Forest Home Cemetery

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City of Muskegon

Marquette at Harvey

“Dismal, deserted, a barren waste of 160 acres, Forest Home Cemetery, Muskegon’s deserted village of the dead, lies uncared for a mile beyond the city limits on Jackson Street.  It has not been used for several years.

A more desolate spot cannot be found in Muskegon County.  Dilapidated lines of stakes slanting at various angles mark the various lots and only the ruins of two or three graves with one lonely headboard bear witness that the barren tract was ever intended for a cemetery.

Over in one corner next to the Newaygo Road, the extension of Jackson Street stands a lonely sentinel pine guarding a single grave, the only one left unspoiled of its contents in the cemetery.  It is marked by a simple wooden headboard.  Upon the board loving hands have rudely carved with a knife “Bertie”  “At Rest”.

Otherwise, except for the ruins of two or three graves from which bodies have been removed to other graveyards, the cemetery is only a waste, a pasture land for cattle in summer and a snow plain in winter.  The cemetery was purchased by the city in 1891 from S. R. Sanford, A. F. Temple, and others at a cost of $5,500.  Only 24 lots were ever sold in it.”

(From the Muskegon Chronicle, March 8, 1906.)

Although it is thought all remains were transferred to Oakwood, a list of 20 of the lot owners will be included.  All lots were sold between February and August of 1892. The cemetery was described as New Cemetery or Forest Home Cemetery, depending on the person in charge.

            B. Krage                                                                      Jacob Schollen

            Henry Hinton                                                              Sophia Carter

            B. Kracht                                                                     John Van Dyke

            Edward Senyne                                                          R. Gronendal

            Fred Workman                                                           Charles Larsen

            Hans Thompson                                                        Joseph Workman

            J. Anderson                                                                D. Wietsema

            Fred Engle                                                                  W. Wietsema

            R. Groewenthal                                                          A. Klooster

            Paul Linean                                                                Joseph Franklin

 

(Research by Evelyn Buckingham)