated 1835" (re-internment probably from Village of Kent Cem). (History of Grand Rapids, Lydens 1966)

 The early burials were more widely spaced and as more grave space was needed, new burials were interspersed. According to Rose Mary Schuessler, the original Catholic Section is still there but now has more non-Catholic graves interspersed.  According to Fr. McGee "A third of it was reserved for Catholics but only a negligible number were buried there."
 

Deed Details: Detail Deeds
Religious, Ethnic Affiliation: Public
Description: It is located on a steep hill. The southern boundary Fulton Street is the 1/4 section line. That portion of Eastern Avenue running west of the cemetery was originally called Cemetery Street and does not run on a section line so was not the boundary for the City of Grand Rapids as mistakenly shown on many maps. . That portion of Eastern Avenue ending at the cemetery is the section line dividing Sections 29 and 30. Within the cemetery,  sections 10, 11, 12 and 13 lie west of the section line.. 
Map: Designation E on township map shown above, aerial map: enter 14-29-154-001 at accessKent | Online Services  plat map:  Fulton
 For genealogical information of the early burials see http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=fultoncem
 

GRACELAND MEMORIAL PARK AND MAUSOLEUM
2005 Tax Address: 4345 Cascade Rd.
Lat/Long: 42.948 / 85.562
Directions: North of Cascade Road, East of I-96.
Ownership: Alger Group LLC
Owner Contact Information: 4341 Cascade Rd. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 (616) 949-0660. The office is behind the mausoleum.
Section: 36 of Grand Rapids Twp
Local Government: Grand Rapids Twp
2005 pp#: 41-14-36-176-050
2005 Tax Description Extract:
Part of the NW 1/4 of Sec 36 T7N R11W 6.86 Acres
Commencing at the center of section
Thence westerly along E/W ¼ line 441 feet
Thence northerly 745 feet
Thence easterly (many jogs)
Thence southerly 674 feet
History: Graceland Mausoleum was established in 1927.
Religious, Ethnic Affiliation: None reported.
Description: Mostly flat with a large imposing mausoleum.
Map: Designation I on township map shown above, aerial map: etner 14-36-176-050 at accessKent | Online Services  plat map
 

GRAND RAPIDS Cem, VILLAGE OF  -- See Fulton Street Cem

 The Cemetery was in Kent Twp (later renamed Grand Rapids Township) but the Village was in Walker Township, east of the Grand River.
 

History:
The Village of Grand Rapids was surveyed by C Barnes on August 28, 1833 for Touissant Campau, brother of Louis, and registered on 7 November 1833 in Kalamazoo County Register's office in Liber A Page 431, Territory of Michigan. The original boundaries for the Village of Grand Rapids were Fulton street on the south, Division on the east, and a line between Pearl Street and Lyon Street on the north, and included islands in the Grand River on the west. It was surveyed according to the French method which made roads to end at the river as the river was the Frenchman's main mode of transport. The French also followed Indian trails and went around terrain obstacles.  Monroe Avenue ran along such an Indian Trail and went around Prospect Hill.  S ½ of the NE ¼ of Sec 25 T7N R12W (now known as Walker Twp). Early on, Prospect Hill, running along the North side of Monroe Avenue, was excavated, and then the  East channel of the Grand River was filled in, masking the natural barriers that had existed when the Village was first platted.

Campau's first addition to the above Village was part of the SW ¼ of the NW ¼ of Sec 30 T7N, R11W, (now known as Grand Rapids Twp) the area containing the current Veteran's Memorial Park on Fulton Street on 6 Jun 1835.

The plat for the Village of Kent owned by Lucius Lyons was transcribed by Kent County on Feb 3, 1836 from Liber D Page 424, Kalamazoo County. It was surveyed according to the English method of 90 degree angles on roads which ran east/west and north/south regardless of the river or hills. The original boundaries were roughly Leonard on the north, Coit/Ransom/Jefferson on the east, Ellsworth (later renamed Cherry) on the south, and included islands in the Grand River on the west. It surrounded the Village of Grand Rapids on three sides. The Village of Kent was a part of the E ½ of both the NE ¼ and SE ¼ of Sec 25 of T7N R12W (now known as Walker Twp) as well as part of the W ½ of both the NW ¼ and the SW ¼ of Sec 30 of T7N R11W (now known as Grand Rapids Twp).

