The Mausoleum That Looks Like a Mansion

[00:00:00]structure more closely.

[00:00:08]Looks beautiful. There's glass over the doors, but they swing open. And one of the sides is open.

[00:00:14]The uh left side is open here.

[00:00:25]Cypress Lawn is home to some [music] of the most magnificent private family mausoleiums ever constructed. Behind [music] these massive stone buildings are stories of ambition, success, tragedy, and legacies that help shape California's [music] history.

[00:00:40]While many visitors admire the incredible architecture, few know the lives of the men and women resting inside.

[00:00:47]Every mausoleum has a story and every family [music] left its mark on the history of the American West.

[00:00:54]In [music] this series, we'll explore these remarkable structures, uncover the histories of the families [music] they were built for, and take a closer look at the people whose legacy continue to live on more than a century [music] later.

[00:01:07]Join me as we walk through Cypus Law Memorial Park and [music] step inside a world where history, architecture, and remembrance come together.

[00:01:15]Now, let's [music] step through the crypt door.

[00:01:19]This is the mausoleum of Andrew Banani Hammond, one of the most successful lumbermen in American history.

[00:01:27]Andrew Banani Hammond was born on November 16th, 1848 in New York. As a young man, he headed west and built a career in the lumber business during a time when American cities were expanding rapidly.

[00:01:40]Through hard work, smart business decisions, he became one of the nation's leading lumber industrialists.

[00:01:48]Hammond founded and operated lumber companies throughout the Pacific Northwest and Northern California.

[00:01:55]He was known for building massive sawmills and investing in logging railroads that moved timber from forests to the mills.

[00:02:02]His operations supplied lumber that helped build growing cities throughout the western United States.

[00:02:08]Over the course of his career, he became one of the wealthiest figures in the lumber industry.

[00:02:16]One of Hammond's best known accomplishments was helping develop the city of Hammond, which was named in his honor.

[00:02:23]He also played an important role in the development of the lumber industry along the Pacific coast.

[00:02:29]His influence stretched far beyond California, leaving a lasting mark on the economic growth of the West.

[00:02:38]Hammond died on April 13th, 1934 at the age of 85.

[00:02:43]Historical records show that he died after a long life, but a specific well-documented medical cause of death is not consistently available.

[00:02:54]Hammond's mausoleum reflects the success he achieved during the great industrial expansion of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

[00:03:02]Like many prominent families at Cypress Lawn, his final resting place was designed to be a lasting monument to both his accomplishments and his family's legacy.

[00:03:13]Okay, now that we learned about this one, let's take a little bit of a closer look.

[00:03:22]Beautiful. It's got it's getting covered by the by the little trees and bushes and everything else. You almost don't see it from the front, you know.

[00:03:38]It's that little uh Egyptian revival kind of thing at the top. I know there's a sun glare, but looks like it's Egyptian. They call that Egyptian revival design.

[00:03:54]But we can see inside.

[00:03:57]They're the columns and everything.

[00:04:48]Oh, they're honking at they weren't honking at me.

[00:04:53]As you can see inside here, it's kind of dark. Kind of hard to tell who's who. At least from my perspective here.

[00:05:27]try to bring it down to where we could kind of maybe get in and get a look at Yeah, there we go.

[00:05:41]There's a vase up there by the window.

[00:05:43]Windows even covered somewhat.

[00:05:47]Let's see.

[00:05:49]Somebody Abbott Hammond in there straight ahead. I don't know. But there's all kinds of spot. There's actually spots in here for more family if they wanted to. There's um up top there's other crypt spots that are um there's no name.

[00:06:09]I'm trying to look for Andrew here. I think Andrew is the bottom crypt straight ahead here.

[00:06:15]Right there. Bottom.

[00:06:23]I think above him is I can't make out the name on the one above him, but I think that's his wife, but I can't make out the first name cuz the lighting.

[00:06:38]Maybe it'll come out better on the video.

[00:06:42]Try to zoom in on it. Maybe I can figure it out when I look when I play the video back when I'm editing.

[00:06:56]This is a beautiful one. Huge, but it's very shaded because of the trees, the bushes, and you know, everything around, but it's actually very beautiful.

[00:07:11]This is the final resting place of Gustav Nibbomb, a man who helped lay the foundation for California's world famous wine industry.

[00:07:21]Nibbomb was born on September 26th, 1842 in Finland, then part of the Russian Empire.

[00:07:28]Before entering the wine business, he was a successful sea captain involved in the fur trade and commerce in Alaska.

[00:07:36]His travels and businesses success eventually brought him to California where he began a completely new chapter in his life.

[00:07:45]In 1879, he purchased land in Rutherford in the heart of Napa Valley.

[00:07:51]There he founded Ingelnick Winery, one of California's first worldclass wineries.

[00:07:58]Rather than simply producing large quantities of wine, he focused on making wines that could compete with the finest vineyards in Europe.

