Terhune Pioneer Memorial also know as the Terhune Burying Ground, was the cemetery plot set aside by Luke Whitmore after his daughter of 18 years died and there was no local cemetery available. A total of 21 individuals had connection to the cemetery. There are a few original gravestones that still exist on site. Access to the site requires climbing a set of stairs. The park is marked with a park sign.
The "old" Pittsfield Cemetery originally sat on the northwest corner of Packard St. and Burton Rd., right where the DTE power sub-station sits today (2012). It's shown on the plat map from 1856, as noted 'GrYd'. (http://pittsfieldhistory.org/images/platmap_1856_80.jpg). The 1864 plat map also shows it. This property was near the south east corner of section 2 of Pittsfield Township. The old Whitmore homestead sat along the north side of Packard immediately east of the large home that was built just up the hill from the cemetery ca 1985. This area became the city of East Ann Arbor in 1947 and was annexed by Ann Arbor in 1956.
More information
- Web site: Terhune Pioneer Memorial at Washtenaw County
- Ensign John Terhune grave information at Waymarking
- Yesterdays on Yost, Mike Gould for the Ann Arbor Observer
The old road headed south from our house, and walking along it, you would pass a deserted (and no doubt haunted) water tower, several frog ponds, the old hollow tree by the creek (near where the Forestbrooke Swim Club is now), and finally, the old graveyard. This was what is now called the Terhune Pioneer Cemetery, but in those days, it was a quintessential scary burying ground. It was filled with weeds and had a rusting metal fence, all in great disarray in the middle of the woods. This was sort of the Pet Sematary of my childhood - one entered on a dare and then ran home as fast as possible before the ghosts could get you.
- Report of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution Published by G.P.O., 1913, Item notes: v. 15-16, p. 41
- Parkathon 2009, Garden Faerie's Musings weblog, March 2009
One of the most interesting parks was Terhune, which is also the site of a small pioneer cemetery, founded in 1825. At the time, Ann Arbor, which was founded in 1824, had no other cemetery, so Luke Whitmore created the first plot when his daughter Emily died at age 18. The cemetery was renamed Terhune at some point due to one of its more famous occupants, John Terhune, an American Revolutionary War veteran who died in Ann Arbor in 1839.
Or have you ever heard the story about the little village just West of Ypsilanti situated near the intersection of what is now Packard and Carpenter Roads. This area was farmed by, I believe two related people, possibly brothers, named Carpenter in the latter part of the 1800's. This area was known as Carpenter's Corners and was a very small village with its own cemetery. Sometime in the early part of the 20 & century (c 1910) a parcel of this land, including the cemetery, was sold to another farmer. This farmer being a practical person, and wanting to get the most return on his farm investment decided to move the cemetery by himself. Well, being a very, very, very practical farmer, he just decided to just toss the head stones into a near by stream and save himself the ghoulish task of moving the inhabitants. Who would know or remember where that old cemetery was anyway. With all of these obstacles now out of the way he just farmed over the entire area. If you visit this cemetery look at the brass plaque located there. In the 1930's the DAR and another civic group decided to try and rebuild the cemetery as well as they could. The result was the Terhune Pioneer Cemetery just off of Terhune Street in Ann Arbor. The stones are still gone but the residents remain. So if you should venture your way into the Brandywine Subdivision just look for a wooden staircase just about halfway down Terhune Street. Its there… stop in… say hi. It is a very very quiet, restful place-Really!