Lucius Lyons and Louis Campau feuded and their streets did not connect to each other's villages and the residents had to go around. So today where Monroe, Ottawa and Ionia jog at Lyon/Pearl that's because the streets used to end there.

The Village of Grand Rapids and the Village of Kent merged at least partially by 1838 when the boundaries for the official Village of Grand Rapids were extended to Hastings on the north and a line between Ransom and Barclay on the east. When it became the City of Grand Rapids in 1850 the boundaries corresponded with the sections lines along which the following streets run: Leonard on the north, Straight and Alpine on the west, East (renamed Eastern) on the east and Wealthy on the south. These boundaries included Sections 19 and 30 of Grand Rapids Twp and sections 24 and 25 of Walker Twp. The Grand Rapids Village Cemetery eventually replaced the Village of Kent Cemetery as the only official cemetery for the new City of Grand Rapids. Although the small triangle of land at the intersection of State, Cherry and Madison as well as another triangle near Lake Dr and Cherry were used as non-city run cemeteries, these were discontinued very early. In 1860, both Greenwood Cem in Walker Twp and Valley City Cem in Paris Twp ,outside the City limits at that time, were added as City cemeteries. Another early cemetery on Milo White's farm  was just west of Greenwood and pre-dated Greenwood.  
Map: Designation E on township map shown above, Statewide Search for Subdivision Plats - Image

Jewish Cemetery -

The Jewish Cemetery is NOT part of Oak Hill but an older cemetery that is adjacent to Oak Hill.
See Temple Emanuel.

KENT Cem, VILLAGE OF  Defunct after 1853 but probably before 1857.
2005 Tax Address: 10 Coldbrook St NE and adjoining ground on the South and East.
Directions: SE corner of Division Ave and Coldbrook Street
Ownership: City of Grand Rapids, Belknap Park
Section: 19 of Grand Rapids Twp
Local Government: City of Grand Rapids
2005 PP#: 41-14-19-151-001
Description Extract: Part of the SW ¼ of the NW ¼ of Sec 19 T7N R11W
History:  Cemetery Plat not recorded.
"The first piece of ground set apart for cemetery uses – was a parcel (in) the Plat of the Village of Kent made by John Almy in 1835. 8 acres. A few graves were made there at an early day, and occasional burials down as late as 1855. It was never formally dedicated to the public other than by platting, though the City Council recognized it in 1853 by an order for fencing it. This, however, was not carried into effect, and a few years later the remains interred there were removed, chiefly to Fulton Street Cemetery." (History of Grand Rapids. Baxter 1891.)

The platted cemetery was 650 feet x 510 feet and was bordered by Coldbrook street on the north, Cemetery Street on the west, Livingston on the east and Walbridge on the south. It probably ceased being a cemetery earlier but certainly before 1857 as it was then replatted into 21 residential lots approximately 90x120 feet in blocks 8 and 9 of Taylor Tanner's Addition which included an extension of Clinton St (Fairview Ave) between blocks 8 and 9. Cemetery street also shows as Taylor street.
The identity and number of burials is unknown. The bodies were disinterred and reburied after the Village of Kent was made part of the City of Grand Rapids in 1850.

Note: Cemetery street originally ran only one block from Walbridge to Coldbrook in the Village of Kent. This area was replatted in Taylor Tanner's Addition in 1857 which shows Cemetery street as Taylor and extending further north to Leonard. It was officially renamed Taylor in 1870.
Taylor used to end Easterly at Walbridge, while Division used to end Westerly at Michigan street as there was a BIG hill called the Bluffs between the ends of Taylor and Division. When Division Ave was extended northward c. 1928 by cutting into the hill, it usurped the old Cemetery street portion of Taylor in the public mind as being part of Division but it was not officially renamed before connecting to the tail end of extended Plainfield Ave. Those portions of Livingston and Walbridge that had bordered the cemetery were vacated in 1912 as was the extended portion of Clinton (Fairview). There was a reservoir and a park on top of the Bluffs. Baseball games were played here and fireworks were shot off on the 4th of July. Circa 1964 that portion of the Bluffs north of the reservoir was dug away and sold as fill dirt for the construction of the freeway. The cemetery was located in what is now the NW corner of the flat Belknap Park.
Map: Designation D on township map shown above, Village of Kent: Statewide Search for Subdivision Plats - Image

