CEMETERIES OF PARIS TOWNSHIP, KENT COUNTY, MICH
T6N R11W
Paris Twp as a government entity no longer exists as it has been usurped by the following cities:
City of Grand Rapids, 300 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, 616-456-3000.
Www.grcity.us
City of Kentwood, 4900 Breton Avenue SE, Kentwood, MI 49518-8848, (616)
698-9610, FAX (616) 698-8199. Office Hours: M-F 8-5.
Www.ci.kentwood.mi.us
City of East Grand Rapids, 750 Lakeside Drive SE, GR MI 49506 949-2110 City of East Grand Rapids
A - Valley City, B - Garfield, C - Woodlawn West, D - Woodlawn East, E - Oak
Grove, F - Maple Grove, G - Rest Lawn, H - Pine Hill
Be patient: It takes a minute for each aerial map to download.
1907 OGLE
GARFIELD PARK CEMETERY
2005 Tax Address: 2200 Kalamazoo Ave SE
Lat/Long: 49.992 / 85.631
Directions: southeast of the major intersection of Burton and Kalamazoo.
Located east of Kalamazoo Avenue, north of the railroad track, south of Linwood
St,
Ownership: Same Corporation that owns Restlawn Cem.
Owner Contact Information: Restlawn Cem, 3450 Eastern Ave SE 49508. (616)
243-8115. Garfield office closed.,
Section: 8 of Paris Twp
Local Government Jurisdiction: City of Grand Rapids
2005 PP#: 41-18-08-276-001
2005 Tax Description Extract: That part of the SE ¼ of NE ¼ of Sec 8 T6N
R11W lying north of the Pere Marquette railroad right of
way except west 33 feet for Kalamazoo Avenue.
History: Garfield Park Cem plated on 15 Nov 1902 in Liber 16, Page 19,20
Gelmer Kuiper, President and Gerrit Visschers, Secretary of the Garfield Park
Cemetery Association - dedicated for cemetery purposes. John T Nellist, surveyor
Religious, Ethnic Affiliation: Private Cemetery
Description:
Map: Designation B on township map shown above, aerial map:
ppn=41-18-08-276-001
This map is NOT a parcel map and includes land south of the railroad that is not
part of this cemetery. plat map: Garfield Park
MAPLE GROVE CEMETERY
2005 Tax Address: 2100 32nd St SE
Lat/Long:
Directions: It lies hidden and is inaccessible by car behind Luther Home
on 32nd Street.
Ownership: Kent County
Owner Contact Information: Scott Spencer, Administrative Services
Manager, at Luther Home 452-5900 x3315
Section: 16 of Paris Twp
Local Government: City of Grand Rapids
2005 PP#: 41-18-16-326-002 gives a map that shows the location the best
but it is not exact..
2005 Tax description Extract: Part of NE 1/4 of the SW 1/4 lying
Northwesterly of Plaster Creek. 19.15 Acres
History: This cemetery was for the residents of Maple Grove Poor Farm run
by the county. Records were kept at one time at the Kent County Clerk's Office
and the Kent County Library.
Religious, Ethnic Affiliation: Poor, stillborn, family-less.
Description: Desolate near Plaster Creek floodplain.
Map: Designation F on township map shown above. The City map
and the County map don't match on-line. Randy LeMoine who is in charge of storm
water run-off has physically been in this cemetery and says it is behind the
cross-shaped image. John Ruud read the Regis Map for me and even he had a hard
time. aerial map:
ppn=41-18-16-326-002
Currently being restored:
OAK GROVE CEMETERY
2005 Tax address: 1501 28th St SE
Lat/Long: 42.914 / 85.631
Directions: West off Kalamazoo between Alger and 28th Streets.
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 Paris Twp
Local Government: City of Grand Rapids
2005 pp#: 41-18-08-400-007
2005 Tax Description Extract: Part of SE ¼ of SE ¼ of Sec 8 T6N R11W
Commencing 165 feet east of the SW corner of the SE ¼ of SE ¼ of said section
thence north 754.2 feet
thence east 412.5 feet
thence south 754.2 feet
thence west 412.5 feet to beginning except south 50 feet for Laraway street (now
28th)
History: No recorded plat.
