Preserving history
Annual maintenance at landmark Romulus Memorial Cemetery planned
Members of the Cemetery Board of Trustees in Romulus are looking toward warmer weather for the annual Spring Clean-up at the historic Romulus Memorial Cemetery.
The annual clean-up takes place every year at the landmark burial ground, which was first established in 1832. The cemetery, officially designated as a historical landmark, is a matter of great pride in the community and is maintained and operated by the Cemetery Board of Trustees. This year, as usual during the spring cleaning of the area, items such as wreaths and grave blankets must be removed by Sunday, March 15, according to a posting from the city. Romulus Department of Public Works employees will begin to remove any items that do not comply with the cemetery rules and regulations beginning Monday, March 16, according to an official n
otice from the office of City Clerk Ellen Craig-Bragg.
The cemetery is one of the oldest in the state and the preservation of the historic site where 25 Civil War Veterans are buried is a matter of respect for history, officials noted. The historical land was once called Blair Cemetery when in 1832, Warren Blair purchased 80 acres of land from the United States government. In 1833, Mr. Blair gave a portion of his land to the community for the purpose of a burial ground, and the Shook Road site was the only cemetery in Romulus.
Among the oldest gravesites is that of Robert Monomus, born in 1847, the last known Civil War Veteran buried in the cemetery. He was only 14 years old when he enlisted in the One Hundred and Second (102nd) United States Colored Troops Union Black Unit. He was 94 years of age at the time of his death on May 14, 1942.
Also buried in the Romulus Memorial Cemetery is Charles Cawetzka, a veteran of the Spanish American War who was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions during the Philippine-American War.
The earliest recorded burial was of Polly Pullens on Dec.21, 1833. Mrs. Pullens was the wife of Jenks Pullens who served in the New York Militia war in 1812. In 1877, with 170 graves at the site, Warren Blair's son sold the cemetery, and the property changed hands several times before members of the Romulus Township Board of Trustees took charge of the cemetery in 1901. Expansions have taken place at the site in south section in 1921, the west section in 1847 and the north section in 1957.
In 1989, the Romulus Historical Society applied for and was granted approval to designate the Romulus Memorial Cemetery as a historical landmark.
Each year, the clean-up of the cemetery is scheduled to preserve and respect the historic importance of the site, officials said.
For more information regarding the cemetery rules and regulations, phone the office of the city clerk, (734) 942-7540.