Taylor's Tanner: Statewide Search for Subdivision Plats - Image, Aerial Map http://maps.ci.grand-rapids.mi.us/website/countymap/image.pl?ppn=41-14-19-151-001

MARTIN CEMETERY
2005 Tax Address: 4400 Cascade
Lat/Long: 42.946 / 85.561
Directions: Just East of the freeway on the south side of Cascade.
Ownership: Grand Rapids Township.
Owner Contact Information: Grand Rapids Charter Township, 1836 East Beltline NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525, (616) 361-7391, FAX (616) 361-6620. Office Hours: M-F 8-5.
Section: 36 of Grand Rapids Twp
Local Government: Grand Rapids Twp
2005 PP#: 41-14-36-328-008
2005 Tax Description Extract: Sec 36 T7N R11W 1.56 acres ("L" shaped. Base of "L" along Cascade.)
The tall part of the "L" is part of the E 1/2 of the SW ¼ E135.6 feet of the North 320.5 feet
The short "L" bottom is part of the W ½ of SE ¼ - W165 feet of the North 148.5 feet
Directions: East of I-96, south side of Cascade
History: Early Farmers'.
Religious, Ethnic Affiliation: Farmers
Description: Small country cemetery surrounded by modern intrusions. My family, who were local farmers, are buried here
Map: Designation J on township map shown above, aerial map: enter 14-36-328-008 at accessKent | Online Services,  plat map Martin
 

MASON CEMETERY
2005 Tax Address: 2390 Dunningan Avenue
Lat/Long: 43.006 / 85.585 or 43.061 / 85.332
Directions: Major intersection East Beltline and Knapp
Ownership: Grand Rapids Township.
Owner Contact Information: Grand Rapids Charter Township, 1836 East Beltline NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525, (616) 361-7391, FAX (616) 361-6620. Office Hours: M-F 8-5.
Section: 11 of Grand Rapids Twp
Local Government: Grand Rapids Twp
2005 PP#: 41-14-11-326-001
2005 Tax Description Extract: Part of the NE ¼ of the SW ¼ Sec 11 T7N R11 W ½ half acre.
N 132 feet of the West 165 feet. Dimensions 132x165.
History:
Religious, Ethnic Affiliation: Farmers
Description: Small country cemetery.
Map: Designation C on township map shown above, aerial map: enter 14-11-326-001 at accessKent | Online Services, There is a plat map available on the GRT web site but I couldn't get it to work.  Duh! 
 

OAK HILL CEMETERY
2005 Tax Address: 603 Hall St SE
Lat/Long: 42.941 / 85.652
Directions: North of Hall Street, West of Eastern Avenue
Ownership: City of Grand Rapids.
Owner Contact Information: City of Grand Rapids, Cemetery Division of Parks and Recreation Dept., 201 Market SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 (616) 456-4500. Office Hours: 7 -11:30, 12:30- 4.
Section: 31 of Grand Rapids Twp
Local Government: City of Grand Rapids
2005 pp#: 41-14-31-476-027
2005 Tax Description Extract: Part of the SE ¼ of Sec 31 T7N R11W
Commencing at the NW corner of Hall and Eastern
thence north to a point which is 84 feet south of the south line of Alexander Street
thence west to east line of Union Avenue
thence south to north line of Hall
thence east to beginning (NW corner of Hall and Eastern)
History: The current Oak Hill is a combination of  four separate entities:
The private cemetery called Oak Hill, NW of Eastern and Hall in Grand Rapids Twp
The City run "Pest House" at the northern edge now Section 11.*
The still private Jewish Cem in the SW corner of Section 7 and the western part of Section 11.
The public cemetery Valley City, SW of Eastern and Hall in Paris Twp.

