Permit me to take you on a little tour of a place most macabre yet strangely beckoning. This place was in the middle of the most normal neighborhood, across the street from Juneau High School. Yet it's imposing facade screams from another time and space or even dimension. This place, the Fairview Mausoleum, was the residence of 800 life challenged residents, who have since been relocated as the land became required for a fire station.
Well, actually the state puts it this way...
"That is precisely what occurred when the City of Milwaukee
was required to take over, manage, and care for the Fairview
Mausoleum. The Mausoleum was built in 1911-1912 and the City
had no involvement with it whatsoever until 1994. That year
the Mausoleum Association filed a petition with the Milwaukee
County Circuit Court to require the City to assume
responsibility for the Mausoleum's on-going management and care
pursuant to sec. 157.115(1)(b)2., Wis. Stats. At that point, the
Mausoleum had obviously not been properly managed or cared for,
for a period well in excess of five years, and the City,
accordingly, had no defenses of any kind to the petition. As a
result, the City was forced to take over the mausoleum and found
it necessary to relocate and re-inter hundreds of coffins and
urns at a cost in excess of $1.8 million to the City's
taxpayers."
There was a story that the land for quite the surrounding area was purchased by a mortition couple who built this grand facility. At that time the area was rural farm land. Then to grow a cemetary. Time marched on. There was a depression. There was a growing city. Little by little land was sold off until only the mausoleum property was left. Then came modern times and dead people don't pay rent so it became economically non-viable. Hence, the above paragraph reguarding its demise.
As a child, I had to walk past it on the way to school. It always was the subject of ghoulish speculation. On a lark I happened to drive past it in 1996 and noticed the city of Milwaukee controlled access to the property. Not knowing its status I called the number and found out the plans. Eager to make a photo-op of this memory before it finally disappears I inquire about gaining close access and taking pictures. Fortunately, they are planning an open house before the demolition and auctioning off items that could be sold and moved. They allowed me a shard, gratis, and many pictures as well. I captured these final moments of the death of the keeper of the dead.
Actually, I thought the structure had potential as a restaurant. Yes, a restaurant, as gothic spooky dining is actually becoming popular. No place on earth has this architecture. The place is probably crawling with ghosts and such and it's external disrepair enhanced the Transylvanian ambiance and charm. Inside would require major redecorating. Lots of crimsom velvet, leather, ironwork and medieval weapons. I'd call the place, "Steak in my Heart". Steak as the main faire, with a cute embalming bar, soup from a cauldron, Wolfsbane salad, and entertainment. Bring the kids! Everyday is halloween.
But alas, the city would have none of that. They already paid their price and had a plan. Later inspection proved the renovation would be too costly or impossible. Well at least I recorded its magnificence, and who knows? Someday this structure could be recreated for such an purpose. Only time will tell. Now come with me on the tour. First we will skirt the outside perimeter. Later we shall explore the inner sanctum. Click next to continue.
