Brookside Cemetery

Brookside Cemetery is a historic cemetery located along North Union Street in the city of Tecumseh in northern Lenawee County, Michigan. It was designated as a Michigan Historic Site and added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 13, 1986. Although the cemetery is much larger, only 25 acres (10 hectares) is set aside as historic property by the National Register. The designated area comprises the original, rectangular plot of land that was set aside for the cemetery in 1853. In addition to graves, this property also includes an American Civil War memorial erected in 1882, a public mausoleum from 1913, and the 1915 stone arch entrance along North Union Street. Brookside Cemetery was set aside as Tecumseh's primary cemetery after its original cemetery overgrew its boundaries. The original cemetery, located at the corner of South Ottawa Street and East Kilbuck Street, was abandoned, and those graves were relocated to the newly designated Brookside Cemetery. Many of Tecumseh's early settlers are buried here, including Abi Evans and Joseph W. Brown. In southeast Michigan is a fantastic ride in the shape of an upside-down triangle featuring cemeteries at each corner-appropriate for a ride in late October. Actually, there is nothing spooky about it. The last two cemeteries on the ride offer paved small roads-paths really-that wind through the cemeteries; they're used for walking, jogging, and bicycling. They're treated as parks, and with all the trees, flowers and ornamental headstones, they look like them, too. If the thought of a cemetery tour is discomforting, think of it as the "Great Big Barn Tour." Along curves and up and down hills, the ride passes some of the most picturesque barns in Michigan. And the ride takes you on good roads, with either a wide shoulder or a wide lane, and nearly all with light traffic. Things to see: Picturesque cemeteries, old barns, towns of Tecumesh, Macon, and Clinton.