HILLSIDE CHAPEL
a/k/a The Cincinnati Cremation Company
525 Martin Luther King Drive West
Cincinnati, Ohio 45220
513.861.1021
Established: 1887
Acres: 4
Bella Morte Rating: 5 Tombstones
Before we begin, it is important for those inclined to travel to this very worthy destination to know that the final moments of one’s trip may be filled with consternation as spotting the driveway is slightly confusing, particularly for those approaching from the southeast on Martin Luther King Drive. The long driveway is somewhat obscured by a cement wall on one side and a grassy hill on the other which suffers…at least at this writing…from a lack of clear signage. For those of you who, like The Proprietors here at Bella Morte, get terribly excited when visiting these glorious sites, keep in mind it is always better to drive to a place where you can safely turn around if you miss the entrance. Unless you have plans for an untimely trip to one of the retorts, try to slow down and not take unnecessary risks—the prize at the end of the drive is most-assuredly worth a little extra time and effort!
NOTE: We extend our heartfelt thanks to Cremation Historian, Jason R. Engler whose knowledge and expertise were instrumental in providing us with historical information on Hillside Chapel. Indeed, without Jason, we would have continued to visit nearby Spring Grove Cemetery without ever knowing the jewel of Hillside Chapel glittered only 5-6 minutes away!
___________________________
The Cincinnati Crematory (more commonly known as Hillside Chapel) was constructed in 1887 following the design and oversight of Cincinnati architect Gustave W. Drach.
The facility enjoys the distinction of being among the oldest operating crematories in the United States…though it must be noted that the original retorts have been decommissioned and modern equipment installed in a newer part of the building. Note: The two oldest operating facilities are:
The Buffalo Crematory, Buffalo, New York (1885)
Fresh Pond Crematory, Long Island, New York (1885)
___________________________
The main structure encompasses 12,000 square feet which host in excess of 11,000 permanent residents. The grounds occupy 4 very hilly acres which include a scattering garden (at present, unused) and a caretaker’s house.
In recent years, the facility endured neglect and was crumbling under the weight of financial woes and poor management. Fortunately, this slow decline was stopped in 2009 when the crematory was purchased at auction by funeral director, Don Catchen who is the owner of Catchen & Son Funeral Home. Thanks to the dedication of this man and his family, Hillside Chapel is, if you’ll forgive the pun, poised to rise from the ashes and reclaim its rightful place as a premiere columbarium and crematory. During our time there, we were delighted to see signs of new life everywhere. The exterior walls have been scraped and now await new coats of mauve and deep maroon paint to echo the original palette. Flower boxes along the driveway were being prepped for planting and an abundance of ladders and buckets testified to burgeoning renewal.
On the day of our visit, as we approached the main entrance, we observed a woman washing canary cages. This lovely lady, as it turned out, was none other than Missy Catchen (the owner’s wife. For the next two hours, she most graciously gave us her time as she escorted us throughout the columbarium speaking of things both past and future. She has taken it upon herself to bring birds back inside where their delightful chips and twitters fill rooms where glass-fronted niches reveal a multitude of beautiful cinerary urns, many of them fashioned by Cincinnati’s own Rookwood Pottery Company.
The urn rooms in Hillside are located at opposite ends of the building. This owes to the fact that when the building was expanded, the original floor plan, along with the aforementioned hilly topography precluded all options but to build away from the former chapel and columbarium. Although this resulted in a somewhat fragmented layout, it only adds to the building's quirky charm.
The oldest section of Hillside contains the original chapel a/k/a The Rotunda which hides beneath its carpeted floor the old lift upon which caskets were once lowered to the now decommissioned retorts beneath. The Rotunda is accessed by a set of gray-painted stairs which, in fact, served as the entrance to the original building (photo courtesy of Jason R. Engler)
Photo: Present-Day Entrance… now enclosed within the facility.
It is in this grand room that visitors will find 500+ ornate, bronzed iron niches arranged in seven tiers which measure 14x14x14. They were designed to hold within their dark confines approximately 8 adult urns…providing, of course, they are not too large or overly-ornate.
According to the literature of the time, the costs of perpetual care for the larger niches were as follows:
Tier 1: $30 each
Tier 2: $35 each
Tier 3: $40 each
Tier 4: $60 each
Tier 5: $60 each
Tier 7: $45 each
Fees for incineration were $15 for those under 15 years of age and $25 for those 15 and older.
