Old Hill Cemetery

In an article in the Dearborn Independence dated July 29, 1943, there is an article regarding the Old Hill Cemetery. The Old Hill Cemetery is thought to be the first, or one of the first cemeteries in Dearborn. It was apparently the burial site of some of Dearborn's earliest pioneers, and was located on the North Bank of the Rouge River, two miles south of Michigan Avenue. (than was Old Chicago Turnpike)
The nearest entrance to the spot was Airport Drive then south on Old Dearborn Road. (I don't believe that either of the streets exist by this name today.)
The hill was originally a Native American burial Mound, believed to have been built by the Potawatami Indians who had occupied this area before the white man arrived here. Whether or not they built the mounds, the Potawatamies did use this spot as a burial site. Many relics, such as spear heads, hatchets, amulets, and even a Native American skull were found, and preserved by Dearborn citizens.
When the French settlers arrived, they apparently used this spot as well, for a resting place for their deceased.
In 1868, the bodies of two soldiers, who had died in the Civil War service, were brought to Old Hill Cemetery, from Fort Wayne and buried here with military honors. A Dearborn resident, Joseph Karmann, Sr had stated he had witnessed the burial. Members of the Thomas family, another pioneering family of this area, were said to be buried here, along with members of the Peter Clippert family. The last person said to have been buried here was a female member of the Clippert family.
Other residents buried here are members of the Hunter family, Elijah G. Downer, the greatgrandfather of Mrs. John L. Shaw (then of 1430 Monroe Avenue), was buried here and the stone erected at his grave site, was later removed to Mrs Shaw's backyard. Members of the Smoke family whose descendants later moved near Owosso, Michigan, were buried here.

The entrance to the cemetery was from Old Ann Arbor Trail, which followed the early Native American trials that paralled the river. This road later connected Fort Wayne with the Dearborn Arsenal.

The Ford Motor Company's expansion was the "end to" Old Hill Cemetery in 1935. Supposedly relics found at that time are being preserved in a block of cement and placed in a "secure spot". The article does not disclose the location.

Contributed by Linda Ball
I did some searching at the Dearborn Centennial Library in Dearborn on Michigan Avenue, just west of Greenfield. And also, at the Dearborn Historical Archives, trying to locate information on 3 cemeteries in Dearborn, that are no longer at the locations listed in the Michigan Cemetery Location Book.