On Friday June 7th, I decided to visit Detroit’s Elmwood Cemetery, on the outskirts of the downtown area. Most of the photographs I took that day were scenery photos, and of random gravesites. Upon my arrival, I strolled into the office to ask about the grave locations, of four people who I planned to track down. While I was in the cemetery office,  obtaining the locations I wanted. I also bought a new copy of the book “Elmwood Endures: History of a Detroit Cemetery” by Michael S. Franck. Out of all the cemetery/grave hunting books I own “Elmwood Endures” is by far one of my favorites. Back when I started grave hunting. This book was one of the first I bought. The old copy I have of “Elmwood Endures,” has acquired a lot of ware and tear over the years. Not to mention a lot of marker highlights from past hunts in the cemetery. So I wanted to get a new copy of the same book.

Moving along, out of the four people I inquired about in the cemetery office, two of them I found. My list consisted of Motown era musician Freddie Gorman, journalist & author Royce Buckman Howes, Jazz musician Melvin Wanzo, and MC5 guitarist Fred “Sonic” Smith. The two people I didn’t find, but tried none the less. Were Royce Howes, and Melvin Wanzo.

After getting the Elmwood Cemetery trek underway. I made my way towards section: C, where Freddie Gorman rests peacefully. Gorman was a member of the Motown era group The Originals. He was also a vital element to the development of Motown Records early hits. Which included The Marvelettes hit single “Please Mr. Postman.” On June 13th 2006 Freddie Gorman, passed away from complications of lung cancer.

After photographing the graveside of Freddie Gorman, I then cruised over to section: V where Fred “Sonic” Smith rests. Born in West Virginia. Smith was the guitarist for the influential Detroit based punk rock band of the 1970s, MC5. In 1994 Smith passed away from complications of heart failure.

When I was done paying my respects, & photographing the grave of Fred “Sonic” Smith. I was pretty much free to do as I pleased, and photograph graves, at my leisure. As I was casually cruising around the cemetery grounds, I came upon the black granite monument of Reverend Charleszetta Waddles. Better known to local Detroiters, and others in the region as “Mother Waddles.” Waddles was a charitable contributor who helped the homeless, and less fortunate in Detroit. At the age of 88, on July 12th 2001 Waddles passed away from unknown causes.

Moving along, another graveside I photographed was the tall obelisk monument memorializing Detroit politician Zachariah Chandler. Chandler served as Mayor of Detroit from 1851 to 1852. He was also a four-term U.S. Senator from the state of Michigan (1857–75, 1879), and Secretary of the Interior under U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant (1875–77). On October 31st, 1879 while in Chicago, on political business, Chandler was found dead in his hotel room. He passed away from unknown causes.

The last graveside I photographed during the trek at Elmwood. Was the graveside of Henry Porter Baldwin. Baldwin was a descendant of pilgrim Nathaniel Baldwin. Baldwin was the 15th Governor of Michigan and U.S. Senator from the state of Michigan. Growing up in Rhode Island, Baldwin would eventually move to Detroit, where he had various business interests, and would eventually pursue a career in politics. On December 31st, 1892 Baldwin passed away from unknown causes.

As I close out this article. I’d like to point out one of the things I really find interesting about Elmwood Cemetery. Is that during the 1760s, when Pontiac’s Rebellion was raging on. A brutal massacre known as The Battle of Bloody Run, took place along the creek which runs through the tranquil cemetery grounds. If you’re interested you should visit the links I’ve included above, to get a general overview of the battle, and Pontiac’s Rebellion.

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