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"Neighbors from the Past" Grand Rapids Humanities Council program INTRODUCTION LOWE MAUSOLEUM: on E axis of cemetery, c. 1920? 6 vaults (2 uninscribed), oldest burial dated 1928, more outside N vaults, top to bottom: ·Barbara Lowe Fallas(1893-1979) - daughter ·uninscribed ·Susan Blodgett Lowe (1865-1931) - the mother ·James Rowland Lowe (1904-1969) - son Back wall: plaques for Richard Johnson Lowe(d.1937 at sea), Edward Lowe Jr. (d. 1951), who spent most of life supervising family interests in San Francisco • Edward a grandson of Butterworth, apprenticed at family foundry, which built pumping machinery for first G. R. Water Works. • married former Susan Blodgett in 1888 (alleged dowry of $1 M), left iron business in 1892 for lumber (Blodgett’s businessw/ large holdings in Cadillac area as well as West and South) • lived in Victorian brick home at 103 College SE(at Washington); in 1905 built 22 room Tudor manor house "Holmdene" (now Aquinas College mansion, where he planted more than 1000 trees of various kinds); also homes in CA and often in Europe • founder of Kent Country Club, first golf course in west MI • a director of Old National Bank, later of Old Kent, and of Michigan Trust Co. • Edward + Susan were generous philanthropists to St. Mark’s Episcopal, Salvation Army’s Evangeline Home, Blodgett Hospital; also the major donors for new Butterworth Hospital in 1911 (they gave the whole block of property and another $500K in 1921); Edward long-time president of Butterworth’s board • donated large memorial "resurrection window" at First Methodist in memory of parents, who had been members there. • died with an estate of 6.5M, largest then recorded in Kent Co. (obit) • grandchildren included Susan B and James Rowland Lowe Jr. of G. R. Susan Blodgett Lowe (1865-1931) - age66 • wife of Edward, daughter of Delos A. Blodgett the lumber baron (1825- ) • 3 children: Edward Jr. (b. 1890), Barbara (b. 1893,Mrs. Charles Henry Fallas of NY), James Rowland Lowe (b. 1904) • on Butterworth Hosp. Women’s Board, major
benefactor of • Buried outside: Elizabeth Ives Lowe (d.1992)
• Doric distyle in antis (cf. Athenian Treasury at Delphi), granite, facing W, no date • 3 steps, 2 wreaths in frieze (no triglyphs), windows with meanders; inscribed LOWE • sculpture on table within: putto with bird WATERS MAUSOLEUM:on S axis of cemetery, c. 1910? 20 vaults (5 uninscribed), oldest death dated 1894,more outside; 3 Hills (Florence’s family) relocated to Rome, GA in 1939 East side: (10 vaults): ·Dudley Hills ("Tom") Waters (1899-1970) - 3rd gen., son of Dudley & Florence ·Mary Hills Waters (1895-1902) • 3rd gen., age 7, daughter of Dudley & Florence ·Dudley Elijah Waters (1862-1931) • 2nd generation, son of patriarch ·Florence Hills Waters (1867-1956) • 2nd generation, Dudley’s wife · top right: 2 vaults uninscribed ·Mary Leffingwell Waters (1840-1919) • the matriarch ·Daniel Howard Waters (1834-1894) • the patriarch ·William Howard Waters (1860-1862) • 2nd generation, died at age 2 ·Morris Cassard (1924 -1980) • 4th generation, son of Morris Jr. & Therese ·Therese Cassard (1896 - 1983) • 3rd gen., wife of Morris Jr. ·Morris Cassard Jr. (1894-1968) • 3rd gen., son of Morris & Anna ·top right: 1 vault uninscribed ·Therese J. D. Cassard (1922-1924) • 4th gen., died at age 2 ·Daniel Waters Cassard (1894-1918) • 3rd gen. war hero, son of Morris & Anna ·Anna Waters Cassard (1864-1939) • 2nd generation, daughter of patriarch ·Morris Cassard (1862-1955) • 2nd gen., husband of Anna • arrived in 1856 from West Falls,NY, opened provision business, then Michigna Barrel Co. (held patent for wood bending machinee), later acquired vast pine forests in northern MI and land downtown where Waters Bldg stands. Contractor for excavation of much of Prospect Hill and grading of downtown streets. • brother of Elijah Dudley Waters (1830-1868),a major in Civil War, then partner in business • a trustee of the Old National Bank (with Solomon Withey) and founding trustee of MI Trust (with Lewis H. Withey and Julius Houseman) and Peninsular Club; member of St. Mark’s Episcopal • lived in 30-room mansion at 36 College SE, built in 1852 and demolished 100+ yrs. later for Waters Apts.; housed3 generations of Waters family
