Amasa B. Watson Mausoleum - Grand Rapids, Michigan
Posted by: 
theHostas
N 42° 56.568 W 085° 39.127
16T E 609966 N 4755344
An Egyptian Revival Mausoleum in Grand Rapids
Waymark Code: WM13AAV
Location: Michigan, United States
Date Posted: 10/25/2020
Views: 1
The mausoleum is located in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This is the burial sight of A.B. Watson. He was a major in the Civil War and a prominent lumber baron. He died in his 50s suddenly on the way to the train station. The mausoleum is a recreation of an Egyptian temple called a Mastaba. Temples were smaller in pagan cultures because they were reserved for priests only, not the masses. The sphinxes are the only one of their kind in Michigan. Inside this mausoleum is a marble temple for reflection. The coffins were buried under the floor. The outside is made of granite (Barre granite from Vermont). The roof is the largest piece of granite in West Michigan. This structure [sic] (the roof) cost around $200,000 at the time it was produced in the early 1900s (1914). It would be worth ten times as much now (2010).
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A newspaper article about the mausoleum:
“The A.B. Watson mausoleum is one of the finest in Oak Hill cemetery. It was completed last summer at a cost of approximately $42,000 and is in the Egyptian type of architecture. The walls and roof are of Barry [sic] (Barre) granite and the interior is of imported Italian marble. The floor is inlaid and the receptacles, of which there are twenty-two, are underground. Two granite sphinxes guard the brass doors. With the placing of the body of Mrs. A.B. Watson in the mausoleum, the body of her husband, which has been in the receiving vault at Oak Hill, also will be placed there. Later it is probable the bodies of John A. and James Mead, adopted children, will be placed in the mausoleum. Before her death Mrs. Watson spoke of bringing the bodies of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John A. Brooks, from Newaygo and this probably will be done.”
Grand Rapids Herald June 16, 1915