November 2025 – Create Cohort Blog

“In October any wonderful unexpected thing might be possible.”

– Elizabeth George Speare

A beautiful Sunday off during my absolute favorite, and, simultaneously busiest month of the year? Gallivanting about, dressed like vampires in Detroit’s oldest (and rumored to be haunted, because of course it is) cemetery? On a quintessential, fall as fuck day? How wonderfully unexpected!

Mostly because we had gone out the night before, after working all day, and stayed up way too late like the feral freaks we are.

We had dressed as vampires for Creepy Cheapy, a super-fun Halloween event in Pontiac, MI. It was too dark to take decent photos, and when we finally arrived we found our friends and immediately became complete menaces. Needless to say, we had a good time.

Waking up the next morning and finding the motivation to put our entire costumes back on and document it? Wonderfully unexpected, indeed.

Behold! The Elmwood Historic Cemetery:

Established in 1846, Elmwood Cemetery in Detroit is one of Michigan’s most important historic cemeteries. Located in Detroit’s Eastside Historic Cemetery District, Elmwood is the oldest, continuously operating, non-denominational cemetery in Michigan.

Elmwood is approximately eighty-six(ish) acres, a certified arboretum, and recognized as a significant site for the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, by the National Parks Service of the United States Department of the Interior. There are several famous and well-regarded humans buried in Elmwood’s grounds, rumored ghosts, and ghostly markers with interesting history, but most importantly, IMO, it is gorgeous as hell.

The design and layout of the park was created to preserve and enhance the natural land; groves, hills, beautiful trees, vegetation, and, a historic creek: The Bloody Run.

“On July 31, 1763, in an incident during the Pontiac uprising against the British, the creek was renamed Bloody Run after the Native American massacre of Captain Dalzell and his men“. Can’t imagine why it’s claimed to be haunted.

Elmwood Cemetery contains the only part of the creek that is open and visible, and most likely where all the ghosts like to hang.

Many thanks to Frederick Law Olmsted: landscape architect! (RIP)

Dave and I had made plans last October to visit Elmwood, however, our schedules rudely prevented it. I was elated to finally get to see it in all of its glory, although I would like to make a return visit on a gloomy day. You know, for the “mood” and all.

Speaking of, it could have been the beautiful weather, the fun of taking photos, the confusion on the two different tourist groups faces at the sight of a couple of idiots dressed as vampires, but, Elmwood did not feel haunted. I have only ever felt unwelcome at one cemetery, The Ganong Cemetery in Westland, MI. All of the other cemeteries that I have visited have actually felt very calming, and welcoming. Or, my ghost spidey-sense is broken.

Elmwood is also very close to our home, so, we are basically neighbors. I fully plan to make return visits, and I will keep y’all posted on any ghostly happenings.

Until next post, XO