• Came to
G. R. with $1200, left an estate of $1 M. • son of Daniel Howard,
husband of Florence Hills Waters (1867-1956), of Rome GA • built Waters Building (161 Ottawa) in 1898 as furniture exhibition building; raised in a record 180 days with prefabricated iron columns and steel beams (one of the first of this kind); then called Klingman Furniture Exhibition Building; Waters Corp. still there (run by David and Richard Cassard). • one of largest owners of real estate in G. R., president of a lumber company, a director of the telephone company, of Pere Marquette RR, of a govt munitions factory during WW I, a major promoter of Pantlind Hotel, owner of a cattle farm; a Democrat. • benefactor of Fountain St. Church,
G. R. Art Museum (instrumental in purchase of first major collection of 75 paintings);
donated Mary Waters Field (first neighborhood playground in G. R., in NE
Coldbrook district) in 1903 in memory of daughter. • daughter of Daniel Howard, sister of Dudley Elijah, wife of Morris Cassard • mother of Morris Cassard, Jr. and Daniel Waters Cassard Morris Cassard (1862-1955) • husband of Anna Waters Cassard, father of Morris Cassard, Jr. and Daniel Waters Cassard Dudley Hills ("Tom") Waters(1899-1970) • only son of Dudley Elijah & Florence, brother of Mary Hills Waters (died at age 7) • prominent banker, flew plane to 3000 ft. in 1917 Daniel Waters Cassard(1894-1918) • son of Morris & Anna Waters Cassard, killed in France after enlisting in Canadian AF • twin brother of Morris Cassard, Jr.? • first airport named for him and D. W. Cassard American Legion post Morris Cassard, Jr. (1894-1968) • son of Morris & Anna Waters Cassard, husband of Therese Cassard (1896-1983, of France) • father of Morris Cassard (1924-1980) and David Cassard (1932-1985) Buried outside: David Cassard(1932-1985) • their sons David Morris Cassard (b. 1953) and Richard Cassard (b.1954) now own Waters Bldg. and operate Waters Corp. • 3 steps with recessed lower margin, columns with entasis, corner volutes angled, blank frieze above 3-band architrave, inscribed WATERS CASSARD SCHWARZ; no date WITHEY MAUSOLEUM:on W axis of cemetery, faces E, dated 1911 [credit Sam Glass + Jessica Yarch] • 8 vaults, oldest burial that of Solomon, moved in 1913 from elsewhere in cemetery S side, top to bottom: ·Elizabeth Close Withey (1905-88) - wife of Lewis II ·Solomon Lewis Withey (1820-1886) - the patriarch ·Marian Louise Withey (1829-1912) - the matriarch ·Maude Withey Robinson(1873-1955) - 3rd gen.?, daughter of Lewis & Margaret ? ·Lewis Hinsdill Withey (1847-1925) 2nd gen., son of Solomon & Marian ·Margaret
Boyd Withey (1851-1936) - 2nd gen., wife of Lewis • arrived 1838 from St. Albans,VT. His grandfather Silas McWithey a veteran of the Revolutionary War; his father Solomon Sr. the second landlord of Bridge St. House (1841), a sheriff in 1842, active in mail and stage business to Battle Creek, also in brick business, a general in the MI militia, lived at Ottawa and Coldbrook until moving to Ada, where he died at age 74; the "Withey block" 3 stories high in brick, built on corner of Canal and Lyon? • Solomon the youngest of 6 children to his father’s first wife • married Marian (Hinsdill) Withey; lived on NE corner of Fountain & Division (installed first bathtub in MI) • father of 5, including Eleanor Withey Willard, Louis Hinsdill Withey, Charles S. Withey, Chester Withey (of LA) • first a teacher, then lawyer (partner of John Ball); one of ten members of bar in 1843, probate judge 1848-52, state senator1861-3 (Rep), director and president of Old (1st) National Bank for many years (with Daniel H. Waters) • Lincoln appointed as first US district judge for W district of MI (1863-1886); declined Garfield’s offer of appointment to Circuit Ct. of Appeals in 1869 • briefly editor of The Enquirer (G. R.'s first newspaper); a charter member of First (Park) Congregational church); president of G. R. Women’s Suffrage Movement (org. 1874) • died at age 66 in San Diego. (Gathered,24;Sampler 66 w/ photo; Baxter