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Butler County, Kansas

Belle Vista Mausoleum

Await Engineer's Approval Before Starting Mausoleum

Structure to Cost Close to $150,000 is Planned for Belle Vista Cemetery; Will Stage Campaign for Funds Early in the Fall; Establish Endowment Fund for Maintenance

El Dorado is to have a mausoleum.

After several years' agitation for such a structure, announcement is made today by the Belle Vista Cemetery Association that as soon as the plans and specifications are approved by the state engineer, a campaign for funds, with which to proceed with the building, will be launched. The plans were completed the first of the week and is expected definite news regarding them will be received within a few more days.

If the plans are approved, the Belle Vista Association will enter into contract with the G. A. Saxton Mausoleum Company, of Wichita. This company is one of the largest of its kind in the country and is completing its second mausoleum at Wichita now. G. A. Saxton is general manager of the company, and J. L .Rose, Jr., will be in charge of construction work if the building is erected. Both have been engaged in mausoleum work for the past fifteen years.

Five years ago this company completed a mausoleum in Highland Cemetery, at Wichita, which is one of the most beautiful buildings of its kind in the Southwest. The second mausoleum is being built in Old Mission Cemetery, at Wichita. This will be the largest in the town and also will have a handsome appearance.

The final size of the El Dorado mausoleum can only be determined by the demand which will be made for space when the campaign for funds opens. The tentative plans, however, call for a building 75 x 56 feet. It will contain six private rooms, six private sections and 240 crypts. such a building will cost between $100,000 and $150,000.

It is proposed to make the exterior work of Bedford stone, while the interior will be of marble and bronze. The entire building will be equipped with electric lights. There will be a basement under it, which will contain a furnace, and there also will be a chapel in the structure.

The building will be entered through double bronze doors. The entrance will lead into the beautiful marble chapel, where services may be held comfortably in either the summer or winter. The building planned is of the Roman type of architecture.

"Those who subscribe to the erection of the mausoleum will have full control of it," Frank Case, president of the Belle Vista Association, says. "The cemetery association is merely giving the mausoleum a site and acting as an agent in making the contract. Those who give their money will have their own building and finance committees and will have complete charge of the building from the time it is started."

The mausoleum will be maintained by an endowment fund. This money is in turn properly invested so all that is used of it is the interest it bears. It is hoped to have an endowment fund of about $15,000.

Mr. Saxton will be in El Dorado next week. He will outline his campaign at that time for the sale of crypts and private sections. Definite announcement of the opening date of the campaign will be made as soon as it is determined.
(El Dorado Times ~ Saturday ~ 16 July 1921)

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WORK STARTED THIS MORNING ON $125,000 EL DORADO MAUSOLEUM

Details in Connection With Construction of Building Completed Yesterday; Structure Will Be Second Largest and Most Beautiful in the State.

Work was started this morning on the $125,000 El Dorado Mausoleum.

The structure is being erected on a tract of land 150x150 feet, just north of Belle Vista Cemetery. The deed for the land has been recorded and the plans for the mausoleum have been approved by the state engineer and the Kansas State Board of Health.

The mausoleum is being built by the G. A. Saxton Mausoleum Company, of Wichita. Plans for the structure were started more than a year ago, but have been delayed by various obstacles. Mr. Saxton was in El Dorado this morning and said the building will be rushed.

The mausoleum will be the second largest in the state. Its size will be surpassed only by the recently completed mausoleum by the Saxton Company at Old Mission Cemetery, Wichita. The latter structure has 590 crypts, while the one here will contain an even 400. If all the space in the El Dorado building were devoted to crypts, it would easily contain 500.

The exterior of the El Dorado Mausoleum will be of cut stone. The interior will be of Vermont marble and bronze. The building will be heavily reinforced with concrete and steel, making it most permanent. The windows will be of art glass.

The basement will be large enough to contain a first-class heating plant and storeroom. The building will be electrically lighted and contain a chapel 22x44 feet.

Lewis Rose, Jr., who has handled the construction of more than a score of mausoleums, is in charge of construction. He is highly recommended for his ability by Mr. Saxton.

Frank E. Gartside will be in charge of the Saxton Company's office, which is at Rooom 16, Haines Building. Mr. Saxton will spend much of his time here.

In addition to building the Old Mission Cemetery at Wichita, the Saxton Company erected the beautiful mausoleum at Highland Cemetery. Those who have seen the buildings declare they are the equal of any in the country.

Most of the materials for the construction of the mausoleum will be purchased in El Dorado. An order has been placed with the Seth Frazier Lumber Company for 3,000 barrels of cement. A large quantity of lumber and other materials also have been purchased.
(El Dorado Times ~ 4 August 1922)

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WORK ON MAUSOLEUM IS BEING RUSHED

The open fall has made it possible for the G. A. Saxon Mausoleum Company to rush the construction of the mausoleum it is building at Belle Vista Cemetery. Mr. Saxon, who has headquarters at Wichita, was in El Dorado yesterday on business connected with the structure.

The concrete has been poured for three rows of crypts. Only two more rows remain to be completed. It is not likely, however, they will be completed before cold weather sets in.

Although there is much work to be done on the structure, it is hoped to have the mausoleum completed in every detail by next summer.
(El Dorado Times ~ Thursday ~ 30 November 1922)

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RECEIVE STONE FOR MAUSOLEUM

Two carloads of Bedford stone were received here yesterday for use in the construction of the Mausoleum, at Belle Vista Cemetery. This is the first shipment of new material for the building to be received here in several months. Work has been progressing on the mausoleum for about a year.
(El Dorado Times ~ Friday ~ 29 June 1923)

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MAUSOLEUM IS ABOUT FINISHED

The Belle Vista mausoleum is nearing completion, with the final setting of the heavy, polished marble in the family rooms and spacious chapel. Eighteen stained art glass windows are in place and a foundation for the walk in front and circular driveway is being laid. Shrubbery will soon be planted to add a final artistic touch to the substantial and elegant structure. The inscription work is being completed on the George A. Ramsey deluxe section, the Ray Frazier room and the Knox family room.

Two-thirds of the 400 crypts have been sold. The mausoleum is open for inspection Sunday afternoons.

Forty-eight carlods of material have been used in the building, including in part, 150 tons of marble, 718 tons of crushed stone, 843 tons of sand, 284 tons of cement, 30 tons of steel and 150 tons of cut stone.
(El Dorado Times ~ Saturday ~ 19 April 1924)

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NEW MAUSOLEUM NEARS COMPLETION

With installation of the heavy bronze swinging gates and doors and the final placing of all the marble slabs, the spendidly constructed Belle Vista mausoleum is nearing completion.

The ceiling is to be decorated a light pearl gray to harmonize with the marble and this work will be started next week. The plaster paris covering, used to protect the Tennessee marble floors, whie the workmen are in the building, is being removed and the immense bronze entrance doors are in place.

The building completed will be magnificent throughout. Art glass, polished marble, bronze lighting fixtures with frosted bults, pearl gray ceilings, inscriptions in gold, flowers, spacious chapel, private rooms, front cemetery walks, circular driveway and othe notable features are of the finest; the entire building is of marble, concrete, steel and Bedford stone. Fine wicker furniture, finished in deep gray, will be placed in the chapel.

The building is open for visitors on Sunday afternoons.
(El Dorado Times ~ 7 June 1924)