HIGHLAND CREMATORY & MAUSOLEUM
Highland Park Cemetery
21400 Chagrin Blvd.
Highland Hills, Ohio 44122
216.348.7210
Established: 1926
Acres: N/A
No Official Website
Bella Morte Rating: 1 Tombstone
The first thing to keep in mind if one plans to visit the Highland Crematory & Mausoleum is that the former part of the equation is no longer functioning and/or open to the public. The second is that the mausoleum itself is exceedingly diminutive. The third is that both the crematory and mausoleum stand within the boundaries of a truly hideous cemetery of the “memorial park persuasion.” The moral of this story is that, unless you live nearby, happen to be passing the cemetery, or are extremely devoted to the history of cremation in the United States, you would do well to avoid this place altogether.
As we said, if you happen to live nearby (as we do) it is certainly worth your while to visit the crematory and mausoleum as both have something in the way of charm and beauty (however degraded) to offer.
Our trip fell on a crisp, early spring morning. The trees were still bare and dead leaves from the previous autumn skittered across the short brown grass. Upon approaching the building, we were struck by the beauty of its high, arched windows, porte-cochere and massive crematory chimney which resembled a bell tower.
Our spirits were high and I pressed my foot further on the gas as we raced across the barren grounds of the cemetery to reach our destination.
Sadly, upon parking and getting out of the car, we noticed the main doors, which we quickly determined led to a chapel, were nailed and boarded up. Truly frustrating…but, optimists that we are, we figured we might gain entrance somewhere inside the other part of the building. So, we hurried over to a glass door we’d noticed. A sign next to it indicated the hours the mausoleum was open and, as luck would have it, the place had just been unlocked.
We entered with high hopes.
Immediately inside, we encountered a once-beautiful desk which was now all but ruined. Around it, the plaster walls were bubbled from the intrusion of moisture. Peeling paint abounded.
Stepping into the next area, we found ourselves in something like a second vestibule. To either side, locked glass doors with divided light windows revealed the abandoned Highland Park Cemetery offices. Notices indicated the new address. It was a desolate and rather lonely scene.
But all was not lost. Looking up, we saw immaculately-stenciled lettering which spelled out a word to make our heart’s beat faster: MAUSOLEUM.
As we stepped into the main area and turned back toward the entrance we observed a bronze plaque affixed above the doorway that contained the following words:
THE FIRST MUNICIPAL MAUSOLEUM IN AMERICA
BUILT BY THE CITY OF CLEVELAND - A.D. 1926
WM.R.HOPKINS, CITY MGR. F.S. HARMON, DIRECTOR OF PARKS
LOUISE DEWALD - COMMISSIONER OF CEMETERIES
M.B. BISCOE, ARCHITECT CRAIG-CURTIS - GENERAL BUILDERS
U.J. SMITH & SON - MAUSOLEUM SPECIALISTS
To think we were standing in a building with such distinction and history, humbled us.
Although the mausoleum was terribly small, it also possessed a quiet dignity. The red carpet was clean and nearly all of the marble crypt-fronts had what appeared to be their original glass vases firmly affixed and inviolate. Indeed, several even contained flowers, meaning there were still people alive to care for their beloved dead.
The mausoleum consists of three rooms. Two are quite small while the largest leads to the old chapel entrance. Alas, here, too, we were foiled in our efforts to catch a glimpse of the interior of that structure for, though the doors were chained but partly open, the gap was not sufficient to allow so much as a hand to pass through to snap a picture or two. That was more than a little frustrating; however, from the very little we could see, it appeared the interior was in near-total disrepair. This, too, was deeply disheartening and it is our hope that someday someone will take the cause under her/his wing and restore it to its former beauty.
Once outside, we drove around the building several times, studying the back entrance which clearly led to the old crematory and trying to get a decent angle for some building shots. Our behavior eventually attracted the attention of a passing police officer who questioned our motives for lurking around the building. When we told him of our interest, and mentioned the mausoleum is, in fact, open to the public, he was surprised and, after he left, we saw he went around front to check the veracity of our information.
And so we conclude this review with our fervent hope that one day the chapel and crematory may rise from the (figurative) ashes and once again escort the bodies of the dearly-departed into the flames…and beyond.
If anyone reading this has any historic pictures of the crematory and/or mausoleum, we would be more than delighted if you would be willing to share them with us.