Original Rotunda/Chapel (photo courtesy of Jason R. Engler)
Photo: Present-Day Rotunda
It is worth noting that during our visit we observed each of the niches in The Rotunda was decorated with a grouping of colourful, artificial flowers. Given the age of the building, it was logical to assume most close relatives of those enshrined were now deceased and thus, it was puzzling to see evidence of visitation. Inquiring about that prompted a truly delightful answer. It seems one of the columbarium’s employees was reflecting on the fact that relatives rarely visit the niches in The Rotunda and so she determined to place flowers at each and every niche. No small task! And yet it is one she lovingly performed!
Just off The Rotunda is an annex which houses several banks of large niches identical to those within the adjoining (former) chapel. In addition, there are 36 plain, single-occupant, glass-fronted niches that measure 6x6x6. Perpetual care for these was initially offered @ $5 each. This room enjoys natural light which pours in through a high-set window dedicated to the memory of the Kluver Family. Its design features a stylized torch, its bright flames testifying to the purifying fire of the cremation process. This torch-theme is echoed in a number of breathtaking stained glass windows throughout Hillside. The majority still spill their coloured light onto the floor of The Rotunda, but several have been relocated to the chapel which is still in use today. Other windows along several of the urn-lined halls and in the niche rooms themselves similarly celebrate the practice of cremation.
Leaving The Rotunda and heading back down the stairs, visitors will be treated to the site of a long corridor lined with glass-fronted niches populated with bronze urns and a host of Rookwood Pottery, some it fired with the name, birth and death date of their occupants. This corridor terminates in an urn room that features at its center a small tiled fountain resplendent with a bronze nude from whose mouth issues a trickle of water. Mrs. Catchen informed us of plans to restore the figure so that the water’s progress will be unimpeded and the room will once-again be filled with the vigorous sound of splashing liquid that was heard in its glory days…for now, however, it is enough to hear the slight burble and to listen to the chirps of the birds whose cages rest there. If one looks closely, it can be noted that a number of cages bear tiny plaques dedicated in memory of a certain individual whose cremains reside among the panoply of glittering cases. Mrs. Catchen is intent upon replacing all of the cages with larger, more modern versions but, in doing so, will be careful to transfer the memorial plaques in order to continue to honor the designated recipients.
Heading back down the corridor and going straight across the intersection of halls, one will enter the current chapel. This is the room whose stained-glass windows were transferred from The Rotunda. It is spacious and appointed with rows of wooden pews, an unassuming altar flanked by torchiers and a floor-to-ceiling waterfall of red velvet curtaining as a backdrop. Catchen & Son offer this space for funerals or final services and it is from here that bodies will be removed to the new retorts for cremation. One of the interesting features of Hillside under Catchen’s direction is the offer of direct cremation. This means clients can, if they so desire, bypass the usual funeral home and church processes and simply have the deceased cremated at Hillside without fanfare and with minimal cost.
Exiting the chapel and turning left, visitors will enter a room dominated by bronze-fronted niches. No urns are visible in this place and the preponderance of polished bronze lends a warm, golden light to everything. Even so, the room, with its uniformity and lack of individuality, feels uninspired in view of the splendour elsewhere in Hillside.
Moving on, there are several more glass-fronted niche rooms, one of which houses the cremains of 1950’s TV and radio personality Ruth Lyons, Andrew (Juergens) Jergens, , founder of the skin care product company, Mary Shillito, wife of Cincinnati department store magnate, John Shillito and beer merchant Albert Vontz, founder of Heidelberg Distributing.
Finally, there is a tastefully-appointed newer room which offers purchasers a choice of illuminated, glass-fronted niches or simple, bronze-faced repositories.
Hillside Chapel is a must-see for anyone with an interest in historic crematories and all taphophiles whose tastes extend beyond grave monuments to include cinerary urns. The Proprietors owe a deep debt of gratitude to Mrs. Catchen for the gracious offer of her time and knowledge and to the Catchen family who has so warmly embraced this faltering Queen of Crematories and vowed to bring her back to vibrant, beautiful life!
NOTE: When visiting Hillside Chapel, keep in mind the magic that is Spring Grove Cemetery lies only 5 or 6 minutes away!