[00:08:06]His emphasis on quality, careful vineyard management, and modern wine-making techniques helped establish Napa Valley's reputation for excellence.

[00:08:16]Many historians considered Nebomb one of the true pioneers of premium California wine. His work helped prove that Napa Valley could produce wines respected around the world. More than a century later, his influence can still be seen throughout California's wine industry.

[00:08:33]He died on November 15th, 1908 at the age of 66. Historical records indicate he died following a prolonged illness, though a specific consistently documented medical cause of death is not available in reliable public sources.

[00:08:50]His mausoleum at Cypress Lawn reflects the success he achieved as both an international businessman and a visionary wine maker. It serves as a lasting reminder of the man who helped shape an industry that has become synonymous with California.

[00:09:08]What an interesting character this gentleman was.

[00:09:13]Now, let's go and see what we can see in this one. The glass on the front door [clears throat] is tinted. There's a gate in front of the front door. So, I'm not quite sure what we're going to be able to see in this one. It's always kind of dark in there.

[00:09:30]Depending on the, you know, the time of day and how the light hits it, we may get lucky.

[00:09:36]But this thing looks like it experienced maybe a breakin.

[00:09:47]Beautiful, you know, work on the door.

[00:09:49]This door is just stunning. Incredible.

[00:09:58]Got his name on the front doors here.

[00:10:06]Yeah, I don't know how much of we're going to be able to see inside of this thing.

[00:10:20]There's some windows on the side, I think, but I just don't know how lucky we're going to get on this one.

[00:10:32]Windows are kind of hazy.

[00:10:38]What I can tell my readout barely it looks looks pretty in there.

[00:10:54]It's hard to make anything out though.

[00:10:57]Beautiful work of art. That is for sure.

[00:11:40]cemetery is huge.

[00:11:50]It's the main road coming in up the middle of the whole cemetery.

[00:12:28]gorgeous.

[00:12:33]The sprinklers seem to be shutting off in certain areas. Today, we're standing in front of the magnificent mausoleum of J. Henry Meyer, one of California's most influential businessmen and philanthropists.

[00:12:47]Jay Henry Meyer was born in 1855 in Sacramento, California. He became a successful banker and investor during California's rapid growth in the late 1800s.

[00:12:59]Meyer played an important role in developing street railway systems in both San Francisco and Los Angeles, helping improve transportation in two of California's largest cities.

[00:13:12]Meyer was also an early supporter of Stanford University. He donated generously to the university and helped fund important library collections.

[00:13:21]Years after his death, Stanford honored him by naming the J. Henry Meyer Memorial Library after him.

[00:13:29]Jay Henry Meyer died on March 30th, 1921 at the age of 66.

[00:13:35]I wasn't able to verify documented medical cause of death from reli reliable sources, so it's best not to speculate.

[00:13:45]His mausoleum is one of the finest examples of classic revival architecture at Cypress Lawn. Notice the tall iconic columns, the elaborate iron entrance doors, and the stone across the roof.

[00:13:59]The design resembles a small Greek temple symbolizing permanence, dignity, and remembrance.

[00:14:08]Alrighty, let's take a look at this structure more closely.

[00:14:19]Looks beautiful. There's glass over the doors, but they swing open. And one of the sides is open.

[00:14:25]The uh left side is open here.

[00:14:34]Wow. There's actually What's that? A for flowers in there.

[00:14:41]That whole Jay Henry Meer is the middle crypt right here.

[00:14:59]See right there.

[00:15:03]Awesome.

[00:15:11]Other family in here as well.

[00:15:21]Quite stunning. Quite beautiful.

[00:15:24]flower pots and different there's I think on the window there on the right there's that's those are artificial I do believe interesting family All right, let's walk around and look at some of the more interesting stones around here. Always got to give the stones love, too. We love the mausoleiums. Yes.

[00:16:21]But we got to give the stones some love as well. And I'm not talking about the Rolling Stones.

[00:16:40]Well, this big square stone is very interesting. [laughter] What is this?

[00:16:47]Let's uh we'll look at it here.

[00:16:53]Old people's home.

[00:16:58]Well, that's interesting. That's different. I don't think I've ever seen anything like that before.

[00:17:13]I'm going to have to look the history of that one.

[00:17:20]See if I can find out something on that.

[00:17:24]Very cool.

[00:17:35]Ah, here we go. We got We got a bit of an athlete here. Francis Joseph Lefty Odul.

[00:17:45]I love the stone. How they have the ball in the bat.

[00:17:54]The man in the green suit. He was here at good at a good time and had a good time while he was here. Well, that's the way all of us should live, I feel.

[00:18:10]Record 254 hits, 1929 season. National League batting champion, Philadelphia Phillies, 1929, Brooklyn Dodgers, 1932.

[00:18:22]That's I love this one. I do believe, if I'm not mistaken, I could be, but I thought you guys remember that that uh monument company here in Cola that I took the tour through the workshop, uh V Fontana, I do believe they might have said they did the stone for this.

