News: MEYERS-KURTZ Mausoleum, December 21, 1912, York County, PA

Contributed and transcribed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

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MEYERS-KURTZ MAUSOLEUM

Fine Granite Tomb Now Completed in Mt. Olivet Cemetery

There now stands completed, on the brow of the hill, to the extreme left in Mt. 
Olivet cemetery, the mausoleum of the Meyers-Kurtz families, which is the first 
family tomb in Hanover’s beautiful burial ground.

This structure only recently finished, cost approximately $10,000 and is one of 
the most striking and handsome tombs to be found in any cemetery, anywhere.  It 
is constructed of Barre, Vermont granite.  The base is 19 x 12½ feet, and the 
total height 44½ feet.  There are three steps leading to the structure proper, 
in the front of which, on each side, are two massive columns.  On the  lintel 
over the door is the date “1912,” and above the gable corners is the hyphenated 
family name – ‘MEYERS-KURTZ,” in bold raised letters.

The roof is constructed of three mammoth pieces, two of the stone weighing ten 
tons each.  Bronze doors with open grille and hinge, plate-glass windows, are 
placed at the entrance to the tomb.

The interior is constructed of highly polished Italian marble.  It contains 
eight crypts, four on each side, with a corridor through the centre, at the end 
of which is an art glass window of beautiful design.  The floor is of granite.

The mausoleum was started in May on the family lot, the bodies thereon having 
been disinterred by superintendent George Zinn, who also directed the work of 
placing the caskets in the crypts of the new tomb when completed.

The crypts of the Myers (sic) family contain the following bodies:

Henry Meyers, born February 15, 1796; died February 2, 1881, and wife Catherine, 
born April 7, 1798, died June 27, 1875.

Amanda C. Meyers, wife of James B. Jamison, born May 11, 1833, died September 9, 
1893.

Amelia E. Meyers, born December 7, 1826, died Dec. 27, 1906.

Mary Augusta Kurtz, born February 4, 1877, died March 9, 1906.

Sarah M. Meyers, born February 7, 1829, died March 20, 1834.

Edward W. Meyers, born March 3, 183?, died September 13, 1832.

Henry L. Meyers, born March 27, 1840, died December 31, 1841.

Only one crypt on the Kurtz side of the mausoleum is sealed.  It contains the 
body of Henry Meyers Kurtz, enclosed in a solid bronze casket weighing 600 
pounds.  Mr. Kurtz was born in Hanover April 4, 1864, and died in Reading March 
30, 1911.  This family tomb was provided for in the will of Mr. Kurtz, who at 
his death left a large estate.

The mausoleum was erected in accordance with the provisions of the will, under 
the direction of his brother, Charles L. Kurtz, executor of the estate.  The 
builders were P. F. Eisenbrown Sons & Co., of Reading, one of the largest and 
best known firms of marble cutters in the state.  The erection was under the 
personal supervision of George F. Eisenbrown, active head of the firm.  The 
inspector of the work was C. L. Torrence, of Clearfield, Pa., employed by the 
executor.

The mausoleum stands near the Bittinger-Forney Memorial Chapel, now in course of 
erection in Mt. Olivet, through the liberality of Miss Lucy Forney Bittinger, of 
Sewickley.  Both memorials are gifts from children of families, the members of 
whom were among the oldest and most highly respected of the town’s inhabitants, 
since its founding.

Doubtless other family tombs will grace Mt. Olivet in the years to come.

The Hanover Herald – Saturday, December 21, 1912