quote) • came to G. R. from Hinesburgh, VT at age 4 in 1833;her brother Henry only the second white child born in G. R.; Myron and Emily’s "Hinsdill House" the original meeting place of First (Park) Congregational (Marian the last surviving charter member of 16); later hotel renamed "The National" (replaced after fires in 1855 and 1872 by Morton House, 55 Ionia); father Myron died at age 39 in 1838, his stone in Fulton Cem. one of oldest in GR. • involved in relief work from 1842 on; founded Society for the Care of the Sick and Destitute in 1846; led war relief activity in city thru out the Civil War; hospital work at Army Hospital (Lyon + College); helped start Union Benevolent Association that later became Blodgett Hospital; on its board for 20 yrs.; founded training school for nurses in 1886 after consulting Florence Nightingale in London (Blodgett School of Nursing endured for 101 yrs, Marian L. Withey Residence for Nurses at Blodgett named for her portrait??). • G. R.’s leading philanthropist in fundraising for Park Cong. bldg with Tiffany windows • helped start first public library (1858), Soldier’s Aid Society (1861), Ladies Literary Club (1872)+ (Gathered, 21 w/photo; 280n.9 re her surviving journal) • nominated for Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame; the "mother of women’s clubs" in G. R. • at death (at her home at the Elmwood on Cherry St.) the oldest continuous resident of G. R. • Barbara Howlett her great granddaughter (3604 E. Fulton) • son of Solomon and Marian Withey, husband of Margaret Boyd Withey (1851-1936) • founding trustee of MI Trust Co., the first in MI, (with Daniel H. Waters and Julius Houseman); president of Michigan Trust from its foundation in 1889 til 1923, two years before death; located in G. R.’s first "skyscraper," 10 stories at Ottawa and Pearl • also a major stockholder in 4th National Bank, owner of saw mill, president of G. R. Boom Co. (which controlled all logs in the river), a founder of the Peninsular Club; Lewis H. Withey II (1904-1987) • son of Lewis H. Withey??, husband of Elizabeth Close Withey (1905-88) • on S & N facades, much like the Waters mausoleum: tetrastyle prostyle w/ pediments • on E & W facades, Ionic distyle in antis with balustrade above • 20 flutes on cols, angle volutes on NS faces, facing E, 3 steps, 21.5 x 21.7 x 15 ft, grey granite, 8 crypts CONCLUSION: Why would good Methodists, Episcopalians, and even Congregationalists in the Puritan tradition build their tombs in the style of pagan temples? 1. Classical revival style was very popular: (Greek Independence: 1825) Greek revival architecture was a national movement in 1840’s-50’s, expressing high optimism about the new Republic as "Athens reborn." Public buildings in the late 19th and early 20th centuries were often built in the classical revival style. In Grand Rapids, some of our finest early buildings are in the Greek or Classical Revival styles: e.g. Calkins Law Office (now at 235 State SE, 1836), the Pike House (230 E. Fulton, 1845), Samuel Sanford House (540 Cherry SE, 1847), St. Cecilia Music Hall (24 Ransom NE, 1894), GR Mutual Federal Savings + Loan (205Monroe NW, 1895), Ryerson Library (111 Library NE, 1904), the Federal Building (now Art Museum, 148 Ionia NW, 1909), Masonic Temple (233 E. Fulton, 1915),Mackay Tower (146 Monroe Ctr., first four stories 1916), and People’s Building (GR Savings Bank, 66 Monroe Ctr., 1916). Even the old Dutch Reformed Pillar Church in Holland (1856) resembles a Greek temple. The classical revival in US architecture had its roots in the great monuments of Washington, D.C. It was an eclectic style which connoted elegance, harmony, proportion, stability, permanence, and grandeur. The movement was further stimulated by the World Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893 (the Field Museum, Aquarium, Museum of Science and Industry), and by rise of Mediterranean archeology in the late 19th century. In cemetery architecture neo-classical designs were also inspired by a wave of lavish memorials after the death of Victoria’s Prince Albert (1861). The temple form suggested both a beautiful dwelling place and