Friends of Miller Mausoleum
Donation protected
My Miller ancestors were early pioneers in Missouri coming from Kentucky in 1840. They finally settled in the Pittsville and Holden communities in Johnson County Missouri immediately after the Civil War. There they became farmers, merchants, and cattle ranchers among other things.
My great grandfather Joseph M. Miller had a life long goal based upon his religious conviction that people should be buried above ground. and his own queasy feelings about water intrusion into gravesites.
He spent most of his adult life making plans for a mausoleum outside the town of Holden. Begining in 1917, at age of 61, he began fulfilling that dream by building a two story concrete structure. His earnings from farming allowed him over approximately a ten year time frame to complete this unique architecture structure.
The family had a musuem on the upper floor back in the 1930's containing oil paintings, family heirlooms, and civil war artifacts which sadly have all been stolen or vandalized. The building has over the decades been broken into, the stained glass windows broken, and beer parties have been done with no respect for my entombed ancestors.
My plan is to preserve this building as a monument to the local pioneer heritage of Holden and as an example of one persons commitment to a life long goal resulting in this beautiful historical landmark.
My initial priorities for funds raised and matched with other fund sources and to preserve the building from further deterioration are as follows:
1) Install a roof membrane.
2) replace three doors wtih enhanced security
3) structural colomn repairs
4) repair exterior walls
5) a historical walkway around the building
I also want to establish a community park with an emphasis on saving a portion of the land as a wildlife preserve with educational programs for science classes. Also a commercial grade playground will be added at some time as well.
This is a very special place that is worth preserving for the enjoyment of the local community. For more information you can go to the facebook page "Friends of Miller Mausoleum." https://www.facebook.com/FriendsofMillerMausoleum/
My great grandfather Joseph M. Miller had a life long goal based upon his religious conviction that people should be buried above ground. and his own queasy feelings about water intrusion into gravesites.
He spent most of his adult life making plans for a mausoleum outside the town of Holden. Begining in 1917, at age of 61, he began fulfilling that dream by building a two story concrete structure. His earnings from farming allowed him over approximately a ten year time frame to complete this unique architecture structure.
The family had a musuem on the upper floor back in the 1930's containing oil paintings, family heirlooms, and civil war artifacts which sadly have all been stolen or vandalized. The building has over the decades been broken into, the stained glass windows broken, and beer parties have been done with no respect for my entombed ancestors.
My plan is to preserve this building as a monument to the local pioneer heritage of Holden and as an example of one persons commitment to a life long goal resulting in this beautiful historical landmark.
My initial priorities for funds raised and matched with other fund sources and to preserve the building from further deterioration are as follows:
1) Install a roof membrane.
2) replace three doors wtih enhanced security
3) structural colomn repairs
4) repair exterior walls
5) a historical walkway around the building
I also want to establish a community park with an emphasis on saving a portion of the land as a wildlife preserve with educational programs for science classes. Also a commercial grade playground will be added at some time as well.
This is a very special place that is worth preserving for the enjoyment of the local community. For more information you can go to the facebook page "Friends of Miller Mausoleum." https://www.facebook.com/FriendsofMillerMausoleum/
Organizer
Carl Cranfill
Organizer
Holden, MO