Beth Olem Cemetery
Did you know there is a Jewish Cemetery on the grounds of GM’s Poletown Plant? There is and as a result of Beth Olem’s location, it is only open to the public twice a year – the Sundays before Rosh Hashannah and Passover. Even then it is open only for a few hours.
How a cemetery ended up in the middle of GM plant isn’t so much a bizarre story, but a warning on the eminent domain situation. In 1981, the cities of Detroit & Hamtramck razed 465 acres to make way for a GM Plant. The 465 acres included 1,400 homes, 130 businesses and of courses, places of worship.
Read more about the Poletown story here. I have heard there is a well-written book on Poletown but can’t remember the title. Can someone help me out here?
Perhaps you are thinking of Poletown: Community Betrayed? The author is Jeanie Wylie.