Adventure to the Most Haunted Cemetery in Michigan

If you’re anything like me, you go on “kicks” from time to time. Maybe it’s making your own pizza dough or teaching yourself to play the piano. In my case, it was collecting and reading every book about haunted places in Michigan. Some of it was “meh”, like ANOTHER story about a haunted lighthouse. Some of it was FRIGHTENING, like account of the little girl who liked to watch television. (Also known as “Ah HELL NAH!” Some little ghost girl in my living room with my family??? We’re moving!!) And some of the stories made we want to go and see for myself. Join me for an adventure to the most haunted cemetery in Michigan…if you DARE!!

The Lore

In her book, Michigan Haunts and Hauntings, Marion Kuclo aka Gundella the good witch, claims she strolled through this very cemetery in 1980’s and thought she saw a blonde wig laying on the ground. When she moved closer she realized it was actually a human scalp and that from the ground she could see a bit of bone and a piece of white satin fabric. Near the body, she saw pieces of an old coffin stacked neatly in a pile. There was a crumbled headstone nearby. The only part that was readable was the name “Alice”. Chalked up to wild animals who “got at” the grave, apparently this encounter kicked off a series of sightings of “the blonde lady”.

Apparently this “blonde lady” likes to appear to people driving on Henry Ruff Road and has even caused one fatality. In 2000, there was allegedly a report of ritualistic activity in the cemetery by the Detroit News. (However, my research of the newspaper archives did not back this story up.) Undeterred by facts, I’ve been to this cemetery twice to check on the spooky vibes.

The Tour

Overall, the vibe at the William Ganong Cemetery is “restful dilapidation.” The grass is cut and the headstones seemed mostly undisturbed, except for the usual ravages of time.

The two headstones below are the sickest burn I’ve ever seen in granite. The father: Allen Butler. The inscription: “He hath done all things well.” The mother: Mary Butler. The inscription: “She hath done what she could.” DANG, that’s cold EVEN for a cemetery.

The Concerns?

I’ve been to the cemetery both during the day and at dusk. Here is my report:

• I didn’t see the blonde lady
• Couldn’t find a headstone that read “Alice”
• No orbs floated by my field of vision
• There didn’t seem to be any unusually cold spots
• and I didn’t have a creepy feeling (from the dead bodies)

However I did have a few concerns.

As with any cemetery that isn’t often visited, the ground had some significant soft spots. And although I really like to visit grave yards, the idea of sinking into an ACTUAL grave is far less appealing to me. In case you have any doubt this could happen, check out this fun first hand account of a Tombstone Tourist who took that exact trip.

Also, not for nothin’, but the trailer park across Henry Ruff Road did seem a bit sketch in the light of day. It was enough to make me think that I probably wouldn’t take this tour alone and especially not alone at night.

The Creepy

I would be totally remiss if I didn’t share the one creepy thing we found inscribed on this headstone.

Behold ye strangers passing by. As you are now, so was I. As I am now, so you must be. Prepare for death and follow me.

Memento mori or an incantation that could literally open the gates of hell? Well, since I’m still around to tell the tale, I’m guessing it’s the former. However, I didn’t say it aloud at midnight on Halloween, so who really knows???

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Happy Hauntings!