Hi Christopher, May I please send this article on to my cemetery lists?
Thanks, Ruth
At 11:25 AM -0500 2/26/02, Met History wrote:
Real Estate Record & Guide, July 8, 1882: A Proposed Crematory
<<<In a great and populous city the question of what shall we do with our
dead is an important one.... A number of gentlemen ... had recently formed
... the United States Cremation Company with a capital of $50,000. They
propose to erect a handsome crematory on the Grand Boulevard [Broadway],
not far south of 105th Street [New York City - this was never built]...it
will be the first erected on this side of the Atlantic, excepting of course
the late Dr. Le Moyne's, at Washington, D. C., which is a strictly private
affair.
<<<The method now employed in cremating a body is a very simple one; the
body is wrapt in a winding sheet saturated with alum, placed in a crib in
the chapel, whence it descends by an elevator to the crematory chamber.
This by means of superheated air has been previsouly heated to a white
heat, at a temperature of 1,500 Fahrenheit. When opened to receive the
body the inrushing cold air cools this chamber to a delicate rose tint.
After remaining here for about an hour the body is compeltely decomposed,
nothing remaining but pure ashes (about 4% of the original weight) which
are taken out and placed in an urn. >>>
Real Estate Record & Guide, October 6, 1883:
A brief story describes Professor Felix Adler as among the backers of the
group, and refers to a pamphlet with: <<<a design of the facade of the
proposed crematory, which is by no means a good advertisement for the
undertaking.>>>
Christopher Gray
"Streetscapes" Columnist, Sunday Real Estate Section
The New York Times
office: 246 West 80th Street
New York City 10024
voice: 212-799-0520
fax: 212-799-0542
e: [log in to unmask]
--
Ruth Barton
[log in to unmask]
Westminster, VT
--
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