It began as a little country cemetery in rural Paris Twp. Encroaching suburbia
created the City of Kentwood out of the remains of rural Paris Twp and the City
of Kentwood deeded it to the City of Grand Rapids.
Religious, Ethnic Affiliation: Farmers.
Description: The old dirt entrance road entered from 28th street and
extended northward along the eastern boundary then looped around and returned to
28th street along the western boundary. It is surrounded by Woodlawn West Cem
grounds on three sides and does not extend eastward far enough to touch
Kalamazoo Ave. Since during my lifetime 28th street has gone from a narrow
country road to a very busy commercial strip, and has been raised upward, the
cemetery lies far below hidden from view and the old dirt entrances off 28th
street have been closed. A brand-new (2005) Walgreens occupies the once vacant
land East of the cemetery. Now the approach begins north of the Kalamazoo Street
fire barn heading west to the eastern boundary of the vacant portion of the
Woodlawn Cem West now used as a ball field and then diverts easterly to the back
of Oak Grove Cem.
Map: Designation E on township map shown above, aerial map:
ppn=41-18-08-400-007 plat
map Oak Grove
PINE HILL CEMETERY
2006 Tax Address: 1102-52nd St SE
Lat/Long: 42.868 / 85.636
Directions: Corner of Christie SE between Eastern and Kalamazoo.
Ownership: City of Kentwood.
Owner Contact Information: City of Kentwood, 4900 Breton Avenue SE,
Kentwood, MI 49518-8848, (616) 698-9610, FAX (616) 698-8199. Office Hours: M-F
8-5.
Section: 32 of Paris Twp
Local Government: City of Kentwood
2006 PP#: 41-18-32-128-041
2006 Tax description Extract: E 738 feet of the NE ¼ of the NW ¼
except the West 75 feet of the North 350 feet
History: Early c. 1850 township cemetery.
Religious, Ethnic Affiliation: None reported.
Description:
Map: Designation H on township map shown above, Only available copy of
cemetery plat in Clerk's Office, aerial map:
ppn=41-18-32-128-041
REST LAWN MEMORIAL PARK CEMETERY
2005 Tax Addresses: 3428 and 3450
Eastern Ave and 1004 33rd St SE
Lat/Long: 42.901 / 85.644
Directions:
Ownership: Restlawn Memorial Park Corp
Owner Contact Information: . 3450 Eastern Avenue SE, Grand Rapids, MI
49508 616-243-0294
Section: 17 of Paris Twp
Local Government: City of Grand Rapids
2005 Tax Address: 3450 Eastern Ave SE
2005 PP#: 41-18-17-351-015
2005 Tax Description Extract: Part of the S ½ of the SW ¼ of the SW 1/4
Sec 17 T6NR11W 23.13 Acres
2005 Tax Address: 3428
Eastern Ave SE
2005 PP#: 41-18-17-376-009
2005 Tax Description Extract: Part of W ½ of the SE ¼ of the SW ¼ Sec 17
T6N R11W 12.57 Acres
2005 Tax Address: 1004 33rd St SE
2005 PP#: 41-18-17-376-008
2005 Tax Description Extract: Part of W1/2 of the NE ¼ of the SW 1/4 Sec
17 T6N R11W 4.27 Acres
History:
Rest Lawn Cemetery plat recorded on 18 May 1927 Liber 34 Page 37
Rest Lawn No 1 cemetery plat recorded on 17 Nov 1927 Liber 36 Page 6
Rest Lawn No 2 Cemetery plat recorded on 1 Aug 1928 Liber 37 Page 24
"Rest Lawn Cemetery Plat -W Bernard Nieboer, a bachelor and Henry Nieboer, his
brother, a bachelor, and cemetery." Commencing at the point of beginning which
is North along the west boundary of S 1/2 SW ¼ Sec 17, 666 feet thence Easterly
419 feet from the SW corner of said Section 17,
thence Northerly 588 feet,
thence Easterly 407 feet,
thence Southerly 588 feet
thence Westerly 407 feet to the point of beginning. It shows blocks 1-27.
