At the corner of Wyandotte St. W. and Huron Church, surrounded by the Ambassador Bridge is Assumption Cemetery. This is the early Roman Catholic cemetery for the Windsor area.
A google search turned up this brief history of the cemetery:
At its present site, the Assumption Cemetery (located at the intersection of Wyandotte St. West and Huron Church Rd.) was established in 1859, when then-Bishop Pinsonneault relocated it from the Cemetery’s second home, the area we know now as Assumption Park. However, remains interred on-site today can actually be traced back as far as 1795, initially part of the Cemetery’s first home (1781) next to Assumption Church – itself founded as a parish in 1767 and standing as the oldest in Ontario. Within eye (and ear-shot) of the Ambassador Bridge, Assumption Cemetery also notably contains the Basilian Fathers’ plot that dates back to 1870.
The Ambassador Bridge looms behind the headstones.
The family of Col. James Askin, namesake of Askin Ave. Col. Askin was born in Detroit in 1788, he died in 1863, and his son John A. Askin, born in 1817, died in 1904.
During my visit, I saw this overgrown cross memorial, and headed in for a closer look…
It’s a memorial to Sgt. Joseph D. Creede, who was killed in action over Hamburg Germany in 1942 during WWII.
A telling sign of the influence of the French history of our region. A completely French tombstone from the 1940’s. Calixte Séguin was a member of the School Board.
Frank E. Marcon. Born in England in 1832. Was clerk of the county court & registrar of surrogate. He died in 1901.
The grave of Sir Harry Gignac. In his early days Gignac was a member of the Sandwich Fire Department, and according to his obituary in the Windsor Star, “Harry Gignac as a young man went to work for the Neal Baking Company, but in 1915, he established his own bakery, producing Butternut Bread. The business became one of the most successful in Western Ontario. He sold his share of the bakery to start Purity Dairies in Windsor in 1929. Gignac is best known for his community service: five times President of the Windsor Branch of the Canadian Red Cross, founder of Goodwill Industries, and founder of the United Appeal, now known as the United Way. He was a member of the Board of Regents of Assumption University, before it became the University of Windsor. In 1960, the Canadian Council of Christians and Jews named him Humanitarian of the Year.”
Gignac was also the original owner of what is today known as the Grad House at the University of Windsor, which is facing demolition and was featured in the January 3rd entry (see the last photo).
His brother Art Gignac was a well known Rum Runner during prohibition. Click here to read his story.
Col. Arthur Rankin, born at sea in 1824. Joined the Queen’s Light Infantry at Toronto at 14 in 1838, when it was sent to the Detroit Frontier. Took part in the infamous Battle of Windsor and captured the flag of the so-called Patriots. He was a member of Parliament for Essex from 1854 to 1857, and again from 1863 to 1867. When the two provinces Upper and Lower Canada were each divided into nine military districts, Rankin was appointed Colonel of the ninth Upper Canadian District. He died in 1893, and is the namesake of Rankin Ave.
Victor Ouellette, member of the School Board.
A few views of the Lavin Mausoleum. Despite the grandure of the mausoleum, I was unable to uncover any information about the Lavin Family.
The Basilian Fathers’ plot.
The McKee Mausoleum, James McKee (1829-1899) was the reeve of Sandwich for 20 years, most of the family was actively involved in local politics. The McKee’s were related by marriage to the Rankin’s.
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JBM, http://cemetery.canadagenweb.org/ON/ will bring you to Ontario's cemeteries and the graves of people. Click Essex County and go to any cemetery.
Sadly for this particular cemetery, nothing predates 1795-1799 I believe. So anyone buried before that in this section of the city/county is lost.
Most people in the mid to late 1700s would have likely had a wooden cross that has long disappeared.
Thnaks Shawn. I was aware of that site and it is quite usefull. I was particularly interested in the old and relocated Assumption cemeteries and their occupants, etc.
Yeah unfortunately I do not believe there are any records other than what the church might have.
Detroit has a similar problem, where as their oldest Catholic cemetery only dates back to the 1830s or so... where were the people buried for the 120 some odd years before that!?
I wish we had better records of everything.
I am interested in obtaining an index of burials for St Alphonsus, Assumption and Our Lady of the Lake Cemeteries that would give names and plot numbers. I use the Canada GenWeb Project in my research. However, it is only as good as the number of photos that have been taken by the volunteers. Can you point me in the right direction. Thanks
Hi, I too would like a listing for the Our Lady of Assumption Cemetery. I have only been able to find a potential plot number, EX-SX-060, but cannot find the date of burial to confirm. Is there a listing somewhere? Thanks.
I am looking for Corinne Séguin (1898-1952)- Assumption Roman Catholic, Windsor, Essex, Sandwich West EX-SX-060.
As a young girl, my mother's family, Power, moved to Windsor from Niagara Falls, in the mid 1920's. Her young brother, Joe, drowned in the Detroit River shortly after. He was buried in this cemetery in the child's section. When the bridge was built, some of the children's graves were moved to another cemetery nearby in Windsor. My aunt did not know where, other than they were placed in an unmarked grave. Anyone know this story and whereabouts? Also, their father, Joseph Power, drowned in the Detroit River almost a year later to the day after his young son. Looking for the location of that grave, too. Any information would be helpful to further our genealogical search. Thank you.
Dean Lucier, according to the Windsor Division, Essex County Death Registry, Joseph Power, Sr., died of accidental drowning on October 19, 1926. He was 40 years of age having been born May 2, 1886 in England. According to his registry entry, he was to have been buried at St. Alphonsus Cemetery. Here is a link to coverage of his death in "The Border Cities Star" (see pg. 3, middle column):
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=lIaPce-xyHYC&dat=19261020&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
Joseph Jr. accidentally drowned on July 8, 1926. He was 8 years of age (b. Dec. 10, 1917). He was to have been buried at L'Assumption Cemetery as you stated.
A message to Diane Rose above (Nov 3, 2010 posting). I have more information for you on that family. Please contact me.
Was looking for the grave of a Great-Great Uncle and Aunt buried there. I didn't find a head stone. Was wondering who to contact with the records of the cemetery. If anyone knows I would appreciate the help. Would like to a headstone on the grave. Thanks in advance for your help.