The Nankin Township Historical Society

I've just discovered the  Northville Cemetery Massacre (never mind what the title says on YouTube" because they changed it like studios did on many low budget flicks; it shows as "NCM" during the movie.). It's B-flick movie about a motor cycle gang that takes over Northville after being wrongly accused of crimes that they didn't commit and features voice-overs by a then unknown Nick Nolte and music from Michael Nesmith of the Monkees. It was filmed primarily in Northville in 1972 but wasn't released until 1975. As I'd hoped there are many recognizable sights in the movie including both the Rural Hill Cemetery and a brief shot of the Cherry Hill Cemetery. The footage of Cherry Hill Cemetery takes place at about 45:45 while Rural Hill is at the center of the climax of the film.

Plymouth Mail , May 17, 1907 Death was in the familial framework of Newburg in the May 17, 1907 edition of the Plymouth Mail . The most prominent one belonging to Emma Smith Knickerbocker who passed way at the age of 55 and was buried in Newburg Cemetery. The Rev. W. G. Stephens eulogized her, reading from John:14:18, "I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you." Other names mentioned are Mrs. William King, Mrs. Alan Gier, Mrs. Sarah Royal, Mrs. Walter LeVan, Mrs. James LeVan, Harry Bassett, Mrs. Reuben Barnes and Glenn Smith.

Should we strive to make Christmas a daily reality? Annie Johnson of Flint thought so even though we can barely get people to reconcile for a funeral. But it's the thought that counts I suppose. Her poem What Makes Christmas appeared on the front cover of The Fluoroscope , the monthly patients magazine put out by the Maybury Sanatorium and Herman Keifer Hospital. I would assume that she was a patient at one of the two institutions.

Detroit Free Press , May 27, 1962 I don't know if the Imagine Theater, located at 33455 Warren Road in Westland, occupies the former Tonquish Elementary School building and property or if the clump of birch trees that were planted there in 1962 still remain but if so the trees have a bittersweet origin. John "Johnnie" Paxton, a WWII Marine and North Carolina transplant, was the custodian, and sometimes bus driver for the sports teams at the school. During a road game at Northville, in which he was the driver and the ever-enthusiastic fan, Paxton died of a heart attack. Beloved by the children they began to bring pennies to school to buy something to remember Johnnie. They considered books as a remembrance but a tree seemed more enduring. So with the help of principal Patrick Hamil they planted the birch near the school. "Be the kind of generous, understanding person Johnnie Paxton was." said Hamill as some children wiped away tears. A boy played the trumpet ...

Keeping with the Halloween theme here is the 1944 October cover of The Fluoroscope , the magazine for patients at the Maybury Sanatorium and the Herman Keifer Hospital. More local subjects which I have neglected because I'm not a very mindful robot. But it's in my collection of two bound volumes as well as some loose, incomplete issues. I'll never get to all of this stuff but I'll lie and swear that it's all coming VERY SOON.