16 ^ 
PARK AND CEMETERY. 
THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF MODERN CREMATORIA * 
The fact that cremation, while showing a very slow 
growth, has passed beyond the stage of experiment 
and doubt, makes a study of its growth and progress 
an essential part of the education of the modern ceme- 
tery official. There are twenty-six crematories in 
operation in the United States, and this country an- 
nually furnishes a larger number of cremations than 
any other except France. The number of cemeteries 
that maintain crematories makes a study of their de- 
sign and construction of particular interest, and no 
more authoritative consideration of cremation or the 
construction of crematory structures has yet appeared 
than “Crematoria in Great Britain and Abroad,” a 
recent London book by Albert C. Freeman, an Eng- 
lish architect. 
The author has made a careful study of the sub- 
ject and presents a brief history of cremation, its 
growth, statistics of its practice, and plans and de- 
scriptions of many typical crematoria and columbaria 
in different countries. Many full-page plates and 
plans of English and American crematoria have been 
carefully prepared, and are discussed with the au- 
thority of an expert. 
There are 13 crematoria in Great Britain, 26 in the 
United States, four in France, nine in Germany, 27 
in Italy, four in Switzerland, two in Sweden and one 
in Denmark. Other countries which possess crema- 
toria are Japan, Canada and Australia; while one is 
also to be found at Buenos Ayres. 
The author finds that up to the end of 1903, 3,147 
cremations took place in Paris. Of other countries, 
the United States stands at the head, 3,16b crema- 
tions having taken place in 1902. In Germany there 
are 86 “Cremation Societies,” containing more than 
22,000 members, the number of cremations in 1903 
being 1,074. These figures are the more remarkable 
inasmuch as cremation is forbidden in Prussia, Sax- 
ony, Bavaria and Wortemberg. In Great Britain 
there were 566 cremations during 1904, as compared 
with 476 in 1903. 
The author’s design seen in one of the illustrations 
shows a crematorium with a hall, incinerating cham- 
ber, and vestry. In this case the incinerating cham- 
ber is planned with accommodation for only one fur- 
nace. Provision is made in the walls of the chapel 
for the reception of 150 urns; it not only adds to the 
beauty of the building, but is a source of income. 
There is generally a chapel or hall, having a super- 
ficial area of at least 1,200 ft., suitably arranged for 
holding funeral services. In a central positon ad- 
joining the incinerating chamber is placed the cata- 
falque, upon which the coffin rests during the service. 
The design in general use in this country is about 12 
♦Crematoria in Great Britain and Abroad,” by Albert C. 
Freeman. Price .^1.50. Orders may be sent to Park and Cem- 
etery. 
ft. long, 3 ft. 8 in. wide, and 4 ft. high. The opeiK 
ing in the wall of the incinerating chamber should be 
the full width of the catafalque and about 2 ft. 9 in. 
high ; it is fitted with a pair of iron doors, covered 
with curtains. It is also advisable to enclose with a 
drapery the portion of the incinerating chamber occu- 
pied by the carriage when waiting to receive the cof- 
fin. When the committal sentence is reached it passes 
noiselessly through curtains into an intermediate 
chamber, and the curtains fall behind the coffin, or it 
is lowered, as in an ordinary burial, into the vaults 
below, the attendant then placing it in the cremating 
chamber. In England the cremating chamber is 
DESIGN AND PLAN OF CREMATORIUM. 
By Albert C. Freeman. 
at no time visible to the mourners. Provision is also 
made for a waiting-room and a vestry; in some cases 
the two are combined. 
A system of electric intercommunication between 
the chapel and the incinerating chamber is necessary ' 
a bell-push .should be provided, either upon the clergv-’s 
desk or in the floor near the same. 
The incinerating chamber is placed at the rear of 
the chapel. Its area should be not less than yoG 
sq. feet, the minimum width 20 ft. and the minimum 
length 25 ft. The cremating chamber and furnace 
occupy a space of about 120 sq. ft. 
The author’s design for a columbarium shows a 
building with a large hall, having a gallery above. 
The walls are honeycombed, or lined with niches for 
the reception of urns. Branching from the main 
building are a series of wings, each constructed for 
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