Will County's Historic Landmarks
Will County Rural Structure Surveys
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Historic Landmark Registry - Beecher Mausoleum |
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The Beecher Mausoleum was constructed in 1913 to house aboveground tombs for local residents. It was built in the Classical Revival style of architecture, typical of mausoleums constructed during the early part of the twentieth century. It is a cement-reinforced building with a Bedford stone exterior and white marble interior. The original stained glass windows have been replaced with glass block.
The Beecher Mausoleum project was initiated by Henry Theilman, a real estate investor and vice-president of the German American Land Company, and Arthur Struve, first president of the National Bank of Beecher. In 1912, they staged an elaborate campaign of newspaper articles to sell spaces in the proposed mausoleum. The builder agreed to start on the condition that 100 crypts be sold prior to construction. By December 1913, the Beecher Mausoleum was nearly complete with 210 crypts available to the Beecher community. Currently, work is underway on the mausoleum to restore it to "a building which for beauty, elegance, durability, strength and sacredness of purpose will be unsurpassed anywhere."-Henry Theilman, 1912.
The Beecher Mausoleum was designated a Will County Historic Landmark on March 19, 1999.
Historic Name: The Beecher Mausoleum
Common Name: The Beecher Mausoleum
Location: Washington Township
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