4o8 
PARK AND CEMETERY. 
THE URI BALCOM MONUMENT, 
THE URI BALCOn MONUMENT, OAKWOODS CEME= 
TERY, CHICAGO. 
Of the many attractive memorials that have been 
erected in Oakwoods Cemetery, Chicago, during the 
past year probably none will command more atten- 
tion of the visitors to those beautiful grounds than 
the monument illustrated above. 
It is in memory of the late Mr. Uri Balcom, who 
for many years was a well-known citizen of Chicago, 
and it occupies a commanding site in one of the 
aristocratic sections of Oakwoods, surrounded by 
many costly examples of monumental art. 
Before Mr. Balcom’ s death he had quite an ex- 
pensive coping of Minnesota granite placed around 
the grounds of his residence, and so well pleased 
was he with the general effect of it that he deter- 
mined to have the same material used for his monu- 
ment, which in accordance with his will should mark 
his final resting place. 
The granite used for the upper sections and bases 
and capitals of the columns came from the Rockville 
quarries, Minnesota. It is of a dark reddish brown 
color, unevenly mottled and susceptible of an ex- 
ceadingly high polish. The columns are of a red- 
OAKWOODS CEMETERY, CHICAGO. 
dish colored Wisconsin granite that harmonizes with 
the Minnesota granite, and which like the balance 
of the monument are highly polished. 
The principal dimensions of the structure are not 
without interest, some of the sections being of un- 
common size. The first and second bases are cut 
together with joint running lengthwise; the bottom 
base is 1 7 ft. by 1 3 ft. 6 in. and with the second base is 
I foot thick; third base, 1 1 ft. 9 in. by 8 ft. 3 in. by 
6 in. The columns, ten in number, are i foot in 
diameter and 7 ft. 3 in. in height; column capitals, 
I ft. 6 in. by 7 in.; architrave, ii ft. 6 in. by 8 ft. 
by I ft. 4 in.; cornice, 12 ft. 6 in. by 9 ft. by 2 ft. 
3 in.; the entire height of the monument is 14 feet, 
and it weighs nearly seventy tons. The inscriptions 
are placed on the third base, over the vault. The 
family name in front and back of frieze and year at 
either end are cut in ten-inch V letters. The bodies 
of Mr. and Mrs. Balcom rest in a hermetically sealed 
vault, under the third base, and no other additions 
are to be made. 
The general appearance of the monument is very 
satisfactory. It was built by the J. H. Anderson 
Granite Company of Chicago. 
