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History of the Mausoleum at Riverview Cemetery

The following history was researched and documented by Henry Van Haren.

The construction of the Riverview Cemetery Mausoleum proved to be a test of the town councils patience and determination as the project was plagued by financial problems and construction delays which threatened the completion of the entire project. Shortly after construction began, money was stolen by the president of the Interprovincial Mausoleum Company (IMC) a Major J. L. Langley, who was in Wallaceburg to oversee and manage the construction. This left the company on the brink of liquidation and unable to continue with the project with-out the help from Town Council and the crypt owners. The IMC under new management held meetings with council to find a solution that would see the Mausoleum completed.

This process continued on and off for the next 13 years with the work halted completely for several years during this time. The following information is a timeline put together from articles found in The Wallaceburg News from the 1929 groundbreaking until final completion in 1942 (building) and 1943 (landscaping).

The first internment took place in 1943 with either Margo Lacey or Margot Lucy Karisk. I have been unable so far to confirm the first internment due to lack of information on the latter.

Information is taken from articles in The Wallaceburg News. Date of article is listed at left with page # in brackets. Title of article is written in bold and italic. Full articles can be viewed at the Wallaceburg Library in their microfiche collection.

8/8/1929 Turn First Sod For New Mausoleum. Work to be done by Interprovincial Mausoleum Company. To be ready for entombments by 12/1/1929 but not completed until 5/1/1930, Building will be 35’ x 55’ and contained space for 138 crypts of which 100 have already been subscribed for.

8/15/1929 Turn First Sod For The New Mausoleum. Picture showing sod turning with Mayor Capt. C. S. Stonehouse, Chairman of Cemetery A.J.Delorme and Major J. L. Langley, President of Interprovincial Mausoleum Co (IMC). Along with others.

9/18/1930 (2) Mausoleum Company in Difficulties. Ex-president of Interprovincial Mausoleum Co. stole over $12,000 of which only $2250 was recovered. New president Mr. Babcock speaks at council meeting to discuss situation and options.

9/18/1930 (4) Mausoleum Difficulties Were Straightened Out. Agreement reached between crypt owners, town council and IMC. Erection of Mausoleum to be completed with-in the next few weeks.

9/25/1930 (4) Mausoleum Question Not Yet Settled. Money not yet received from lender and Crypt owners had some concerns.

9/25/1930 (7) Mausoleum Solution Reached. Informal meeting to hash out details of financial obligations concerning Mausoleum.

10/2/1930 (7) Mausoleum Situation Baffles Councillors. Other financial arrangements need to be hammered out to prevent IMC from being forced into liquidation.

12/4/1930 (10) Council, The Mausoleum. Mausoleum troubles have been ironed out and work to resume immediately.

8/3/1933 (6) Mausoleum President Makes Statement. Mr. Babcock , president of IMC, has been in town making final arrangements to re-start and complete mausoleum project.

10/11/1934 (3) Mayor Will Not Allow Rate-Payers To Be Burdened With Any Expense For Completing Of Mausoleum. Meeting of council and interested parties concerning a $6000 lien on Mausoleum by Kent Tile and Marble Co. Of Hamilton.

10/11/1934 (4) Council Would Endorse Selling Campaign If Time Afforded For Payment Of Completion Of Mausoleum. More discussions to try to resolve the financial difficulties so work can proceed on the completion of the Mausoleum.

10/8/1942 Town Council. Mausoleum should be completed in 2-3 weeks.

11/5/1942 Mausoleum Near Completion. Project was re-started about 3 months ago, beautification work was sub-let to Bert Crothers. Remainder of beautification to be completed next spring. Special report at next council meeting.

7/1/1943 Three Year Old Girl Drowned. Margot Lacey dies and is interred in Mausoleum

7/8/1943 Decoration Day. Mausoleum opened up for viewing

10/7/1943 Town Council. Mausoleum work including landscaping now complete. Thank–you’s to Lou Babcock and his associates for fulfilling their obligations.

This is not a complete list of articles that may appear in the Wallaceburg News but only the ones I have come across. I will add more to this if I am able to find additional articles.

Researched and written by

Henry Van Haren