  Carptrash Member Username: Carptrash Post Number: 1505 Registered: 10-2003 |
White Chapel Memorial Park was mentioned on another thread, and it sort of pulled my chain. I have typically thought of a visit to White Chapel as being a visit to an amazing outdoor sculpture garden. If you find your self out there (and Winter is not the recommended time to go) here are a few things to check out. Begin by noting the figures and other carvings on the monumental entrance, both on the outside and on the inside. A great place to go next is to the gleaming white (White Chapel, get it?) "Temple of Memories." Be sure and note Hester Bremer's (a rare woman architectural sculptor) large bas relief over the main door. Then as you wander around the park observe all the sculpture and see if you can tell the difference between the commercially produced (in my opinion) Italian works and the more locally generated ones by a little known Detroit sculptor named Beaver Edwards. There are three other (at least) amazing works of art that are alone are worth the price of admission. Well, okay, so admission is free. Then worth the price of gas to drive out there. The first is Bruce Saville's "Until the Dawn", a life sized Viking funeral with a solemn O?en, replete with spear and attendant ravens, leading the procession. (Saville has another fairly local and almost equally impressive monument, that at the site of the "Battle of the Fallen Timbers" in nearby Defiance, OH) Next is (can't find his name, so I'll go with) Adolph Wolter's "Four Freedoms", an interesting WWII memorial, that being a war that did not produce nearly as many monuments (in my opinion) as did wither the proceeding WWI, and certainly not the Civil War. Finally there is the impressive (and perhaps best appreciated on a very cold, wintery day) Polar Bear Memorial, carved by Leon Hermant (Yes, the same fellow who did the carvings on and in the DIA building [check 'em out]). In case you don't remember that war, it was about . . ..... let me briefly recap. In 1919, with the Great War finally ended the United States (and I think a few other nations) decided to put an end to the recently established Bolshevik nation then known as the Soviet Union. So, we invaded it and in the process got a bunch of our young men killed. After about 10 years their bodies were repatriated and because so many of them were from Michigan, they were interred in White Chapel and the Monument was placed among them. Half of Detroit (give or take) trudged out to Troy in 1930 for the big event. What was your question, again? eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek
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Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936 Post Number: 2487 Registered: 01-2005 |
A few decades ago, I bongs my memory that there was a small scandal associated with the management of White Chapel Cemetery. Something to do with mismanagement of funds. It was in the paper for some time whenever the 'scandal' took place. Maybe 30 years back, maybe even more. | |||
Kid_dynamite Member Username: Kid_dynamite Post Number: 431 Registered: 06-2007 |
Ray1936, That's where Gordon Grant Sr was laid to rest. I visit him about once a year. | |||
Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936 Post Number: 2490 Registered: 01-2005 |
Good to pay visits to our honored ancestors, dynamite. I've even found and visited graves of my gt gt grandparents. It's a moving event. | |||
Jrvass Member Username: Jrvass Post Number: 365 Registered: 01-2007 |
Interesting, Carptrash. Usually when I go there it is to check on "flowers & flags" for my grandparents and aunt & uncle. Sometimes I need to ask them to level the headstone of my aunt & uncle, since they seem to be in a "swampy" area. The rest are in the mausoleum or at Woodlawn. I'll have to look for them next time I can afford admission!  | |||
Mikeg Member Username: Mikeg Post Number: 1365 Registered: 12-2005 |
The "Four Freedoms Monument" at White Chapel Cemetery:  The "Polar Bear Monument", also at White Chapel:  The "Polar Bears" were mostly members of the US Army 339th Infantry Regiment, which was known as "Detroit's Own". | |||
Mauser765 Member Username: Mauser765 Post Number: 2311 Registered: 01-2004 |
Heres an extensive photo essay of White Chapel. Wow there is a ton of stuff there, the chapel building itself is basically a museum inside. http://www.detroitfunk.com/200 8/01/white_chapel_cemetery_pt_ 1.html http://www.detroitfunk.com/200 8/01/white_chapel_cemetery_pt2 .html | |||
Aiw Member Username: Aiw Post Number: 6491 Registered: 10-2003 |
Thanks Mauser. That's quite the Mausoleum. | |||
Carptrash Member Username: Carptrash Post Number: 1523 Registered: 10-2003 |
Yes, in deed. After this spread one could almost call it a "Mauserleum!" eeeeek | |||
Mauser765 Member Username: Mauser765 Post Number: 2317 Registered: 01-2004 |
