YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Along a dirt road off Hubbard Avenue in Ypsilanti Township, you’ll find a large field lined with trees and mounds of straw-like grass, indicating the area has been overgrown.
This unsteady ground holds a significant history that isn’t immediately obvious. On this property lies the historic Woodland Cemetery, where sunken headstones and covered old grave markers tell a story of neglect.
According to Kat Slocum, an Historic Preservation Specialist with Washtenaw County, approximately 12 grave markers are visible, but estimates suggest at least 150 people are interred on the property.
The Washtenaw County Office of Community and Economic Development and Ypsilanti Township are partnering to restore and preserve this cemetery, which has been abandoned since 1965. Founded by Pastor Garther Roberson of Ypsilanti’s Second Baptist Church in the late 1940s, this once-private burial site is historically significant as a segregated cemetery, providing burial access to African Americans who were denied opportunities elsewhere.
“This cemetery, historically, is a segregated cemetery. So, this is prior to African Americans having access to burials at other sites. It’s very clear that the burials that are here did not have the opportunity to go elsewhere. And there are many African Americans who reside here,” Slocum explained.
Burial plots on this site have been identified well into the tree line, and clearing the brush is essential for the time-sensitive restoration work.
“We’re seeking to restore the cemetery, including removal of the overgrowth, locating the burials through a non-invasive survey called ground penetrating radar, and also restoring the headstones that are there,” Slocum added.
The ultimate goal is to understand the history of those buried here and create a community space. Slocum emphasizes that the preservation process will be community-engaging, with ongoing collaboration with local groups in Ypsilanti. Volunteers are welcome to assist in the restoration efforts.
For more details, you can email Kat Slocum at slocumk@washtenaw.org.