Eugene Masonic Cemetery Association eNewsletter
Hope Abbey Mausoleum
 

In This Issue
Did You Know?
In recent months, two large upright concrete objects have appeared in the cemetery. Do you know what they're called? The answer is "steles" or "stelae."
 
A stele is an upright stone or concrete slab bearing an inscription and serving as a monument, very often for funerary or commemorative purposes, and widely used in ancient times.

As customs about interment are trending toward cremation, people want a place to memorialize a loved one even though a traditional gravestone may not be present. These stelae are specifically to display bronze plaques for that purpose.

HELP US CONTINUE RESTORING HISTORY

Consider making a contribution through PayPal, available on our website. When you click below, you'll be taken to the EMCA website, where you can access the PayPal donate button. Help us preserve this important part of Eugene's history. Thank you. 

 

 
Music To Die For
Wild Hog in the Woods
August 27th at 2 PM, Hope Abbey Mausoleum

The Hogs play kickin' stringband music to tap-a-toe or cut-a-rug to. Their eclectic blend of new and used sizzlers from a bygone era and beyond is filled with wit, wisdom and whimsy. No one leaves a Hog show without a chuckle, a grin, and a bit of new pep in their step. The fun and camaraderie is palpable and contagious.

Park on Potter or at the cemetery entrance at E 25th and University. Gates open  1pm   for those who need assistance getting to the Abbey. Great acoustics. Arrive early to get a seat as this is a free concert. 

Hope Abbey Floor Resurfacing
Hope Abbey Floor Restoration

As many of you know, Hope Abbey has been through some rough times in its past 100+ years, including times when the building was unsecured. Many bad things happened, such as shattered windows, ceiling light fixtures trashed, marble stolen or broken, and graffiti. The list goes on.
 
Since 1995, the Eugene Masonic Cemetery Association has had as a major goal the total restoration of the building. The first critical part of the project was to repair those unglamorous components of the structure required to protect it from outside forces. A new membrane roof, an extensive (and expensive) foundation drainage system to prevent water from entering at floor level during heavy rains, restoring the huge copper-clad doors, painting the exterior, and, of course, the restoration of all 82 stained glass windows, have all been accomplished. All this was possible thanks to several grants over the years, as well as generous donations from individuals like you.
 
With the exterior of the building in good shape, it was time to turn to the interior. A new electrical service was installed, water and sewer piped in for the lavatory, and for the first time in decades, we had functioning electric lights. Very generous funding from Masonic Lodge No. 11 has allowed us to replace broken or stolen marble. (There will be an article in the September issue of this eNewsletter with details on that project.)
 
One of the last "large" projects was the terrazzo floor. Over time, it had become stained with rust and other spilled materials. Such stains did not respond to normal removal attempts, so we concluded that a professional restoration was needed. Quotes for this ran literally into the thousands of dollars, so it has been on hold for years.
 
Last Memorial Day weekend, a visitor casually asked if he could make a donation to help with the mausoleum restoration project. We were stunned when the contribution amount was ample to cover the floor restoration! Very quickly, we obtained a satisfactory bid and work began. The photograph at the top shows a small part of the project, which took four workers over a week to accomplish.
 
When next you visit, do check out the surface you're walking on. I hope you appreciate how beautiful it looks.
Sincerely,
John Bredesen
eNewsletter Editor