Mouth Cemetery is located about 20 miles north of here, in Montague, MI. Reports of it being haunted have surfaced over the years, and I visited there some time ago to walk the grounds and take pictures and see if I picked up on any weird vibes. I didn’t feel anything strongly, but after getting home and looking at the pics, I noticed that there were many orbs clustered around the iron fence that surrounds the cemetery and around one of the signs. That was enough to convince me something is happening there beyond the veil.
I had also read that an Indian massacre had taken place there, but the bodies were not buried but left by the river down the hill. In a weird bit of synchronicity, in a web search, I found a very short article in the October 18, 2025 edition of The Mason County Press about Mouth Cemetery! In it, I found a reference to a White Lake Historical Society article written by Barbara Brow. In it, she says:
Long before White River Township existed, there was a large Native American village located near the mouth of the White River. Information shows that a great massacre occurred between the tribes on the north shore of White Lake in the mid-1600s. Many of those who died are buried there in unmarked graves.
I have no idea what “information shows” is but I would like to know more about a great massacre and the victims being left in unmarked graves at the site.
In August of this year, I decided to go back to Mouth Cemetery and take more pics and try to pick up on vibes again. Putting address into gps on the phone, it came back to me how out of the way this place is. You go through Montague then head out onto a lonely country road that only gets more isolated the farther you drive. The road off towards it is a dirt 2-track that travels along a small church property. There are “no trespassing” signs around the cemetery and a dirt circle area to park in.
Instead of my digital old camera, I had my phone, which has a good camera. Instead of doing a slide show, I’m going to do full shots. With the images, there will be comments, captions, and maybe quotes (haven’t sorted that part out yet, but here we go.)
One of several signs and plaques that greet you. As you can see, this place isn’t manicured and at first appearance feels like it has been abandoned by all but the spirits who reside here.
Many/most of the stones are so old that names, dates, etc. have been worn away.
They feel like they have grown into the landscape.
George Armstrong, born Jan 1, 1833. Died Dec 19, 1893.
Gr. Mother
too poor to spell out your role
but never forgotten
This scene had me scratching my head. The cemetery is surrounded by iron gates. Whatever did this was escaping the cemetery, not breaking in.
still standing tall in honor of the one who passed away
hard to see the size of this without something for scale, but it is a very large stump.
not only the spirits of dead humans roam here
many fallen tombstones dot these grounds
many broken, tilted, and leaning tombstones exist here
Caroline rests here, in her 40s when she passed. No months or days shared.
keeping each other company in the afterlife
a safe space, resting against iron
This scene definitely gave me the creeps. I felt a tingling here. Outside of the cemetery fence, the chairs are arranged facing the tombstones, which look newer and have plastic flowers adorning them. Why the space between the chairs and the stones?
A large tree with a large limb ripped off; by a tornado — or something other?
Us and Them
even after death
for eternity.
You can see sunshine on the water through the trees.
Down there was where the massacre took place.
There is an animal burrow under the tombstone.
I live in what’s left of her ribs.
sweethearts forever
IIRC there is a separate section of the cemetery for this family.
Oh I would love to build a world around these people.
The stone looks at peace with itself.
This one gave me a few chuckles. Passed in 2017 and 2019.
There are “new” things near it, showing they still get living visitors.
The circle on the ground looks like a plaster cast of a tree stump. Kinda strange.
One of the newer signs greeting visitors to the cemetery. I tried to find info on the “Michigan Registered Historic Site” other than the wikipedia info linked at the top of post but didn’t find it.
A close-up of the iron gate that encloses at least the front and sides of the cemetery.
Another grave marker that suggests it is still being visited by the living.
Another greeting plaque near the entrance.
I didn’t see any orbs with my eyes or with the camera. The burst iron fence and the set up of the chairs with newer headstones outside of the cemetery were the oddest physical phenomena observed. The lack of any animals or animal sounds was unusual, especially in daytime in a wooded area.
I have questions.
Who broke out the fence, and why hasn’t it been repaired?
Who visits the cemetery and leaves tokens for people passed on over a hundred years ago?
What about the victims of the massacre? Why no mention of them on the multiple signs and plaques?
Private property is encroaching on this historic place. Will it be protected from disappearing?
Tao Talk 
Interesting that there are still burials there. There is definitely a silent feel to the place. It holds many stories I’m sure. (K)
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Yes it is, especially when they are outside of the fence! What do you think of that busted out fence? It totally scared me when I saw it.
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I think I see a face in the light coming through the trees above the chairs. Very interesting Post!
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I just looked at that pic. I see one clear eye looking right at me. Yipes! Thank you, Dwight. I saved this from August and tried to make it a good Halloween spooky experience. What do you think of that busted out fence? With the tree right on the other side of it, how did it happen?
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Spooky for sure!! Maybe someone escaped!! :<)
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“Who they gonna call?” (I hope you get that reference!)
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Ha ha… how could I miss that one! Ghostbusters!!
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:)
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Very interesting questions Lisa. I don’t spend a lot of time in cemeteries, there’s plenty of time for that later. All joking aside I don’t think I have ever seen a double effigy? If that’s what they are called.
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you mean inscription on the headstone? I don’t spend a lot of time in them either, especially one like this one, which is spooky as all get out. Where many of my relatives are buried it’s not spooky at all.
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Sorry I meant the headstones of the husband and wife with the faces on them, “effigy” might not be the correct term but it just struck me as unusual.
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Epitaph is the word. It’s common to have spouses share headstones and to have epitaphs on them in Michigan. Maybe it’s a localized practice? I do think the epitaphs themselves are somewhat unusual though. To me they sound like he was a challenge to love and she was longsuffering. That said, even though he was somewhat older than she was, she left this world only a short time after him. Maybe she missed his ways more than she thought she would? My mind likes to muse upon these things and it could be way way off :)
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I think you’re right Epitaph refers to the words and I was grasping for what the name was for the sculptured face. Matching headstones are common but to have your faces carved into them is the part I found unusual.
As to the deaths being close together you are totally right that there are many dynamics at work.One of my Uncles died within a day of my aunt and the official case of death was broken heart syndrome. So it’s a real thing but to your point not fully understood. Apologies for dragging this out but in all fairness you are a catalyst for provoking thought. I mean that in the most complimentary sense Lisa.
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Randy, you’re right, I don’t think I’ve ever seen the cast faces like this on tombstones. Sorry I misunderstood what you were getting at.
As to dragging it out, no worries ever about speaking freely and for as long as you wish here. I appreciate what you say at the end also. Thanks so much.
On another topic any word on the feature you mentioned before?
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I was waiting for a follow up from Max , but he’s a busy guy. Thanks for the prompt, I will send an email soon.
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OK, just wondering.
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Glad you asked!
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I love spending time in historic cemeteries such as this. I do not have answers to most of your questions- but on the matter of the chairs being so far from the graves- these old cemeteries are usually cared for by historic societies- that although they do not groom them- they do seasonal clean ups up and mow- so I am thinking the chairs were moved in order to accommodate such a mowing. Just my guess, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the explaination.
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V, I appreciate you sharing what you know that might help answer the chair question. It’s very likely the historic society that is mentioned is doing just that. This makes me want to contact somebody there to learn more.
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p.s. What’s the most interesting, fascinating, notable thing you’ve seen or experienced in a cemetery?
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I think the small tombstone only marked “Colored boy” inside a large fenced family plot. I wrote a story about it by the same name. But there are so many children’s graves. Everyone of them heartbreaking in the old cemeteries I think that is the most drastic difference from the more modern ones.
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Heartbreaking!
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Fascinating!
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:)
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