14 July 1853 - SE 1/4 was sold by N.L. Avery to J. A. Baxter for $800.
21 Sept 1857 - Southwest corner (of SE ¼) sold to Joseph Houseman for $100 as Jewish cemetery. See Temple Emanuel
16 June 1859 - half interest in the south 30 acres was sold by Joseph Baxter to J. Allen Giddings for $800.
24 October 1859 - remaining half interest in the south 30 acres was sold to Giddings for $1500.
October 25-29 1859 - the cemetery was dedicated and association formed with W. L. Coffinbury as president.
9 July 1885 - the Oak Hill Cemetery Association was turned over to the city.
2 Jan 1900 - the "Pest House Grounds" were added as Section 11 as a potter's field. Detail Deeds
1940 - sale of west part of Section 11 to Temple Emanuel.
"1966 - Thirty-five acres, 1,555 lots or 24,880 graves. Averages 250 burials a year. Repossessed graves
only." (History of Grand Rapids. Lydens 1966)

Late recording of original plat
Oak Hill Cemetery plat recorded on 10 Jun 1896 Liber 15 page 31
re-copied May 5, 1894 by Clara E Shisler. Surveyed and platted by Coffinberry and McKenzie. Copied by N E Tucker

Transfer of private cemetery to City of Grand Rapids
Quit Claim July 9th, 1885 Liber 165 Page 366 The Oak Hill Cemetery To the City of Grand Rapids. One dollar and agreements contained in a certain contract of this date between said City and J Allen Giddings and Nelson W Northrop, whereby the said party agrees to keep the premises hereinafter described as a Cemetery. SE ¼ of the SE ¼ of Sec 31 T7N R11W except the north ten acres (pest house) Also Lot 66 Block 5 ALSO half-acre on the southwest corner of the S ½ of the east 1/2 of the SE ¼. (Temple Emanuel Cemetery)

*Before the City of Grand Rapids came into existence in 1850, Grand Rapids Township in 1834 authorized a pest house a mile beyond the limits of the Village of Grand Rapids according to Baxter.  Hall Street is a mile south of Wealthy Street.
Detail Deeds: Detail Deeds
Map: Designation H on township map shown above, aerial map: enter 14-31-476-027 at accessKent | Online Services  plat map:  Oak Hill
 

SAINT ANDREW'S CEMETERY
2005 Tax address: 900 Madison Ave SE..
Lat/Long: 42.946 / 85.657
Directions: Southeast of major intersection at Franklin and Madison. Entrance off Prince.
Ownership: Diocese of Grand Rapids
Owner Contact Information: St. Andrew's Catholic Cathedral, 267 Sheldon Blvd SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, (616) 456-1454.
Section: 31 of Grand Rapids Twp
Local Government: City of Grand Rapids
2005 pp#: 41-14-31-405-001
2005 Tax Description Extract: Part of the SE ¼ of Sec 31 T7N R11W
Commencing at the SE corner Prince and Madison
thence east to the West line of Union Avenue
thence south to the north line of Charles Jones addition
thence west to the east line of Madison Ave
thence north to the beginning
2005 owner: Saint Andrews Catholic Cemetery 4100 Clyde Park, GR, MI 49509-4034
History: No plat recorded.
1852 sold by William Howard to Rev. Charles L DeCeunink
Dec 1852 - Deed from DeCeunink to Bishop Peter Paul LeFevre 10 acres
Religious, Ethnic Affiliation: Catholic. Early Catholics particularly French Canadian and Irish.
Description: Now located in an older inner-city neighborhood and is completely fenced in and locked.
There is a high retaining wall along Madison Avenue and the entrance is on Prince Street. The key is available
from Resurrection Cem in Wyoming Twp.
Map: Designation F on township map shown above, aerial map: 14-31-405-001 at accessKent | Online Services plat map:    Catholic
 

