The day began with me awaking from a deep groggy slumber around 8am. After getting the monthly bills paid, and getting the day kicked off to a rocking start. I decided that today would be the perfect day to hit the cemeteries. The weather conditions were optimum for graving purposes. It was cloudy, & in the upper 40s, outstanding conditions for grave hunting. Being that, I usually never go anywhere without a handmade cigar. The first thing I had planned after leaving my humble abode. Was to stop by the cigar shop for some much-needed cigars. After having small talk with one of the guys who works at the cigar shop. It was then time to roll out, so off I went into the abyss.

The goal for the today’s trek was Holy Sepulchre cemetery. Holy Sepulchre is on 10 Mile Rd, west of Telegraph Rd, and east of Inkster Rd, in Southfield, Michigan. This sacred cemetery was founded in 1928 and is maintained by the Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit.

According to the website Find A Grave which is a treasure trove of grave hunting & cemetery insanity (I say that in a good way). There are twenty-seven notable subjects buried within the confines of the sacred burial grounds of Holy Sepulchre. Among those who are buried in the cemetery include an abundance of individuals who poses stunning arrays of athletic ability, which include professional hockey, baseball, and football players. Not to mention several past owners of the Detroit Tigers baseball franchise. Holy Sepulchre is also the final home to former Michigan Governor Harry F. Kelly who served as Governor from 1943-1946. Along with several state representatives.

Other notables who live in eternal harmonic bliss include Anthony Giacalone. There were two sides to Anthony Giacalone. The first being a loving father, husband, and family man. The second being a notorious Detroit goombah you know mafioso. Giacalone resides in the main mausoleum.

Now that I provided the background to Holy Sepulchre let’s get started with the trek. The day started with me arriving at the cemetery. I stopped into the cemetery office to inquire about a few names. All of which I’ve found before but due to getting a new camera for Christmas I wanted to get some new snapshots of their respective gravesites. After leaving the office and thanking the gentleman who graciously provided the locations I inquired about. I hopped into my vehicle, and made my way towards the main mausoleum. I spent a good hour in the mausoleum, walking the corridors , and marble hallways.

One of the graveside crypts I found in the mausoleum was of professional golfer Walter Hagen. Hagen played the game during the first half of the 20th century. And has a total of 45 PGA tour wins in various tournaments. Moving along another crypt I found in the mausoleum (for the third time) was of Chicago gangster Frank Lake. Much to my surprise after leaving the rackets in the 1930s and depending on who you ask Lake, resided in the affluent neighborhoods of Birmingham, or Bloomfield Township, Michigan. He lived a very comfortable life after moving to southeast Michigan and owned a coal & ice manufacturing company. He lived out his years in relative peaceful obscurity dying in the 1940s from a heart attack.

Continuing on after working my way through the mammoth mausoleum I headed towards the main part of the cemetery where the burials repose in the more traditional way you know six feet under. Being that I was tired beyond recognition from my little rendition of “Walk America”. I was gonna do things quick. I had a few gravesites to find but due to being exhausted from my little walk I just found one gravesite before heading home.

The lone gravesite I found was of Jay Sebring. I’ve been to his gravesite many times over the past few years. Sebring’s claim to fame other than being THE hairstylist to stars such as George Peppard, among others. Was that he had the misfortune of being the unfortunate recipient of Charles Manson and his motley crew of hippie worshiped murderous followers. When I originally found out that Sebring reposed in eternal harmony in suburban Detroit. I was pleasantly surprised that someone with Hollywood ties was buried in the area.

While I was at the graveside of Jay Sebring, I snapped about eight photos, at different angles. One of the photos I snapped at the Sebring graveside included a “Death Hag” bumper sticker. Being that I didn’t want to literally stick the bumper sticker on the gravesite I used small rock I found nearby, and a piece of a branch to hold the sticker down.

So that’s pretty much how the day went. I didn’t find any new gravesites per say. But I paid my respects to some of the people I’ve found during previous treks to Holy Sepulchre. Some of which are my favorite finds in that cemetery.

Being that it’s the middle of Winter in Michigan. I rarely find my self doing any grave hunting, cemetery exploration, and things of that nature, this time of year. With over a foot of snow canvasing the ground on some days. It’s literally impossible to do a successful hunt, without freezing my (expletive) off. I’m not saying I’m absolutely insane enough to do a little graving with a few inches or more of snow on the ground (which I totally am). I’m just saying I usually pass on the adventure because I really don’t feel like freezing my (expletive) off.

Now keep in mind, the weather in Michigan for the most part is unpredictable. We could get 2 ft of snow one day in the middle of January, February, or March, then the next day the sun would be out, with high a temperature of 50+ degrees. As in the case of the unusually mild temps for this time of year over the past week. We had a high of about 47 degrees today. The day before on Thursday it got into the 50s. And being that I’ve suffered from a major case of cabin fever over the past few months. I decided to do the right thing to cure the fever and hit the cemeteries. Which leads me to this blog post.

Yesterday being that it was in the high 40s with no snow, besides the ground being a soggy, muddy mess. I decided to do a little cemetery exploration. As luck would have it a friend of mine from my high school days the enchantingly beautiful, Beth came along for the days adventure. I love it when friends, tag along especially someone as beautiful as Beth is. Because it gives me a chance to teach them a little local history, and give them a hands on experience on what I do when I go “grave hunting”. Who knows when I take newbies/friends with me the hobby might spark their interest, and they might become a dedicated graver like I am.

We didn’t have any high priority goals yesterday per say. We merely just drove around Elmwood & Mt. Elliott for a while, then got out of the car at random times and wandered aimlessly around the area we were in. In the process of strolling around the cemetery Beth, and I found a few gravesites, of somewhat notability. The first gravesite we found was of Russell Alger, who resides in the Alger family mausoleum near the front of the cemetery. Alger served as Governor of Michigan at one time, along with serving in the American Civil War, at the war’s end he was promoted to the officer rank of Major General.

Another gravesite Beth, and I found was of Breveted Brigadier General Grover Wormer. He served honorably during the war, and took part in the pursuit of Confederate General John Hunt Morgan. Unfortunately for Gen. Wormer he died several days before his sixtieth wedding anniversary.

Moving along, while Beth, and I were at Elmwood we stumbled upon the gravesite of Winifred Lyster. I’ve got no idea who she was as for some surprisingly unknown reason she’s not mentioned in the charming and informative book I have on Elmwood cemetery. But apparently she wrote the lyrics to the Civil War era song “Michigan My Michigan” which according to online sources is a tribute to the soldiers from Michigan who fought in the American Civil War. If your interested I’ve posted a video I found on You Tube with a photo montage, complimented with the chorus of the song.

Rounding off the day before heading to Mt. Elliott where we just photographed some random shots. Beth and I found the gravesite of Albert Molitor. He was the illegitimate son of William I of Wurttemberg , he also helped found Rogers City in northern Michigan. To be honest I’ve documented the finding of Albert’s gravesite in the past. But for historical purposes and considering that Beth is a newbie at grave hunting. I pointed out several gravesites we came across who I knew the background of and explained to her who the people were.