$300K campaign launched to replace Shelby's historic mausoleum
A fundraising campaign with a goal of $300,000 was announced Tuesday by the Shelby Oakland Cemetery Association to fund a replacement of the more than century-old mausoleum.
"The Cemetery Association is looking to use the raised funds primarily to construct a new Mausoleum to replace the severely deteriorating structure that was originally built in 1907," officials announced via news release/letter.
"The association would like to raise enough money to try to replace the current structure, with a design similar to the historical nature of the original structure," the update stated. "If the fundraising drive falls short, a secondary plan is in place to develop the site with a decorative structure to cover the mausoleum to help preserve the historic building."
Approximately 200 bodies are entombed inside the current structure, the release notes. The crypts will be left in place while a new structure is built around the existing crypts, the statement said.
Other details, per the announcement:
-- If there are any funds left over after the reconstruction of the mausoleum, the funds will be used for maintenance expenses such as the paving of asphalt and upkeep of the grounds.
-- A local citizen, Joe Lykins, is set to begin the delicate dismantling of the outer encasing of the mausoleum starting in June.
Mr. Chuck Kilgore, accountant for the Oakland Cemetery Association, located at 47 East Main Street, Shelby, Ohio 44875, will be the point of collection for all donations, the release said.
"Please make any checks payable to the Oakland Cemetery, include a note on the memo line for the donations to go to the “Mausoleum Fundraiser” states the news release on behalf of the Oakland Cemetery Association Board of Trustees. The release lists three officials: John Ensman, vice president; Steve McLaughlin, secretary; and Brian Crum, treasurer.
The Oakland Cemetery Association is a 501(c)(13) and issued the statement to inform the local Shelby community of the fundraising drive.
The association met on May 7 and set a goal of $300,000 to be raised.
Earlier: Oakland Cemetery Mausoleum deterioration draws Shelby concerns
