Township Focus, Michigan Township Association, September 2024
“These sacred places offer residents and visitors alike a vital link to the past. It is a
snapshot of the community’s history, and the names that have placed a role in shaping
who they are.” Township Focus, Michigan Township Association, September 2024
“Township Cemeteries are a local asset that can help promote community pride and
offer peaceful places to reflect. Townships can capitalize on their cemeteries in other
ways, raising awareness for the historical significance of the people who are buried
there, including veterans and prominent pioneers. Walking tours, historical
reenactments, musical festivals, and veterans’ events invite people to visit these sacred
places.”
Township Focus, Michigan Township Association, September 2024
The Township began in early 2024 with a long-term vision of improvements to honor
those who have gone ahead and maintain their final memorial. Last year, with the help
of a grant from LCTV, the township was able to put a flag holder at every Veteran’s
grave. In addition, the township board purchased new signs for the Alton and Fox’s
Corner Cemeteries.
The Need for Burial Space
Currently, the township cemeteries that are available for burial are Alton and Bailey.
Alton is in the far northeast corner of the township. It is very popular with those who
live in that area and have family roots there. Bailey is more centered, and was long
considered the township cemetery. Unfortunately, there is little space left unsold at
Bailey. Expansion has been explored and is not currently an option. It is hoped that it
will be an option in the future.
A difficulty in opening or expanding a municipal cemetery is that to keep burial
plots as inexpensive for residents, a minimal amount is charged. This is not even
enough to cover annual lawn care, let alone major improvements.
“If their cemetery space is filling up, townships may wish to rethink their current space.
Cremains niches, plots and scattering areas take up less space, and can go around
trees, along a fence line or in places harder to access.” Township Focus, Michigan
Township Association, September 2024
Another option for space is that as the township is divided into multiple small historical
communities, the township would like to honor this and offer burial location choices to
the residents.
The Fallas Cemetery is the ideal location to reopen for burials. This
community already has an identity. The village residents, along with the Fallasburg
Historical Society have already established a habit of care for the cemetery, from
seasonal cleaning to repair work. In addition, there is land attached to the cemetery
that was never developed as cemetery.
The Fallasburg Cemetery was closed in 2001 due to the following concerns.
- The original mapping system was irregular.
Discoveries of unmarked graves. - Rumors of an unmarked mass grave.
- Difficult entry, hard for equipment and funeral vehicles to access.
To reopen the Fallasburg Cemetery, the following steps need to be taken to
address the concerns from the past.
- The cemetery needs to be professionally mapped, instead of using guesswork as
to the original mapping system. Cemetery mapping would incorporate the use of
ground penetrating radar. The hope then is that unmarked graves can be identified
and marked, thereby honoring the lives of those at rest here.
- A Columbarium is included in this project. This to give the opportunity for above
ground internment of cremains to preserve the limited space below ground.
By expanding the cemetery to include the additional land between the existing
cemetery and McPherson St NE, a new drive can be installed.