In 1950 Margaret Fess for the Buffalo News, wrote an article “Of Area Art Treasures” . In the article was listed The Ballou Mausoleum located in Section C, Lot 68 of Cold Springs Cemetery. According to Phillip and James Knobloch, experts in monument design and construction and contracted to replace a portion of the roof in 1950, stated that this mausoleum is “probably the oldest mausoleum in this country” (with their findings at that time) “is Ballou located in Cold Springs Cemetery in Lockport, New York.” It was definitely the oldest one they had worked on. The exact age was not known but believed to be in the 1830’s, early 1840’s. He compared this mausoleum to ones in Forest Lawn as being primitive with construction they had never seen before. They were the first in years to enter the mausoleum because they need to review if the roof could hold the heavy shingles they were to replace and this is what they found: They needed to break the stone door and open the interior door with a crow bar. Inside were stone slabs that held three “old fashioned” steel caskets. “The interior walls, instead of being of marble or granite, were plastered. In spite of the condition of the roof, there was not a crack in the plaster! “ The walls are two-foot stone that are lined with non-vitreous brick. These brick absorb the moisture and had been laid in a way to give natural ventilation. The exterior is Lockport Dolmite quarried at the Carpenter Quarry and was cut on site. The foundation extended 12 feet in all directions. Amazed at this, Mr. Knobloch stated “the walls are still absolutely plumb.” After Knoblock’s work was finished the Mausoleum was resealed and I believe nobody has been inside since 1950. According to the James Cooper Architecture firm it’s a neoclassical mausoleum with Greek precedent. Who is in there you ask…?
The top casket has a brass plaque that says: "Rest in Peace". – There is no name on the casket, but from obituaries I and others have read, it is believed to be Frank W. Few Ballou. He passed in 1896.
The middle casket has a brass plaque that says: "Henrietta Few". Daughter of Sumner Ballou passed in 1880. The bottom casket has a plaque that says "Sumner Ballou". He passed in 1872.
We are not sure who had the mausoleum built, but Sumer was a wealthy merchant who married his wife, Harriet in the 1830’s. In an old book we have it states in “1841 that Jonathan Ingalls (Ballou Vault)” under owner ….It is possible Sumner contracted to have this built as a family Mausoleum. However, Harriet (Sumner’s wife) does not appear in there, yet has a stone on the outside perimeters. The findings in our very old record book show that Sumner Ballou (actually it states Senior and Mrs. Ballou) in 1873, Section C Lot 68 deeded the mausoleum to Frank W. Few Ballou. This may have been part of the LWT. The Ballou Descedants book states that Frank W. Few (son of Henrietta), by request of Sumner Ballou (his grandfather) is to assume the name of Frank W. Ballou. There is a research story of its own.
The top casket has a brass plaque that says: "Rest in Peace". – There is no name on the casket, but from obituaries I and others have read, it is believed to be Frank W. Few Ballou. He passed in 1896.
The middle casket has a brass plaque that says: "Henrietta Few". Daughter of Sumner Ballou passed in 1880. The bottom casket has a plaque that says "Sumner Ballou". He passed in 1872.
We are not sure who had the mausoleum built, but Sumer was a wealthy merchant who married his wife, Harriet in the 1830’s. In an old book we have it states in “1841 that Jonathan Ingalls (Ballou Vault)” under owner ….It is possible Sumner contracted to have this built as a family Mausoleum. However, Harriet (Sumner’s wife) does not appear in there, yet has a stone on the outside perimeters. The findings in our very old record book show that Sumner Ballou (actually it states Senior and Mrs. Ballou) in 1873, Section C Lot 68 deeded the mausoleum to Frank W. Few Ballou. This may have been part of the LWT. The Ballou Descedants book states that Frank W. Few (son of Henrietta), by request of Sumner Ballou (his grandfather) is to assume the name of Frank W. Ballou. There is a research story of its own.