Community members will gather on Friday at 10 a.m. for a Memorial service at the forgotten and found Historic Glen Arbor Cemetery on Forest Haven Road.
A ground-penetrating radar project was completed last summer to find where all of the bodies are buried. Last fall, Don Lewis, township treasure and construction business owner for over 50 years donated a few pallets of Wisconsin rocks to be used as headstones for the many unmarked graves that were initially marked with a flag.
“It was fun, my wife and I pecked away at it, as much as we could on Saturdays... It was fun and sort of connected me to the project. I appreciate what was done.”
Sixty-seven newly placed headstones will be on display Friday.
Lewis has had some experience working in cemeteries including some projects at the historic cemetery in Omena.
“Once we identified all unmarked graves and attempted what to do next we figured out a way to mark those graves,” Lewis said.
Previously, only 13 marked graves were known to be there. Then, one year ago, Glen Arbor Township employed ground-penetrating radar (GPR), revealing 75 unmarked graves and a “potter’s field” which holds additional remains. That field could be holding anywhere from 30-150 bodies. The most recognized ‘Trumbull plot’ contains 12 graves, only 4-5 of which were marked. This includes two infants, and one individual buried on top of two others. Six areas are marked that contain something other than a body.
All existing grave stones have been cleaned now.
From 1977-2021, the cemetery was mistakenly under the auspices of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, until documentation proving the township’s ownership resulted in it being transferred back. Adding insult to injury, the cemetery had been buried under fallen timber from devastating straightline winds from the August 2, 2015 storm. In 2019, the National Park Service opened an entrance to the cemetery. Then, as soon as the township regained ownership, it began to clear the full acre in preparation for the radar session. Finally, in November, Lewis dug and placed the 67 markers. Plans to mark the eighth remaining graves are in the works.
The cemetery will feature a eulogy of Civil War veteran Edmond Trumbull read by John Sawyer, poetry by Anne-Marie Oomen, taps by Norm Wheeler, and the Glen Lake 8th graders will claim the names of those buried at the cemetery whom they each have studied.
Trumbull (Trumball) enlisted in enlisted in Company E, 14th Michigan in December, 1861 at age 44. He was the son of Rufus and Hilda Trumbull. First wife was Mary Ann Hall. He was widowed with five children. The children stayed in Owosso, Shiawassee County, Michigan with his sister and parents during the war. After the war, he lived near Burdickville, Leelanau County, Michigan and was a cooper (barrel and/or wheel maker).
Trumbull remarried on Oct 18, 1871 in Glen Arbor to Elizabeth Beal. She filed for a widow’s pension when Edmund died in 1885, according to Sawyer.
Sawyer is the senior vice commander of the Robert Finch Camp #14, Traverse City Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.
The Glen Arbor Township board, depending on funding, has some minor projects in the works that will take several years including replacing fencing.
“The board is continuing in keeping the cemetery cleaned up,” Pam Laureto said.
In December 2023, the Township Board voted to sunset the Cemetery Advisory Board (CAB) effective January 1, 2024.
All members of CAB have continued their work with the historic cemetery as an ad hoc committee.
The cemetery committee will carry on with the school project, the Memorial Day Ceremony, the archives and routine work bees, as well as being available for other projects in the future.
The cemetery is located at 6305 Forest Haven Road. Park along the road and walk the path in. A track chair is available for those with mobility problems. Tick protection is strongly suggested. The ceremony should last 30 minutes. Seating will be available. Cancellation only in case of potential lightning strikes.