Rest Lawn # 1 - surveyed and platted by Williams & Works - November 1927"
Blocks 28-49
"Rest Lawn No 2 - surveyed by Williams and Works July 1928 – Bernard Nieboer,
single and Henry Nieboer, single and the Grand Rapids Memorial Park Association,
Glendon A Richards President and Thomas J Vander Mey Secretary and Harry E
Miller, vice President – to be known as Rest Lawn No. 2 –Paris township - for
use as a public cemetery." Blocks 50-64.
Religious, Ethnic Affiliation: Private
Description:
Map: Designation G on township map shown above,
http://maps.ci.grand-rapids.mi.us/website/countymap/image.pl?ppn=41-18-17-351-015
and
http://maps.ci.grand-rapids.mi.us/website/countymap/image.pl?ppn=41-18-17-376-009
and
http://maps.ci.grand-rapids.mi.us/website/countymap/image.pl?ppn=41-18-17-376-008
Plat map: Restlawn
VALLEY CITY CEMETERY
2005 Tax address: 604 Hall ST SE
Lat/Long: See Oak Hill Cem
Directions: South of Hall Street and 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: 6 of Paris Twp
Local Government: City of Grand Rapids
2005 pp#: 41-18-06-226-001
2005 Tax Description Extract: part of the NE ¼ of Sec 6 T6N R11 W
commencing at the NW corner of Adams St and Eastern Ave
thence west to the SE corner of lot 26 Campbell & Underwoods 2nd addition
thence north to the south line of Hall St
thence east to west line of Eastern Ave
thence south to beginning.
History: Began as a public City cemetery in 1860 while outside the City
Limits. Contrary to another site: A City can own property outside of its
borders. Administratively combined with Oak Hill when the City took over
operation of the the former private Oak Hill cemetery in 1885. Contrary to
another site: A City government cannot "annex" ownership of a private
cemetery.
Valley City Cemetery plat recorded on 24 Dec 1860 Liber 1, Page 19,20
"Block A-Lots 1 to 131; Block B-Lots 1 to 45; Block C-Lots 1 to 108, Block
D-Lots 1 to 118,
Block E-Lots 1 to 86, Block F-1 to 87, Block G-Lots 1 to 144, Block H-Lots 1 to
119, Block I-Lots 1 to 44 Town of Paris in said County – described as follows:
All the East part of the North half of the NE fractional ¼ of Sec 6 T6N R11W
containing forty acres of land --- deed of said premises made the twentieth day
of January AD 1859 by Govenor B Rathbone and Emily Rathbone his wife of said
county to the City of Grand Rapids -- Liber 14 page 312 – for burial." The plat
shows an unidentified block of single graves in the back SW corner which was
used as a Potter's Row. A building was added later on the west to store occupied
coffins during the winter until the ground thawed.
WD Jan 20, 1859 L14 P312 Goveneur B Rathbone and Emily Rathbone, his wife To the
City of Grand Rapids. $2400 All of the east part of the N ½ of the NE fractional
quarter of Section 6-6-11 containing 40 acres of land. This land was annexed to
the City in 1891. "Has 1,689 lots, or 27,024 graves" in 1966. History of Grand
Rapids, Lydens, 1966. Now the southern section of Oakhill Cemetery.
Detail Deeds: Detail Deeds
Religious, Ethnic Affiliation: Public
Description:
Maps: Designation A on township map shown above, aerial map: ppn=41-18-06-226-001 This section map includes more than the parcel. Plat map: Valley City
WOODLAWN EAST CEMETERY
2005 Tax address: 2530 Kalamazoo Ave SE
Lat/Long: 42.916 / 85.630
Directions: 2530 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Grand Rapids. SE of major
intersection at Burton and Kalamazoo to the north. South of Garfield Cem, south
of railroad tracks to 28th street.
