Mount Hope Chapel, Norwich, Chenango Co., NY - 1890

Mount Hope Chapel

Chenango Union, January 23, 1890

Mount Hope Cemetery Chapel, Norwich, NY
findagrave.com (Bob Litts)

The Utica Saturday Globe of last week has a cut of the chapel recently erected in Mount Hope Cemetery in this village [Norwich, Chenango County, NY], by the Ladies' Improvement Society with the following sketch of the work furnished by the Norwich correspondent of that paper.

"Conspicuously and conveniently situated on the north side of the main drive leading through  Mount Hope Cemetery in this village is the chapel and receiving vault erected by the Ladies' Village Improvement Society of Norwich.  The substantial and slightly structure is another evidence that in matters of public improvement and advancement the ladies often lead the way. The building, the dimensions of which are 37x34 feet, is solidly constructed and when finished will be completely equipped. The walls are of rock faced Oxford blue stone to the height of the water table, and above are brick with window sills and caps of stone.  The steep pitched roof is covered with slate.  In the front gable, facing south, a single large stone bears the legend; 'Mount Hope chapel.' At the southeast corner a round turret rises several feet above the highest point of the roof and serving the double purpose of an ornament and a means of needed ventilation for the vault. In the base of the turret is set a block of stone on which are inscribed the words 'Erected by the Ladies' Village Improvement Society of Norwich, 1889.'  Entrance to the chapel is had by passing up two stone steps leading from a covered driveway on the east directly to the interior of the building, which is tastefully arched overhead and ceiled in Georgia pine finished in the wood.  Mellow light will be admired through rich stained glass windows. Each window will be a memorial and will be supplied by individual subscription.  Convenient communication with the vault below will be had by means of a drop platform which will descend into a broad passage running lengthwise of the building and lined on either side with three tiers of crypts for the reception of caskets. There are 45 of these crypts or cells, all properly fitted up. Every detail  of the work has been looked after with care by the contractors, Messrs. King and Brookins, and the structure will stand as a monument to their skill and workmanship as well as the public spirited enterprise of the ladies. The total cost of the building, when completed will exceed $5,000.  It was designed by T.J. Lacy, architect, of Binghamton."