[F]
a/k/a The Cincinnati Cremation Company
525 Martin Luther King Drive West
Cincinnati, Ohio 45220
513.861.1021
Established: 1887
Acres: 4
Bella Morte Rating: 5 Tombstones
Before we begin, it is important for those inclined to travel to this very worthy destination to know that the final moments of one’s trip may be filled with consternation as spotting the driveway is slightly confusing, particularly for those approaching from the southeast on Martin Luther King Drive. The long driveway is somewhat obscured by a cement wall on one side and a grassy hill on the other which suffers…at least at this writing…from a lack of clear signage. For those of you who, like The Proprietors here at Bella Morte, get terribly excited when visiting these glorious sites, keep in mind it is always better to drive to a place where you can safely turn around if you miss the entrance. Unless you have plans for an untimely trip to one of the retorts, try to slow down and not take unnecessary risks—the prize at the end of the drive is most-assuredly worth a little extra time and effort!
NOTE: We extend our heartfelt thanks to Cremation Historian, Jason R. Engler whose knowledge and expertise were instrumental in providing us with historical information on Hillside Chapel. Indeed, without Jason, we would have continued to visit nearby Spring Grove Cemetery without ever knowing the jewel of Hillside Chapel glittered only 5-6 minutes away!
___________________________
The Cincinnati Crematory (more commonly known as Hillside Chapel) was constructed in 1887 following the design and oversight of Cincinnati architect Gustave W. Drach.
The facility enjoys the distinction of being among the oldest operating crematories in the United States…though it must be noted that the original retorts have been decommissioned and modern equipment installed in a newer part of the building. Note: The two oldest operating facilities are:
The Buffalo Crematory, Buffalo, New York (1885)
Fresh Pond Crematory, Long Island, New York (1885)
___________________________
The main structure encompasses 12,000 square feet which host in excess of 11,000 permanent residents. The grounds occupy 4 very hilly acres which include a scattering garden (at present, unused) and a caretaker’s house.
In recent years, the facility endured neglect and was crumbling under the weight of financial woes and poor management. Fortunately, this slow decline was stopped in 2009 when the crematory was purchased at auction by funeral director, Don Catchen who is the owner of Catchen & Son Funeral Home. Thanks to the dedication of this man and his family, Hillside Chapel is, if you’ll forgive the pun, poised to rise from the ashes and reclaim its rightful place as a premiere columbarium and crematory. During our time there, we were delighted to see signs of new life everywhere. The exterior walls have been scraped and now await new coats of mauve and deep maroon paint to echo the original palette. Flower boxes along the driveway were being prepped for planting and an abundance of ladders and buckets testified to burgeoning renewal.
On the day of our visit, as we approached the main entrance, we observed a woman washing canary cages. This lovely lady, as it turned out, was none other than Missy Catchen (the owner’s wife. For the next two hours, she most graciously gave us her time as she escorted us throughout the columbarium speaking of things both past and future. She has taken it upon herself to bring birds back inside where their delightful chips and twitters fill rooms where glass-fronted niches reveal a multitude of beautiful cinerary urns, many of them fashioned by Cincinnati’s own Rookwood Pottery Company.
The urn rooms in Hillside are located at opposite ends of the building. This owes to the fact that when the building was expanded, the original floor plan, along with the aforementioned hilly topography precluded all options but to build away from the former chapel and columbarium. Although this resulted in a somewhat fragmented layout, it only adds to the building's quirky charm.
The oldest section of Hillside contains the original chapel a/k/a The Rotunda which hides beneath its carpeted floor the old lift upon which caskets were once lowered to the now decommissioned retorts beneath. The Rotunda is accessed by a set of gray-painted stairs which, in fact, served as the entrance to the original building (photo courtesy of Jason R. Engler)
Photo: Present-Day Entrance… now enclosed within the facility.
It is in this grand room that visitors will find 500+ ornate, bronzed iron niches arranged in seven tiers which measure 14x14x14. They were designed to hold within their dark confines approximately 8 adult urns…providing, of course, they are not too large or overly-ornate.
According to the literature of the time, the costs of perpetual care for the larger niches were as follows:
Tier 1: $30 each
Tier 2: $35 each
Tier 3: $40 each
Tier 4: $60 each
Tier 5: $60 each
Tier 7: $45 each
Fees for incineration were $15 for those under 15 years of age and $25 for those 15 and older.
