When you drive into Mankato’s Glenwood Cemetery, you can’t help but notice the mausoleum. Located on your left as you make a right turn within the 25 acres of Mankato’s oldest cemetery, it’s easy to spot.
For most of its 112 years, the mausoleum has been even more prominent than the who’s who of Mankato’s elite who are buried there. More recently, its prominence has been based on deterioration and decay.
The Glenwood Cemetery Board of Directors is currently working to remedy that situation, engaged in a fundraising campaign very different than its usual operations.
Board member Amy Lencowski has a unique perspective of the mausoleum project. She lives just outside of the cemetery, and her backyard gives her a great view of the reinforced concrete structure that has seen better days.
Phase 1 of the planned three-phase project is complete, with American Masonry Restoration of Fridley already removing most of the vines that had enveloped the building that holds more than 80 burials, some going back more than 100 years.
Once cleared of vines, attention turned to concrete repairs. The project addressed vertical cracks by installing what’s called backer rod and sealant to prevent water infiltration and further degradation, according to Phase 1 specifications. That phase took a three-person crew two weeks, at a cost of $42,500.
“This process entails meticulously addressing damaged concrete sections, including cleaning rebar back to clean steel, replacing severely corroded rebar, and performing either form and pour or hand patch repairs depending on the size of the damaged area,” according to the proposal.
Letters went out to friends and supporters of the Glenwood Cemetery, and after the initial phase has been completed, Board members are expanding their fundraising efforts. The letter said in part, “The outside has developed significant vertical cracks, and the paint is peeling throughout.”
A GoFundMe campaign has been started to collect money for Phase 2 and 3, Lencowski said. It is hoped that Phase 2 can take place this spring. For more information or to donate, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/glenwood-mausoleum-repair-fundraiser?utm_campaign=p_cp+fundraiser-sidebar&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer
According to a newspaper article from June 16, 1910, Mankato was the first city in Minnesota to get visited by a representative from the National Mausoleum Company, located in Iowa. The 200 crypts were sold at a cost of $125 each. It was estimated that no repairs would be required for 75 to 100 years.
About 10 years after construction was completed in 1912, the mausoleum company went out of business and Glenwood Cemetery took ownership of the structure, Lencowski said. While the building is still basically sound, the repairs were deemed necessary to help prevent further deterioration.
Lencowski said the Board hopes people with an appreciation for the historical significance of the cemetery and mausoleum will consider a donation.