Memorial Mound: Difference between revisions
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The floor of the interior of the mound is eight feet below grade, accessed by a wide stairway flanked by fountains. To either side of the chapel area, steel racks were installed with space to stack caskets 8-high. Burial packages included an on-site funeral service, as well as a custom-made video about each person interred, accessible from a public computer terminal. | The floor of the interior of the mound is eight feet below grade, accessed by a wide stairway flanked by fountains. To either side of the chapel area, steel racks were installed with space to stack caskets 8-high. Burial packages included an on-site funeral service, as well as a custom-made video about each person interred, accessible from a public computer terminal. | ||
It is uncertain when the Memorial Mound closed for business and ceased to be maintained. No taxes were paid on the property after Booth's death in [[2009]], and the site was left abandoned. After photographs taken by "urban explorers" were publicized on [[al.com]] in early [[2015]] Bessemer officials took steps to secure the facility. All remains were removed to the [[Jefferson County Coroner's Office]] for protection while efforts were made to contact family members. Unclaimed bodies will likely be interred at the [[Jefferson County Cemetery]] near [[Morris]]. | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
* Robinson, Carol (January 14, 2015) "Ransacked caskets and neglect have turned dream to disgrace at Memorial Mound mausoleum." {{BN}} | * Robinson, Carol (January 14, 2015) "Ransacked caskets and neglect have turned dream to disgrace at Memorial Mound mausoleum." {{BN}} | ||
* Robinson, Carol (January 15, 2015) "Remains being removed from abandoned and ransacked Memorial Mound mausoleum." {{BN}} | |||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
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[[Category:1992 buildings]] | [[Category:1992 buildings]] | ||
[[Category:1992 establishments]] | [[Category:1992 establishments]] | ||
[[Category:2009 disestablishments]] | |||
Revision as of 13:26, 16 January 2015
Memorial Mound is a below-ground mausoleum constructed in 1992 by Claude Booth on a 16-acre site at 3500 Dartmouth Avenue in Bessemer.
The floor of the interior of the mound is eight feet below grade, accessed by a wide stairway flanked by fountains. To either side of the chapel area, steel racks were installed with space to stack caskets 8-high. Burial packages included an on-site funeral service, as well as a custom-made video about each person interred, accessible from a public computer terminal.
It is uncertain when the Memorial Mound closed for business and ceased to be maintained. No taxes were paid on the property after Booth's death in 2009, and the site was left abandoned. After photographs taken by "urban explorers" were publicized on al.com in early 2015 Bessemer officials took steps to secure the facility. All remains were removed to the Jefferson County Coroner's Office for protection while efforts were made to contact family members. Unclaimed bodies will likely be interred at the Jefferson County Cemetery near Morris.
References
- Robinson, Carol (January 14, 2015) "Ransacked caskets and neglect have turned dream to disgrace at Memorial Mound mausoleum." The Birmingham News
- Robinson, Carol (January 15, 2015) "Remains being removed from abandoned and ransacked Memorial Mound mausoleum." The Birmingham News
External links
- Memorial Mound photos on What's Left of Birmingham