[F]
Highland Park Cemetery
21400 Chagrin Blvd.
Highland Hills, Ohio 44122
216.348.7210
Established: 1926
Acres: N/A
No Official Website
Bella Morte Rating: 1 Tombstone
The first thing to keep in mind if one plans to visit the Highland Crematory & Mausoleum is that the former part of the equation is no longer functioning and/or open to the public. The second is that the mausoleum itself is exceedingly diminutive. The third is that both the crematory and mausoleum stand within the boundaries of a truly hideous cemetery of the “memorial park persuasion.” The moral of this story is that, unless you live nearby, happen to be passing the cemetery, or are extremely devoted to the history of cremation in the United States, you would do well to avoid this place altogether.
As we said, if you happen to live nearby (as we do) it is certainly worth your while to visit the crematory and mausoleum as both have something in the way of charm and beauty (however degraded) to offer.
Our trip fell on a crisp, early spring morning. The trees were still bare and dead leaves from the previous autumn skittered across the short brown grass. Upon approaching the building, we were struck by the beauty of its high, arched windows, porte-cochere and massive crematory chimney which resembled a bell tower.
Our spirits were high and I pressed my foot further on the gas as we raced across the barren grounds of the cemetery to reach our destination.
Sadly, upon parking and getting out of the car, we noticed the main doors, which we quickly determined led to a chapel, were nailed and boarded up. Truly frustrating…but, optimists that we are, we figured we might gain entrance somewhere inside the other part of the building. So, we hurried over to a glass door we’d noticed. A sign next to it indicated the hours the mausoleum was open and, as luck would have it, the place had just been unlocked.
We entered with high hopes.
Immediately inside, we encountered a once-beautiful desk which was now all but ruined. Around it, the plaster walls were bubbled from the intrusion of moisture. Peeling paint abounded.
Stepping into the next area, we found ourselves in something like a second vestibule. To either side, locked glass doors with divided light windows revealed the abandoned Highland Park Cemetery offices. Notices indicated the new address. It was a desolate and rather lonely scene.
But all was not lost. Looking up, we saw immaculately-stenciled lettering which spelled out a word to make our heart’s beat faster: MAUSOLEUM.
As we stepped into the main area and turned back toward the entrance we observed a bronze plaque affixed above the doorway that contained the following words:
THE FIRST MUNICIPAL MAUSOLEUM IN AMERICA
BUILT BY THE CITY OF CLEVELAND - A.D. 1926
WM.R.HOPKINS, CITY MGR. F.S. HARMON, DIRECTOR OF PARKS
LOUISE DEWALD - COMMISSIONER OF CEMETERIES
M.B. BISCOE, ARCHITECT CRAIG-CURTIS - GENERAL BUILDERS
U.J. SMITH & SON - MAUSOLEUM SPECIALISTS
To think we were standing in a building with such distinction and history, humbled us.
Although the mausoleum was terribly small, it also possessed a quiet dignity. The red carpet was clean and nearly all of the marble crypt-fronts had what appeared to be their original glass vases firmly affixed and inviolate. Indeed, several even contained flowers, meaning there were still people alive to care for their beloved dead.
The mausoleum consists of three rooms. Two are quite small while the largest leads to the old chapel entrance. Alas, here, too, we were foiled in our efforts to catch a glimpse of the interior of that structure for, though the doors were chained but partly open, the gap was not sufficient to allow so much as a hand to pass through to snap a picture or two. That was more than a little frustrating; however, from the very little we could see, it appeared the interior was in near-total disrepair. This, too, was deeply disheartening and it is our hope that someday someone will take the cause under her/his wing and restore it to its former beauty.
Once outside, we drove around the building several times, studying the back entrance which clearly led to the old crematory and trying to get a decent angle for some building shots. Our behavior eventually attracted the attention of a passing police officer who questioned our motives for lurking around the building. When we told him of our interest, and mentioned the mausoleum is, in fact, open to the public, he was surprised and, after he left, we saw he went around front to check the veracity of our information.
And so we conclude this review with our fervent hope that one day the chapel and crematory may rise from the (figurative) ashes and once again escort the bodies of the dearly-departed into the flames…and beyond.
If anyone reading this has any historic pictures of the crematory and/or mausoleum, we would be more than delighted if you would be willing to share them with us.
[F]