immortality, expressed with a deliberate emotional restraint. Replicas of the Parthenon and many other ancient buildings begin appearing in American cemeteries in the late 19th century and continue until the Great Depression. Many of these monuments were designed by the finest architects of the age and executed by skilled artists and stonecutters, often of European birth. The pagan associations of these designs were clearly not the primary factors in the minds of those who commissioned mausolea of this kind. 2. Visually impressive symbols of status and refined artistic taste: Secondly, these monuments were certainly expressive of social and economic status and refined artistic taste. They were designed by the finest architects (McKim, Mead & White of New York did more than 40 neoclassical mausolea between 1879-1919 • Keister, 40); they used only the most costly materials; and they were certainly intended to make an enduring display of the family’s prestige. The costs were extravagant• allegedly $500K for the neo-Egyptian tomb of A. B. Watson • because the stone was often imported from distant quarries (VT granite, Georgia marble, etc.), the stone carvers were skilled craftsmen, often Italians, who were rare and commanded high wages; and the tombs were often adorned with sculpture, stained glass, and other extravagant adornment. These were in part monuments to rising capitalism, buildings which marked the local economic aristocracy and brought into small towns like Grand Rapids the finest traditions of European and East Coast sophistication. It is no accident that this trend coincides throughout the country with rise of great industrialists and "robber barons;" and it ends with the Great Depression. 3. Associated with progressive views on death: Finally, these elegant mausolea fit into a national movement of designing park-like suburban cemeteries with curving paths, scenic terrain, beautiful plantings, benches for relaxation, and aesthetic refinement in the monuments. Instead of the grim and crowded atmosphere of older churchyards or tiny urban cemeteries, these are intentionally spacious and beautiful places which reflect a new, somewhat romantic view of death as a passage toward hope and the transcendent. An advertisement for the new Graceland Mausoleum published in the Grand Rapids Herald (9/7/24) captures the spirit of this progressive view: "It is a comforting thought, as far as consolation is possible, to know that one has done all he can to make the last abode of those who have gone before beautiful and soothing to the eye of the living who come there to reverence their memory. ...Mausoleum entombment is in keeping with the progress of the times; other methods belong to bygone ages. ... You have the choice of just two things: one typifying death in darkness; death in the depths; looking down, always down, into the wet grave. The other typifying death in light; death in sunshine and brightness; death in the hope of the resurrection." The monuments of Oakhill Cemetery tell important stories about the early families of Grand Rapids, while they also link us with the ancient heritage of Egypt, Greece, and Rome. This is one of the most diverse and interesting neighborhoods in our city, for here lie our "neighbors from the past." We have considered the stories of three families memorialized in the Lowe, Waters, and Withey mausolea. There are thousands more whose stories could be added. SLIDES:
Bibliography:
Bibliography: Neoclassical Architecture: Virginia + Lee McAlester, Great American
Houses and their Architectural Styles, Abeevilee Press, NY: 1994. NA 7205M36 1994 Appendix 1 • History of G. R. and its Cemeteries: • Campau arrived 1826, village incorporated 1838,city 1850 Cemeteries: • Fulton St. Cemetery older,12.5 acres, est. 1838,w/ grave of John Ball and oldest stone in
G. R. (Andrew Haldane, 1838) Oakhill Cemetery: • land purchased 1853 near SE corner of city (Hall-Fullerin 1857), high + rolling ground; cemetery dedicated + platted in 1859,private until 1885 Other mausolea/neoclassical tombs in Oakhill: Friant Mausoleum: (pre1927)
• acanthus on doors, rusticated masonry, pedimented • Jennie E.
