My Mortal Remains and Eternity

David G. Stuart

written and posted

September 3, 2001

     Hello and welcome. As the ageing process continues, I started thinking about where my mortal remains would rest for eternity. If your family is like mine, most of your decease's family members end up as in ground burial with just a few of them in mausoleums, this was what I discovered in my own family.
     Memorial Day 2001, I went to visit the several relatives who are spending eternity in community mausoleums, what I found was a pleasant surprise! Although the mausoleums were very old, built in the late teens and twenties, they were very clean and well maintained. Many flowers were present, they were dry, had good lighting, and usually had white marble halls and floors, this made for a strong, secure, and refined final resting location. All of this started me thinking about "my" final resting place!
     Looking around the Wichita, Kansas area I found several older community mausoleums. Maple Grove Abbey, built in 1913

White Chapel Mausoleum, built in 1917 and

Wichita Mausoleum, in Highland Cemetery, built in 1915.

     I then came across Old Mission Mausoleum which was opened in 1920 and over the next 36 years had three more additions added, with the final phase completed in 1954. The first three structures mentioned above are about the same size with total space ranging between 150 and 300 crypts. Upon investigating if space was available in these units, I found that only a few spaces were unsold in each, and little to none in the way of several spaces together for a couple.
     Upon making inquires about Old Mission, I found that it had a total capacity of two thousand four hundred and fifty crypt spaces and had been sold out for years, but on occasion space would become available as family needs and circumstances changed. Further investigations lead me to discover that there were three spaces side by side at a very desirable height and location that were for sale.   I was informed that these crypts had been on the market for more than four years (not a big market for something that “you” may never see in actual use!) Anyway, I made an offer and it was accepted, with both parties being pleased with the transaction. So, as the years go by and someone in the future stops here to read this information you will have some idea how I came about making this my final resting place for my mortal remains.

I would like to give you a visual tour of the many fine features of this great structure.

The first unit constructed, and the front of the mausoleum, it faces south.

Next you are approaching the front door and upon entering you step into a large foyer that was build in 1920.

Looking straight ahead you see the Amsden Memorial Family Room (early lumber dealers).

The view to the left or west shows a hallway and then

a closeup of the Coleman family area, (Coleman Lanterns). Scattered throughout this building is original Wicker furniture for those wanting to spend a few moments in reflection.

Next if you will look to the right, you will see another family area, and one of the hallways leading to the east. As you move along any of the hallways you come to many of the family rooms that are located throughout this building, this is an

example of one of those rooms, and another example of the fine stained-glass found within.

As you can see, the hallways are wide and spacious with each one ending with a nice stained-glass window.

Also, within this structure there are many brass light fixtures and brass gates, along with excellent examples

of plaster and marble carving.

Moving outside again you can see the east and

west sides of the building.

This aerial photo gives you a view of the building from several hundred feet up, great for putting all of the sides in perspective.

Here is another aerial view, that was taken in 1927, notice how the entrance was at the southwest corner of the cemetery. There is not much development to the east of the mausoleum, only the first unit was completed by 1927.

Now we come to the north and last addition that was completed in 1954 along with its entrance.

Upon entering this door you are in a main hallway leading to the columbarium with its

stained-glass window that looks out into a courtyard that is within the center of the entire structure.

   Another use of the north hall is that it can be used for the interment service. (click here to view)

The north hall then branches off into several east and west hallways which connect back with the front of the mausoleum.

As you are moving down this east hallway, it will take you past the location of the three crypts that I purchased and are identified as: Unit Four, 28B - 29B - 30B.

     One final area that I have been allowed to discover and view is the (click here to view) basement!    Hold my hand and let's take a look!
     The space in the mausoleum has been sold out for many years, but the original property owners have many friends and relatives still making regular visits all through the year and place

decorations at various seasons.

     Since I was born in 1940, and if you are reading this sometime after 2040, I have probably taken up residence in one of the crypts. So, if you are in the area stop by and rap on the door! I don’t think that I will answer but I am pleased that you came by just the same. As you can probably guess by now, I am writing this with some tongue-in-cheek humor, but this is the prospect that we all must face in the future, and I am just making realistic, and early (I hope) preparations.
     Information and photos about new crypts purchased in June 2002, this will be "My Final Resting Place!" (click here to view)
     As I was researching the information on Old Mission Mausoleum, I was amazed to find very little information on this structure. What information I did come across was from newspaper stories about the various stages of its construction and finally a nice article about Mr. George A. Saxton, the man who had a vision and dreamed of this project, and then spent the major part of his life seeing to its completion.
     Thank you George A. Saxton, for your dream and vision. I am pleased that I, and my future family members can share this space on earth with you, and the other mortals whose remains are resting through eternity within this fine structure.
     The links below are the newspaper articles about those events. I am pleased to offer this small bit of history to the Internet, so that those who come after me will have access to this information.

Links:
Old Mission Mausoleum history
Old Mission Mausoleum history: update February 2009
National Register of Historic Places
Kansas Preservation Article: Spring 2009
Construction photos found of Old Mission Mausoleum: July 2008
George A. Saxton information
Interment list: as of March 2009
Interment Rate Per Year: 1920 - 2009
Empty crypt list: as of March 2009
Blueprints and drawings: discovered, May 2004
Why I do this!