Original Rotunda/Chapel (photo courtesy of Jason R. Engler)
Photo: Present-Day Rotunda
It is worth noting that during our visit we observed each of the niches in The Rotunda was decorated with a grouping of colourful, artificial flowers. Given the age of the building, it was logical to assume most close relatives of those enshrined were now deceased and thus, it was puzzling to see evidence of visitation. Inquiring about that prompted a truly delightful answer. It seems one of the columbarium’s employees was reflecting on the fact that relatives rarely visit the niches in The Rotunda and so she determined to place flowers at each and every niche. No small task! And yet it is one she lovingly performed!
Just off The Rotunda is an annex which houses several banks of large niches identical to those within the adjoining (former) chapel. In addition, there are 36 plain, single-occupant, glass-fronted niches that measure 6x6x6. Perpetual care for these was initially offered @ $5 each. This room enjoys natural light which pours in through a high-set window dedicated to the memory of the Kluver Family. Its design features a stylized torch, its bright flames testifying to the purifying fire of the cremation process. This torch-theme is echoed in a number of breathtaking stained glass windows throughout Hillside. The majority still spill their coloured light onto the floor of The Rotunda, but several have been relocated to the chapel which is still in use today. Other windows along several of the urn-lined halls and in the niche rooms themselves similarly celebrate the practice of cremation.
Leaving The Rotunda and heading back down the stairs, visitors will be treated to the site of a long corridor lined with glass-fronted niches populated with bronze urns and a host of Rookwood Pottery, some it fired with the name, birth and death date of their occupants. This corridor terminates in an urn room that features at its center a small tiled fountain resplendent with a bronze nude from whose mouth issues a trickle of water. Mrs. Catchen informed us of plans to restore the figure so that the water’s progress will be unimpeded and the room will once-again be filled with the vigorous sound of splashing liquid that was heard in its glory days…for now, however, it is enough to hear the slight burble and to listen to the chirps of the birds whose cages rest there. If one looks closely, it can be noted that a number of cages bear tiny plaques dedicated in memory of a certain individual whose cremains reside among the panoply of glittering cases. Mrs. Catchen is intent upon replacing all of the cages with larger, more modern versions but, in doing so, will be careful to transfer the memorial plaques in order to continue to honor the designated recipients.
Heading back down the corridor and going straight across the intersection of halls, one will enter the current chapel. This is the room whose stained-glass windows were transferred from The Rotunda. It is spacious and appointed with rows of wooden pews, an unassuming altar flanked by torchiers and a floor-to-ceiling waterfall of red velvet curtaining as a backdrop. Catchen & Son offer this space for funerals or final services and it is from here that bodies will be removed to the new retorts for cremation. One of the interesting features of Hillside under Catchen’s direction is the offer of direct cremation. This means clients can, if they so desire, bypass the usual funeral home and church processes and simply have the deceased cremated at Hillside without fanfare and with minimal cost.
Exiting the chapel and turning left, visitors will enter a room dominated by bronze-fronted niches. No urns are visible in this place and the preponderance of polished bronze lends a warm, golden light to everything. Even so, the room, with its uniformity and lack of individuality, feels uninspired in view of the splendour elsewhere in Hillside.
Moving on, there are several more glass-fronted niche rooms, one of which houses the cremains of 1950’s TV and radio personality Ruth Lyons, Andrew (Juergens) Jergens, , founder of the skin care product company, Mary Shillito, wife of Cincinnati department store magnate, John Shillito and beer merchant Albert Vontz, founder of Heidelberg Distributing.
Finally, there is a tastefully-appointed newer room which offers purchasers a choice of illuminated, glass-fronted niches or simple, bronze-faced repositories.
Hillside Chapel is a must-see for anyone with an interest in historic crematories and all taphophiles whose tastes extend beyond grave monuments to include cinerary urns. The Proprietors owe a deep debt of gratitude to Mrs. Catchen for the gracious offer of her time and knowledge and to the Catchen family who has so warmly embraced this faltering Queen of Crematories and vowed to bring her back to vibrant, beautiful life!
NOTE: When visiting Hillside Chapel, keep in mind the magic that is Spring Grove Cemetery lies only 5 or 6 minutes away!
[F]