History and Facts about Cemeteries
Schrader-Howell Funeral Home is your locally trusted expert, so we are here with some interesting history on cemeteries to help give you some extra knowledge.
When it's time to lay a loved one to rest, the funeral homes in Plymouth, MI, are the best option to turn it into a creative and memorable event. Once this is completed, they will need to utilize a cemetery as a final resting place for their loved ones if they choose traditional burial. Cemeteries are an essential part of the process, so this article will discuss some interesting facts and history about them to give you more information.
Some Cemeteries Have Rules
Cemeteries are not that much different than visiting a standard park in the. What this means is that there may be a set of rules that they want individuals to adhere to when they are visiting, and a few examples can include:
- Obeying any posted speed limit signs
- Being aware of what you can and cannot leave at a gravesite
- Not disturbing the gravesites
- Keeping pets on a leash
- Cleaning up any garbage you may have brought with you
- Specific opening and closing hours
The Grounds Are for More than Burying Individuals
When you think of a graveyard, you may only consider that people are buried in the location, but the truth is, the property can be used for many other activities. Some people visit cemeteries because they are quiet locations and choose to have picnics or even read a book and relax. There are properties where the cemeteries have museums and offer educational resources for visitors. And some utilize the property for events like music festivals or showing motion pictures.
Some Graves Face East
In early America, the settlers would have their graves pointing east. This was due to a belief that the individual would be reborn. Their feet would be facing east, and their body would rise with the son of a new day. Once cemeteries started being built in more rural areas in the 1830s, the design of the graveyard changed due to the terrain being hillier.
The Inscriptions on Headstones are Called Epitaphs
When epitaphs started being applied to headstones in colonial America, in most cases, they would highlight how the individual passed away. As knowledge expanded and attitudes around death changed, the inscriptions did as well and became phrases around hope, grief, and even humor in some cases.
Obelisks Were a Common Part of Cemeteries

Another historical fact is in the 1840s, graveyards in the U.S. started having obelisk-shaped monuments placed in them. This was because interest in Egyptian culture had resumed, and the obelisks offered a patriotic feeling at a more affordable cost than traditional monuments.
Trusted and Exceptional Care for Our Clients
As you can see, cemeteries have a rich history and some interesting facts that make them unique from any other place in the world. Individuals use them as final resting places for their loved ones, and if you require services, we are here to help you from start to finish. We are one of the locally owned funeral homes in Plymouth, MI, and we have been in business since 1904, providing exceptional services for our community, so contact us today to schedule an appointment.