lol - I see you found the links, Carpy Diem. Cheers ! Any idea where Albert is located in that place ? I was in the area working when I stopped at White Chapel, so I was "inappropriately" dressed for hanging around inside the mausoleum for too long. Not to mention a bit soggy from trudging around the cemetery. | |||
Carptrash Member Username: Carptrash Post Number: 1525 Registered: 10-2003 |
I'd start here. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi- bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=560 (looks indoors to me) eeeeek (Message edited by carptrash on January 09, 2008) | |||
Mauser765 Member Username: Mauser765 Post Number: 2318 Registered: 01-2004 |
Did - no location given. That place is huuuge. | |||
Jrvass Member Username: Jrvass Post Number: 383 Registered: 01-2007 |
Go to their office located near the gate. Ask for a map. The place is huge. And if you don't know where you are going, even bigger. I use a map to find my aunt & uncle in the lawn and grandparents in the mausuleum. I still get lost at Woodlawn in Detroit. I _have_ to use a map in there! | |||
Carptrash Member Username: Carptrash Post Number: 1527 Registered: 10-2003 |
I suspect from the picture at find-a-grave that Kahn's marker is an indoor event. Still a large area, but, smaller. | |||
Irish_mafia Member Username: Irish_mafia Post Number: 1172 Registered: 10-2003 |
Whenever we would drive up 75 to go up North as a kid, my friends Dad would point to White Chapel and say "See that place? People are dying to get in there!" | |||
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen Post Number: 2697 Registered: 10-2003 |
A couple years back I did visit White Chapel specifically for the purpose of locating the final resting place of Albert Kahn. Fortunately someone was available to open the main Mausoleum building. I have a vague recollection of where Kahn's crypt is located, and possibly could relocate it again if I was able to visit again. I will definitely try to make it to White Chapel sometime soon as I have that little matter of Robert Oakman's final resting place there to clear up. | |||
Mauser765 Member Username: Mauser765 Post Number: 2319 Registered: 01-2004 |
Yeah I know Al is in the mausoleum, and thats what I meant when I said "huuuuge". I had soggy shoes and wasnt dressed appropriately to be hanging out chatting with staff about the facility. I'll get the tour next time, they are more than happy to show folks around. | |||
Waz Member Username: Waz Post Number: 242 Registered: 11-2006 |
Your friend's Dad was quite the card, Irish. Did he also say that people liked to live next to the cemetery because the neighbors were quiet? | |||
Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936 Post Number: 2562 Registered: 01-2005 |
From the Find-a-grave web site: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi- bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Kahn&G Sfn=Albert&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel =all&GSst=24&GScntry=4&GSob=n& GRid=560& | |||
Jrvass Member Username: Jrvass Post Number: 397 Registered: 01-2007 |
I'm guessing he is on the 2nd floor columbarium. That is a typical marker for there. Waz... I once lived at an apt. in Rochester next to a cemetary, it was quiet! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =8b8isnhYMjg | |||
Karenk Member Username: Karenk Post Number: 57 Registered: 07-2006 |
I have explored cemeteries for many years. I have transcribed around 60,000 gravestones. There is nothing more peaceful than wandering through a cemetery. The trees, plants and some outstanding sculpture, not to mention squirrels and birds. I visit Detroit cemeteries every spring to make sure my family graves remain visible. What a mitzvah! | |||
Jrvass Member Username: Jrvass Post Number: 399 Registered: 01-2007 |
Karenk probably already knows this... but in the 1800's people used to go to cemetaries to picnic and tend the graves. | |||
Mauser765 Member Username: Mauser765 Post Number: 2342 Registered: 01-2004 |
"There is nothing more peaceful than wandering through a cemetery" couldnt agree more, my friend. | |||
Carptrash Member Username: Carptrash Post Number: 1558 Registered: 10-2003 |
Well, in some ways, living IN one might be more peaceful? eek | |||
Karl_jr Member Username: Karl_jr Post Number: 196 Registered: 06-2007 |
Irish, as we passed there at night my Dad would ask "do you know how many people there are dead?" Answer = All of'em. | |||
Adamjab19 Member Username: Adamjab19 Post Number: 821 Registered: 11-2003 |
Kahn's cremated remains are in the mausoleum for sure. White chapel only allows bronze markers in the yards and most of the old facings in the mausoleum for the cremated remains are bronze. Newer niche areas are glass and the full body crypts are marble. I will be there Saturday and see if I can't find a more exact location of Kahn's niche. I am fairly certain I have walked by it. A few notables I have seen while walking through (I work at a funeral home down the road and we do many, many burials there) Jimmy Hoffa's wife (supposedly) is in a niche. John DeLorean is buried there. Also in the mausoleum there is a private family crypt area that has a large mosaic of the last supper. The staff is very nice there. Go after 1pm though, before that they may be busy doing burials and all of that. On the sign there it says "where memory lives in beauty" sometimes can be translated to "where memory floats in horror". Some sections are VERY wet! | |||