Houseman (1839-1891) • David M. Amberg (1848-1939) - married Julius’ only daughter, president of G. R. Fire Insurance Co. • Melvin H. Amberg (1827-1887) • Hattie H. Amberg (1859-1946) • bottom (l. to r.): • David Amberg (ashes, 1992) [Julius Houseman Amberg (1890-1951) - grandson of Julius, Harvard Law, brilliant lawyer, served Sec. of War in WW I and II, leading figure in Temple Emanuel and major philanthropist in GR.] • unfluted Doric distyle in antis on E, wreathed1909 in pediment, 3 steps on front • N side (top to bottom): • S side (top to bottom): Wilcox-Hill tombs (S cemetery, c. 1900) Triglyph-rosette frieze, Roman altar (cf. Scipio sarcophagus in Vatican) • central monument with 14 surrounding graves: Gladys Wilcox (d. 1893), Fredrick Wilcox (1912), Harvey Hill (1917), Sarah Hill (1923), Robert Perkins (1929), Robert Wilcox (1935), Sanford Wilcox(1945), Anna Flarity (1945), Caroline Hill Wilcox (1947), Louse Wilcox(1961), Gertrude Wilcox (1970), Grius Perkins (1978), Marian Wilcox Perkins(1992), Ferd Perkins (1994)Wolf tomb -Doric sundial (date?) Musselman tomb (date?)- triglyph-rosettefrieze, Roman altar, crosses on sides Jordan Cawthra tomb (date?) - triglyph-rosettefrieze, no altar, scripture on reverse Keeney tomb (date?) - triglyph-metopefrieze only Other mausolea/neoclassical tombs in WoodlawnCemetery (Protestant side E of Kalam.): William Alden Smith Mausoleum (Woodlawn Cem):(1932) • fluted Doric tetrastyle prostyle, facing W, 3 stepson front, inscribed in frieze • Nanna Smith (d. 1936) • Frank Jewell (d. 1940) • Jennie Jewell (d. 1950) • ashes of Edward Alden Jewell (nd) Ernest Albert Stowe Mausoleum (Woodlawn Cem.): (1938) • architecture: fluted Tuscan distyle in antis, 2steps; a publisher Appendix 2 • NEOCLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE: A. Historical Background 1.Classical Architecture from antiquity to the RenaissanceB. Washington, D.C.: the "Birth of American Architecture" 1. The city plan (1791, Pierre Charles L’Enfant) a. White House (1792 - 1820, James Hoban)-Ionic (cf. Erechtheion) C. The IDEAS behind the style:e. Jefferson Memorial (1939-43, John Russell Pope) 1. the classical ideals of the new Republic: liberty, justice, lawD. The Classical Architectural Tradition in Grand Rapids 1844 - Pike house (230 E. Fulton) fluted Doric tetrastyle, Doric porches, one story (columns from earlier hotel at Port Sheldon) 1844 - Hatch House (445 Cherry SE) 1847 -Samuel Sanford House (540 Cherry SE - Community Counselling), fluted Doric tetrastyle, 2-story, built by G. R.’s first pharmacist; rebuilt on orig. plans after 1891 fire; 17 rooms, each w/ fireplace 1856 - cf. Pillar Church, Holland 1894 - St. Cecilia Music Hall (24 Ransom NE) 1895 - G. R. Mutual Federal Savings + Loan (205 MonroeNW) 1904 - Ryerson Library (111 Library NE) 1909 - U.S. Post Office / Federal Building (now Art Museum, 148 Ionia NW) 1915 - Masonic Temple (233 E. Fulton) 1916 - Mackay Tower (146 Monroe Ctr., first four stories) 1916 - People’s Building (GR Savings Bank, 66
Monroe Ctr.) c.1910 - Waters mausoleum (Oakhill Cem., cf. Temple of Athena Nike) 1911 - Withey mausoleum (Oakhill Cem., Nike Templew/ Renaissance details) c.1920 - Lowe mausoleum (Oakhill Cem., cf. Athenian Treasury at Delphi) 1924 - Graceland Mausoleum (4341 Cascade Rd. SE, cf. Parthenon
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