1867-03-12 Trustees Committee on Grounds: Warming the Chapel, 1831.033.003-022

Boston March. 12. 1867

The committee on Grounds to whom was referred the question of warming the Chapel, beg leave to report

It has been desired by the Trustees that funerals should ^not take place at Mount Auburn in the cold season, either inside or outside of the Chapel on account of the exposure to of the friends and the the officiating clergymen to a temperature and [extremeness?] which may be injurious to their health. ^{No provision has therefore been made for warming the chapel.} And although a small flue is constructed in the north wall^{of the building}, capable of receiving a stove pipe, it has never been used, because families and friends naturally preferred that funeral ceremonies should take place in ^the more suitable and convenient shelter of dwelling houses.

But the increasing number of burials in Mount Auburn, involving a proportionate number of strangers and of others whom friends may desire that their obsequies should be conducted within the chapel, has caused your committee to on mature consideration to believe that the time has arrived when a suitable outlay should be made for rendering the building warm and dry for occasional use, when application is made for its occupation in cold weather.

There are three methods in which the proposed object of warming the building may be effected.

1. By placing a common iron stove and pipe in the body of the house, discharging its smoke into the flue now existing.

2 By digging a cellar under the floor and constructing a furnace in the usual way, with smoke pipes, hot air flues and registers

3. By building a furnace^outside, near the bottom of the high bank a few rods north of the chapel, having its own chimney, distant and separate from the building, and having its hot air conducted by underground pipes into such part of the building chapel as may be thought proper

The two first modes the committee deem objectionable on account of the chance of occasional smoking, and more particularly on account of the probable blackening of the outside wall by the discharge of smoke from the top of the flue.

The committee therefore recommend that the third method ^{be adopted,} as being the most convenient, safe and economical. A furnace should be built, as near as practicable to Lawn avenue, and as much as ten or fifteen feet below the level of the Chapel floor. A short chimney should be erected, covered

a turncap or cover to assist the escape of the smoke, but which should be so attached as to be removable during the warm weather season. A slant or ascending pipe or flue should be carried up from the hot air chamber of the furnace into the chapel through its floor, at such place or places as might be found convenient.

It is known that heat may be carried in this manner to any desirable distance, as is seen in various manufactories, conservatories and other [economical?] establishments. It has the advantage that it may be made separate, and ornamental, or at least not detrimental to the appearance of the Chapel walls

The committee therefore recommend the following vote --

Voted that a the committee of on Grounds be appointed with instructions, if they shall find deem it expedient, to build a furnace outside of Mount Auburn Chapel, with such flues, air passages and other appertures as they may deem adequate and suitable for warming the inside of that building

Warming the Chapel -- Report of Com. on Grounds -- March 12. 1867 --

Accepted -- A.J.C. records vol IV. p. 111 --

Acc # 1831.033.022