Roger Williams Park Mausoleum: About the Abandoned Crypts in Cranston
A man’s Tik Tok video showing an abandoned mausoleum in Rhode Island that was in extreme disrepair caused outrage and concern from viewers. The crumbling Cranston mausoleum had been damaged by trespassers – some who even removed caskets from the crypts. There’s also evidence human remains had been stolen.
Background of the Roger Williams Mausoleum
The mausoleum was built in 1926 and held the remains of over 500 individuals – including World War II veterans. The last owners (known as the Cullinan Sisters) died in 2000 and 2002, but no one claimed the property after their deaths. In January 2005, the City of Cranston condemned the mausoleum for being structurally unsound.
The building was then placed in receivership after no one was willing to take ownership of it, and Rhode Island Superior Court Judge Michael Silverstein declared the building abandoned in 2012.
The Desecration of an Abandoned Mausoleum
Throughout the last several decades, the Roger Williams Mausoleum has been visited by the homeless and the curious. Photos of the inside of the mausoleum show that the site has been littered with trash. But worse than that – the bodies in the three-story structure have been disturbed. Photos also show signs of water damage on the ceiling.
Once photos and videos of the location surfaced, the city did what it could to prevent additional intruders from gaining entrance into the mausoleum. The city secured the door and placed a locked fence around the building. But while these measures reduced the number of visitors walking through the dilapidated, dangerous structure, the dead were left entombed inside.
The Moral Obligation of Caring for the Dead
Once the story’s details surfaced, viewers left comments about the obligation of caring for the dead. However, the reality is that it would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to lay the bodies to rest in a nearby cemetery.
Some families were eventually able to remove the remains of their loved ones and transfer them to other cemeteries. However, despite the support to remove all of the bodies from the building, a plan (and funding for the project) has not been established. The matter remains unresolved.
The Importance of Perpetual Care
If we are to learn anything from this story, it is the importance of asking questions when selecting the permanent resting place for yourself or your family. Ask about the structure’s integrity, the materials used, and the plans for the future upkeep of the cemetery or mausoleum.
One option to consider is the Eternal Guarantee with a Forever Legacy private mausoleum. Forever Legacy is the premier builder of custom mausoleums in North America. The mausoleums will be cared for in perpetuity.
Additionally, each structure is crafted using thick slabs of high-quality Vermont granite, explicitly quarried for your project. The quality of the materials and construction techniques allow Forever Legacy to offer an Eternal Guarantee.
Watch this mausoleum video to learn more about constructing a private family mausoleum. Then, contact the leadership team of Forever Legacy to find the answers to your additional questions.
Belinda McLeod has a degree in Secondary Education, specializing in English and Journalism. She began her career as a freelance writer in 2018 since a flexible schedule would allow her to help care for an aging parent. Since then, Belinda has specialized in writing for the funeral industry. Belinda has written for Cake, a funeral-planning website, nursing homes, mausoleum companies, cremation companies, and funeral homes.