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: 9 of Paris Twp
Local Government Jurisdiction: City of Grand Rapids
Woods north of Alger including what became an extension of Alger Street
was apparently originally part of Garfield Cem.:
2005 Tax Address: 2400 Kalamazoo Ave SE
2005 pp#: 41-18-09-351-004
2005 Tax Description Extract: part of the W ½ of said section
Cemetery proper:
2005 Tax address: 2530 Kalamazoo Ave SE
2005 pp#: 41-18-09-351-005
2005 Tax Description Extract: part of the SW ¼ (except Railroad r.o.w)
Sec 9 T6N R11W
Indian Trails Golf Course:
2005 Tax Address: 2776 Kalamazoo Ave SE
2005 pp#: 41-14-18-09-351-003
2005 Tax Description Extract : S1/2 of the SW 1/4
History: There is no recorded plat.
The City of Grand Rapids purchased all the land in the SE ¼ of Sec 8 lying east
of Kalamazoo Ave and most of the SW ¼ and that part of the NW ¼ lying south of
the railroad R.O.W of Section 9 from Pantlind, Soper, Closterhouse and Brown
along with smaller parcels from Stephenson and Ellinger..
"Cemetery averages 350 burials annually." (Lydens 1966). The cemetery was
expanded during 2005.
Detail Deeds: Detail Deeds
Religious, Ethnic Affiliation: Protestant
Description: The dedicated cemetery grounds begin east of Kalamazoo Ave
and south of the railroad r.o.w and extend south-easterly towards 28th St. It is
vacant woodlands from the RR to Alger street which was extended through the
unused northern portion during the 1980's. During my lifetime there was a small
open railroad station at the NW corner of this site. The vacant southern portion
is used as Indian Trails Golf Course.
Due to budget cuts, this is the only on-site office still open.
They maintain normal business hours but call ahead. Woodlawn is a very large and
active cemetery..
Map: Designation D on township map shown above, Aerial maps: Alger Street:
ppn=41-18-09-351-004
, Cemetery Proper:
41-18-09-351-005
the red line is the proper section line NOT Kalamazoo Ave. Indian Trails
Golf Course:
ppn=41-18-09-351-003, plat map Woodlawn East
WOODLAWN WEST CEMETERY
2005 Tax address: 2403 Kalamazoo SE
Lat/Long: 42.916 / 85.630
Directions: SW of major intersection of Burton and Kalamazoo. South of
Alger, west of Kalamazoo.
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 Paris Twp
Local Government: City of Grand Rapids
2005 pp#: 41-18-08-400-001
2005 Tax Description Extract: W ½ of the SE ¼ of Sec 8 T6N R11W
except north 33 feet and south 50 feet for streets and
except for a parcel 500 feet by 700 feet on lease
2005 owner: City of Grand Rapids
Religious, Ethnic Affiliation: Catholic
History: There is no registered plat.
The City of GR purchased all that portion of the SE ¼ of Sec 8 lying west of
Kalamazoo Ave excluding Oak Grove Cem from Pantlind, Clark, Peters and
Middleton.
Detail Deeds: Detail Deeds
DESCRIPTION: The cemetery grounds are west of Kalamazoo and south of
Alger Street and extend to 28th ST excluding Oak Grove Cem. The used portion is
in the north. The vacant southern portion, during my lifetime, was used by the
City Forestry Department as a nursery for growing trees and plants for City
parks. This was discontinued about 1981 and now the vacant portion is used as
Macay-Jaycees Park.
Map: Designation C on township map shown above, aerial map:
ppn=41-18-08-400-001
This is a section map and includes area beyond the parcel. Plat map:
Woodlawn West
Note: Kalamazoo Ave ceases to follow the range line as it jogs westward north of 28th St. So although East and West Woodlawn lie opposite of Kalamazoo Ave they do not totally lie opposite of the range delineation. See this clearly on the map below.
From article Cemeteries
From Heading History and the City of GrandRapids
From web site: MyCityofGrandRapids.info