The History of Fulton's Mt. Adnah Cemetery (page 2)
The Minute book reflects the founder's ongoing concern with improvements to the property. As early as 1854, a fence was deemed necessary "to protect the cemetery" from cattle wandering onto the property from nearby farms. Proper fencing was a constant concern as was the need for a formal gateway, first discussed in 1866. A succession of fences and gates culminated in the ornamental stone and cast iron entrance archway erected in 1894 and cast iron fencing built in 1899 and 1900. Other early improvements made in the 19th century included the superintendent's home built in 1872, and an adjacent barn and receiving vault constructed in 1877.
Through the efforts of the Mt. Adnah Preservation Foundation, Inc., the cast iron entrance archway that had deteriorated and had to be taken down, was replaced in 1999 with an archway closely resembling the original.
The most significant structure in the cemetery was the Case Memorial mortuary chapel built in 1909. It was donated by Eva Dale Case Lee, wife of Dr. Charles Rowe Lee, in honor of her late parents, Mr. and Mrs. George M. Case. Mr. Case was a Fulton native, who made a fortune contracting work on the canals and elsewhere, served in the State Assembly and eventually became president of the Citizen's National Bank of Fulton. He was also a trustee of the Mt. Adnah Cemetery Association from 1871 to 1897.
The prominent architectural firm of Cyrus K. Porter & Sons, specialists in designing church buildings at the time, designed the chapel. Built of Gouverneur granite, with a tile roof and copper lantern pinnacles and trim, the Gothic style building stood in the form of a Greek cross.
There were heavily carved, massive oak doors with ornate copper knobs and iron hinges and elaborate grill work that separated the vestibule from the chapel. The interior was detailed with a mosaic floor of Italian tile. The walls were of two shades of pressed brick and heavy oak woodwork. Eight stained glass windows, costing $100 each, lit the octagonal-shaped interior. Though the windows were reputed to be by the Tiffany Studios, in the 1990's, this was learned not to be true. An interesting feature was a device in front of the altar designed to hold the casket during the service and then lower it to the basement where it could be removed to the receiving vault just north of the basement exit.
The cost of the chapel was $15,000, and was said at the time to be the most expensive chapel of its size in the state. In the 1950's, the use of the chapel for funeral services was discontinued. Some 40 years later, the structure was in serious disrepair despite the statement at the 1910 chapel dedication, "it is not built for one or two generations, but to stand until the end of time." In 1966, the chapel's interior and exterior began to significantly deteriorate and declared too expensive to repair. Consequently, the chapel had to be taken down in 1999. The stones were sold with the intention of the buyer to re-build the building at another location.
One of the beautiful stained glass windows from the chapel was purchased by two of the Mt. Adnah Preservation Foundation directors, who had the window repaired. They then donated it to the Friends of History in Fulton, N.Y. Inc., where it is on permanent exhibit at the John Wells Pratt House Museum in Fulton, N.Y.
The Mt. Adnah Preservation Foundation, Inc. established a memorial garden on the site of the former Case Chapel and had a cement bench, which is the focal point of the garden, erected using the stone over the entrance of the Chapel for the back of the bench. A walkway at the site is being paved with memorial bricks.
Please CLICK HERE to read more.
Through the efforts of the Mt. Adnah Preservation Foundation, Inc., the cast iron entrance archway that had deteriorated and had to be taken down, was replaced in 1999 with an archway closely resembling the original.
The most significant structure in the cemetery was the Case Memorial mortuary chapel built in 1909. It was donated by Eva Dale Case Lee, wife of Dr. Charles Rowe Lee, in honor of her late parents, Mr. and Mrs. George M. Case. Mr. Case was a Fulton native, who made a fortune contracting work on the canals and elsewhere, served in the State Assembly and eventually became president of the Citizen's National Bank of Fulton. He was also a trustee of the Mt. Adnah Cemetery Association from 1871 to 1897.
The prominent architectural firm of Cyrus K. Porter & Sons, specialists in designing church buildings at the time, designed the chapel. Built of Gouverneur granite, with a tile roof and copper lantern pinnacles and trim, the Gothic style building stood in the form of a Greek cross.
There were heavily carved, massive oak doors with ornate copper knobs and iron hinges and elaborate grill work that separated the vestibule from the chapel. The interior was detailed with a mosaic floor of Italian tile. The walls were of two shades of pressed brick and heavy oak woodwork. Eight stained glass windows, costing $100 each, lit the octagonal-shaped interior. Though the windows were reputed to be by the Tiffany Studios, in the 1990's, this was learned not to be true. An interesting feature was a device in front of the altar designed to hold the casket during the service and then lower it to the basement where it could be removed to the receiving vault just north of the basement exit.
The cost of the chapel was $15,000, and was said at the time to be the most expensive chapel of its size in the state. In the 1950's, the use of the chapel for funeral services was discontinued. Some 40 years later, the structure was in serious disrepair despite the statement at the 1910 chapel dedication, "it is not built for one or two generations, but to stand until the end of time." In 1966, the chapel's interior and exterior began to significantly deteriorate and declared too expensive to repair. Consequently, the chapel had to be taken down in 1999. The stones were sold with the intention of the buyer to re-build the building at another location.
One of the beautiful stained glass windows from the chapel was purchased by two of the Mt. Adnah Preservation Foundation directors, who had the window repaired. They then donated it to the Friends of History in Fulton, N.Y. Inc., where it is on permanent exhibit at the John Wells Pratt House Museum in Fulton, N.Y.
The Mt. Adnah Preservation Foundation, Inc. established a memorial garden on the site of the former Case Chapel and had a cement bench, which is the focal point of the garden, erected using the stone over the entrance of the Chapel for the back of the bench. A walkway at the site is being paved with memorial bricks.
Please CLICK HERE to read more.