TEMPLE EMANUEL CEMETERY
2005 Tax Address:
Lat/Long:
Directions: At Hall Street and Union Avenue adjacent to Oak Hill Cem on the SW and NW corners.
Ownership: Temple Emanuel according to Temple Emmanuel. The City of GR according to the City Assessor. Not sure according to City Cemetery Department.
Owner Contact Information: Temple Emanuel, 1715 Fulton St E, GR, MI 49503 Welcome to Temple Emanuel, Grand Rapids, MI
Section: 31 of Grand Rapids Twp
Local Government: City of Grand Rapids
2005 Parcel #: Same as Oak Hill
2005 Tax Description Extract: Same as Oak Hill
History:
General:
14 July 1853 - southeast 1/4 was sold by N.L. Avery to J. A. Baxter for $800.
21 Sept 1857 - Southwest corner of SE 1/4 sold by Joseph Baxter and his wife Julia to Joseph
Houseman, a cousin of Julius, for $100 as Jewish cemetery.
1857 - Joseph deeded this cemetery to Temple Emanuel.
9 July 1885 - the Oak Hill Cemetery excluding Temple Emanuel was deeded to the City.
c. 1915 - Temple Emanuel purchased additional space in Section 7 from the City.
c.1940 - Temple Emanuel purchased additional space in Section 11 from the City.

Specifics:
Cemetery plat recorded late as Temple Emanuel (part of Oakhill) 9 May 1923 L 26 Pg 22. Re-recorded on 15 May 1940 L 43 Pg 27.
"Temple Emanuel Cemetery A subdivision of Part of block 7 Oak Hill Cemetery in the City of Grand Rapids , Kent County, Michigan. Surveyed and plated by F D Works. – Congregation Emanuel by G A Wolf, its president and Morris a Heyman, its secretary – to be known as 'Temple Emanuel Cemetery' – dedicated for cemetery purposes."
Commencing at the SW corner of said Block 7
thence North 270 feet
thence East 30 feet
thence south 66 feet
thence East 60
thence South 36 feet
thence East 84 feet
thence South 60 feet
thence West 102 feet
thence south 108 feet
thence West 102 feet to the place of beginning.
"Emanuel owns the property of section 7, which I believe is full, and the City takes care of maintenance. Section 11 was bought from the city by Temple Emanuel and the City also takes care of its maintenance. I hope this is helpful to you. Barbara Robinson"
Religious, Ethnic Affiliation: Originally German Jews then broadened to include Eastern European Jews now any Jewish Reform.
Description: On a hill along Union Avenue set back from Hall and a newer section at the NW corner.
Map: Designation G on township map shown above, aerial map is included with Oak Hill, plat map:  Temple Emanuel
 

VETERANS' CEMETERY
2005 Tax Address: 3000 Monroe Ave NW
Lat/Long: 43.020 / 85.657
Directions: NE of Ann Street Exit off US 131 between Monroe Avenue and Coit Avenue and between 3 Mile Road and North Park Street. Cemetery entrance is off Lamberton Street.
Ownership: State of Michigan
Owner Contact Information: Grand Rapids Home for Veterans Cemetery, 3000 Monroe, NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49505 (616) 364-5400
Section: 6 of Grand Rapids Twp
Local Government: City of Grand Rapids
2005 PP#: 41-14-06-401-012
2005 Tax Description Extract: part of the SW 1/4  and the NW 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of Section 6 generally lying north of 3 Mile, west of Coit Ave, east of Monroe Avenue and south of I-96.

History:  "settled on the 132-acre Nelson farm. -- the building -- was awarded the contract on January 27, 1886. Ground was broken for the Michigan Soldiers' Home on March 15,--. On May 31, 1886, the Home's cemetery was dedicated---" Michigan Veterans Facility Centennial: A Century of Caring. In April 1886 five acres were set aside for a cemetery north of the Old Soldiers' Home. The original cemetery was in the shape of a Maltese Cross and the original entrance from the north was obscured by the creation of I-96. This now inaccessible entrance gate was recently restored and can be seen from I-96. The name was recently changed from the Michigan Veteran's Facility to the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans when a second facility was opened in Marquette.

 
Religious, Ethnic Affiliation: Michigan Veterans.
Burials are restricted to veterans and their widows/widowers who were residents of the nursing home. Veterans must have served at least 90 days and be honorably discharged and either entered the service from Michigan or be a resident of Michigan to be admitted to the nursing home. If the widow was never a resident of the home she can only be buried here if she's cremated and interred in the husband's grave.  As this facility was originally in Grand Rapids Township, their office has old records.

Description: Country-like setting with fish ponds and mature trees.
Map: Designation A on township map shown above, aerial map: enter 14-06-401-012 at accessKent | Online Services plat map Vets

 

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Last modified: 05/17/10