A classically austere cube with some decorative trim, fine bronze doors, and a subtle shallow arch over the family name. The stained glass in the back is attractive.
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Steel Mausoleum, Homewood Cemetery
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Michael F. Maloney Mausoleum, Calvary Cemetery
Domed mausoleums are relatively rare in Pittsburgh. Here is one that Thomas Jefferson might have approved of—but the cross, which would not have been found in a Protestant mausoleum in this style, lets us know that Mr. Maloney was a good Catholic. If that was not enough of a clue, we have the artificial flowers.
Addendum: It seems this mausoleum was designed by the famous ecclesiastical architect John T. Comès.1
- Source: The Construction Record, December 9, 1911: “Architect J. T. Comes, 1005 Fifth avenue, is taking bids on erecting a one-story limestone mausoleum in Calvary cemetery for M. F. Maloney, to cost $15,000.” ↩︎
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Schuyler Mausoleum, Homewood Cemetery
A simple square rustic mausoleum with Doric columns and a good stained-glass window in the back.
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Friday Mausoleum, Calvary Cemetery
Everything seems a bit louder and more obvious in a Catholic cemetery. Here the name of the family is very large; the cross decorations are big (you would not find crosses at all on a Doric mausoleum in a Protestant cemetery), and even the cornices are fat and obvious. We should also mention artificial flowers even on the most expensive mausoleums, because nothing can discourage the faithful from leaving artificial flowers.
The shape of this particular mausoleum is interesting. The details are classical and the decorations are Christian, but the shape is much more like the shape of the Egyptian temples Masons liked to build for themselves. We almost never find the Egyptian style in a Catholic cemetery, but we find echoes of it in the forms of some mausoleums.
Statues of Hope (with anchor) and Faith (with book) guard the entrance. Faith has grown a good crop of shield lichens.
Obviously old Pa Pitt likes this mausoleum. He took quite a few more pictures, but most of them are variations on the same themes. These should be just about enough to convey a good impression of the style and decorations.
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Fleming Mausoleum, Allegheny Cemetery
Almost certainly modeled after the Temple of Hephaestus in Athens, this is about as archaeologically correct as Doric architecture gets in Pittsburgh. It is one of the few peripteral mausoleum designs you will find in Pittsburgh cemeteries, peripteral meaning that it has columns on all sides.