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen Post Number: 2727 Registered: 10-2003 |
I went out to White Chapel on Monday afternoon. My purpose was to confirm that Robert Oakman was indeed interred there. And to look up a couple other gravesites. The guy in the office was most helpful, especially as I was sharing info on Mr. Oakman, who is indeed interred there. I have posted that information and photos in the Oakman Blvd. thread (https://www.atdetroit.net/forum/messages/5/122123.html?1201357914). I also located Albert Kahn in the Great Mausoleum, on the first floor, to the right across from the stairs. Walking around the Mausoleum to check out both the beautiful stained glass as well as the names, I also noticed the final resting place of arts patron and U.S. Minister to Denmark, Ralph Harmon Booth, the brother of George Booth, as well as that of Ernest W. Seaholm, who was a Senior Engineer who worked with Harley Earl on the first LaSalle design for Cadillac, and after whom Birmingham Seaholm High School is named. Despite frigid temps outside, I did stop at the Polar Bear site and the "Until Dawn" sculpture for photos. Then I tracked down John DeLorean's grave which was partially covered by gifts that had been left: a bouquet of red roses, a paperback Bible, a Saks Fifth Avenue shopping bag, and a 10x13 manila envelope addressed to Mr. John Zachary DeLorean. His grave marker sports an image of a DeLorean!  I will definitely go back when the temps are warmer, both for the art as well as tracking down a couple more gravesites. | |||
Carptrash Member Username: Carptrash Post Number: 1563 Registered: 10-2003 |
So, what was in the envelope. Or didn't you . . . . . . . .....? | |||
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen Post Number: 2728 Registered: 10-2003 |
Nope, I didn't look in the envelope or in the Saks bag either. None of my business.... | |||
Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936 Post Number: 2614 Registered: 01-2005 |
Good "trip report", Kathleen. Interesting. But then, those cemetery visits usually are. Nice to hear that the cemetery staff was helpful. My last visit to Trinity Cemetery in Detroit had me ready to poke an arrogant staff member in the snoot because she was so unhelpful. Ah, well. | |||
Carptrash Member Username: Carptrash Post Number: 1565 Registered: 10-2003 |
Ah K, viva la difference. To me, the world is ALL my business. And visa versa, of course. eeeeeeek | |||
Mauser765 Member Username: Mauser765 Post Number: 2381 Registered: 01-2004 |
Thanx for the mail Kath - Ill know exactly where to go next time. As luck would have it when I ventured in to see if I could get lucky and find his marker, I veered left. | |||
Carptrash Member Username: Carptrash Post Number: 1570 Registered: 10-2003 |
Well that's bette than leaning to the Right ••••••• eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eeeeeeeeeeeeek | |||
Eriedearie Member Username: Eriedearie Post Number: 683 Registered: 08-2007 |
My dad would say when we'd pass by White Chapel "You know they won't allow anyone that lives in Detroit to be buried in that cemetery?" and I'd say, "That's not fair, why not?" And he'd say..."Cause you have to be dead first!" | |||
Carptrash Member Username: Carptrash Post Number: 1571 Registered: 10-2003 |
The collection of "my dad said" here is the reason why DAD'S RULE. | |||
Ocmobilexec Member Username: Ocmobilexec Post Number: 12 Registered: 12-2007 |
I get a little sad every time I see the big White Chapel sign off of I-75... both of my grandparents are there. When my grandma died Christmas Day of 2000, we had her service in the Chapel of Memories. I received permission to play the organ for the service. What a beautiful building and service; my grandma would have been happy. | |||
Mauser765 Member Username: Mauser765 Post Number: 2382 Registered: 01-2004 |
It was wet and unseasonably warm when I was there, but I drive by today on the way home from work and how stunning does that place look covered in pure white snow. The chapel and grounds are one continuous white horizon. Wish I had time to visit, but I had another job to go to. | |||
Goblue Member Username: Goblue Post Number: 1022 Registered: 03-2007 |
Eastdearie: Every time we drove by a cemetary my dad would comment "People are just dying to get in there!"...it was humor on the Eastside in the '50's. | |||
Jrvass Member Username: Jrvass Post Number: 416 Registered: 01-2007 |
Whenever I drive by there on I-75, I wave and say hello to my 4 grandparents and aunt & uncle. Remembering them reminds me of my childhood and happy times. Nothing wrong with that. |
White Chapel Cemetery