My Brother-in-law's mother, Marie, was from Gladwin. He and my sister had a cabin on the Tittabawassee River and later split their year between a larger home outside of Gladwin and snowbirding in Florida. I always enjoyed my visits there and have many wonderful memories. I wonder if some of those old graves go back to Marie's family.
My mother, father and I used to explore old cemeteries in the then small towns, like Novi, west of Detroit. My mother especially found it comforting after one of my siblings died at 14.
I still explore cemeteries when I travel including one in an abandoned village in Greenland a month ago. There were white crosses but no stones there.
How wonderful! I live right down the road from the Tittabawassee and I always think about how beautiful it would be to live right on the river. It's very possible she may have some kin in that cemetery too. There are two other cemeteries in town, and the Ridge Cemetery I visit is the smallest, but its possible!
There are some beautiful graveyards around and especially in Detroit. I have family buried down that way as well. I'm so glad to hear you're interested in visiting as well, so much has been forgotten. I would also love to visit some cemeteries in other countries as well to experience their traditions, I'm sure it was fascinating.
Love old graveyards -- The one closest to me know is very small and wild---a winding narrow path leads up to it on from the road, Bingham Hill. Those buried there are all from families who first settled in this area. People leave coins and little tokens on the gravestones. It is a very peaceful place. I was swooped by a great horned owl one day as I was walking down the path back to the road. In the 90's I visited Kensal Green Cemetery in England. It was just 2 years after I lost my parents. The epitaph on the grave of George Bidder, born 8-18-1836 - Died 2-1-1896, gave me comfort and hope. It said:
"One who never turned his back but marched breast forward. Never doubted clouds would break. Never dreamed, though right were worsted, wrong would triumph. Held we fall to rise, are baffled to fight better, and sleep to rise."
Paula, this sounds like such a special place! There's something about those old cemeteries that are half wild and reclaimed by nature. It feels like this is how a resting place should be. One foot in this world, one foot in the other. and what a beautiful epitaph, you usually don't find any so long or insightful! Thank you for sharing :)
That sounds fascinating, I would love to visit some of the more popular cemeteries as well. There were so many colorful inscriptions and beautiful designs at the Burying Point in Salem. It sounds like the Hollywood cemetery has its own special character. I'll add it to the list ;)
I love this. My mom and I love visiting old cemeteries. Like you, I wonder what their lives were like, centuries ago. My mom and I find such peace walking through cemeteries.
That's so wonderful that you and your mom do that together! It's so special to share experiences like that. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one wandering around old cemeteries!
How wonderful of you to share your visit to the cemetery. My polish father did not share many traditions with us, so my sister and I have tried to build back the traditional ways. Visits to Hamtramck, Mi in the 70s and 80s helped !
I have a special relative buried in a nearby beautiful cemetery, and would like to start visiting also. I wish I had gone today.
I grew up not too far from Hamtramck! It's such a special place still to this day and has preserved our culture in a way that very few other places in the country have. So wonderful you were able to visit. I think also visiting ancestors' resting places is a great way to build back those connections. Even though you didn't go yesterday, November 1st and 2nd are still seen as powerful liminal days if you have the chance to visit!
My Brother-in-law's mother, Marie, was from Gladwin. He and my sister had a cabin on the Tittabawassee River and later split their year between a larger home outside of Gladwin and snowbirding in Florida. I always enjoyed my visits there and have many wonderful memories. I wonder if some of those old graves go back to Marie's family.
My mother, father and I used to explore old cemeteries in the then small towns, like Novi, west of Detroit. My mother especially found it comforting after one of my siblings died at 14.
I still explore cemeteries when I travel including one in an abandoned village in Greenland a month ago. There were white crosses but no stones there.
How wonderful! I live right down the road from the Tittabawassee and I always think about how beautiful it would be to live right on the river. It's very possible she may have some kin in that cemetery too. There are two other cemeteries in town, and the Ridge Cemetery I visit is the smallest, but its possible!
There are some beautiful graveyards around and especially in Detroit. I have family buried down that way as well. I'm so glad to hear you're interested in visiting as well, so much has been forgotten. I would also love to visit some cemeteries in other countries as well to experience their traditions, I'm sure it was fascinating.
Love old graveyards -- The one closest to me know is very small and wild---a winding narrow path leads up to it on from the road, Bingham Hill. Those buried there are all from families who first settled in this area. People leave coins and little tokens on the gravestones. It is a very peaceful place. I was swooped by a great horned owl one day as I was walking down the path back to the road. In the 90's I visited Kensal Green Cemetery in England. It was just 2 years after I lost my parents. The epitaph on the grave of George Bidder, born 8-18-1836 - Died 2-1-1896, gave me comfort and hope. It said:
"One who never turned his back but marched breast forward. Never doubted clouds would break. Never dreamed, though right were worsted, wrong would triumph. Held we fall to rise, are baffled to fight better, and sleep to rise."
Thank you for your post!
Paula, this sounds like such a special place! There's something about those old cemeteries that are half wild and reclaimed by nature. It feels like this is how a resting place should be. One foot in this world, one foot in the other. and what a beautiful epitaph, you usually don't find any so long or insightful! Thank you for sharing :)
I love this ! We have Hollywood cemetary in Richmond, lots of mausoleums and statues. Lovely musings of fall as well 🤗💕⭐️💫
That sounds fascinating, I would love to visit some of the more popular cemeteries as well. There were so many colorful inscriptions and beautiful designs at the Burying Point in Salem. It sounds like the Hollywood cemetery has its own special character. I'll add it to the list ;)
I love this. My mom and I love visiting old cemeteries. Like you, I wonder what their lives were like, centuries ago. My mom and I find such peace walking through cemeteries.
That's so wonderful that you and your mom do that together! It's so special to share experiences like that. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one wandering around old cemeteries!
Lovely Val. Thank you as always, Ewa ❤️ 🕯️ 🎃
Much appreciated my friend!
How wonderful of you to share your visit to the cemetery. My polish father did not share many traditions with us, so my sister and I have tried to build back the traditional ways. Visits to Hamtramck, Mi in the 70s and 80s helped !
I have a special relative buried in a nearby beautiful cemetery, and would like to start visiting also. I wish I had gone today.
I grew up not too far from Hamtramck! It's such a special place still to this day and has preserved our culture in a way that very few other places in the country have. So wonderful you were able to visit. I think also visiting ancestors' resting places is a great way to build back those connections. Even though you didn't go yesterday, November 1st and 2nd are still seen as powerful liminal days if you have the chance to visit!