[00:18:42]can't be 100% positive, but I thought the girl that was giving me the the uh the tour, I thought she had said that um or or the the young the young lady um giving me the tour said that um they did this stone. I think it's a beautiful stone.

[00:19:00]The detail is just awesome.

[00:19:22]Dwayne Hopkins.

[00:19:27]Beautiful stone.

[00:19:32]1861 to 1913.

[00:20:00]Huh. Beautiful uh statue.

[00:20:13]The France family erected in memory of our darling Henry Wallace France Jr. born March 29th 1913 died September 14th 1916.

[00:20:30]Oh, child stone is remarkably in good shape and clean. Must be the type of stone it is.

[00:20:37]Not a stone expert. So, my stone experts out there, you let me know.

[00:20:55]Sprite Arthur F. 1876 to 1958. Ada FDA or Ada 1881 to 1973.

[00:21:14]Terara Margarite 1919 to 2011. Wow. Pretty recent. George R. 1918 to 2012. of mother and father.

[00:21:30]And we got here in Christ at rest. Henry Wallace France senior born November 20th, 1867, died May 30th, 1917.

[00:22:02]Oh, we got here. This is an interesting stone.

[00:22:07]Bertha Lefrence. The Lafrenz family.

[00:22:11]Born August 2nd, 1835, died August 20th, 1913.

[00:22:18]Huh.

[00:22:20]And there's another B. Bertha S. Hafner died April 28th, 1924. George T.

[00:22:26]Lefrence died November 15th, 1939.

[00:22:33]Huh.

[00:22:36]Interesting. Kind of getting all mucked up on here, but we got a Charles Hafner, 1828 to 1873.

[00:22:43]Johan Marie 1869 to 1870 and Charles Robert 1861 to 1862 and a Sophie 1867 to 1890. There's a bunch of people in here.

[00:22:56]Me. Oh me. Oh my.

[00:23:00]Keeping that family together.

[00:23:06]This one's beautiful over here.

[00:23:26]Mcgallister family right here.

[00:23:31]Is that it?

[00:23:33]George L. Smith.

[00:23:36]Okay, let's look at this one. 1828 to 1888. I love these statues. I love the um love the detail of these statues almost waiting for those eyes to pop open on you. Aren't you?

[00:23:55]Who knows? Maybe at night after dark. We never know what goes on in these places.

[00:24:00]It's holding a little flower. Beautiful Smith.

[00:24:24]James Hurst. The Hurst family right here. I know any relation to the Hurst, the famous Hurst family that I did in the the other video.

[00:24:34]Nah, it's spelled differently. It's spelled differently. Yeah. Oh, well, it's not the same family. 1850 to 1903 and Mary 1861 to 1948.

[00:25:16]There's that guy with the lawn mower not too far from here. So, I'm sure you can hear the racket. I am sure.

[00:25:30]Helen Raymond Harland, beloved daughter of Otto and Lillian Schiller, January 19th, 1904, age 5 months. Oh, it's a child's marker on this side. This thing is Let me get this whole thing in the in the shot here. It's beautiful stone.

[00:26:02]Just Smith family. It says on the front Harlon Pace Smith, native of Maine 1836 to 1903 and married Lucinda.

[00:26:13]Ruma's wife 1840 to 1927 22.

[00:26:28]Let's see here.

[00:26:30]Lillian May McCrae, June 28th, 1877, November 10th, 197 Oh, 63, excuse me.

[00:26:42]Aren't I just thinking ahead?

[00:26:46]And a George Washington Rice. It's kind of dark over here.

[00:26:51]Native of Illinois, 1856 to 1928.

[00:26:56]Ah, interesting.

[00:27:01]The lawn mower guy is getting closer as you can probably hear. So, we're going to end this video and maybe I'll go to a different part of the cemetery where it's a little bit quieter and do some more mausoleiums and more stones and stuff. So, thank you all so much for joining me on this adventure. You guys are the best.

[00:27:18]Let me know in the comment box below what was your favorite. What did you dig?

[00:27:23]I love them all.

[00:27:25]But you let me know in the comment box below what you guys thought. Thank you so much and I will be coming at you with another one very, very soon.

[00:27:34]Same bat time, same bat channel. Well, this isn't the bat channel, but you know, you know what I mean. All right, guys. Thank you all so much, and I'll talk to you later.

[00:27:51]As we've seen today, these magnificent mausoleums are much more [music] than beautiful stone buildings. They preserve the stories of the men and women whose vision, ambition, and determination help shape California into [music] what it is today.

[00:28:04]Walking through Cypress Lawn is like turning the pages of of a living history book. Behind every mausoleum is a family, [music] a legacy, and a story waiting to be rediscovered.

[00:28:15]I hope [music] you enjoyed this journey through one of California's most remarkable historic cemeteries. If you did, please give this video a thumbs up, subscribe to Kryptor, and ring the [music] notification bell so you don't miss the next episode in our Cypress Lawn series. There are still many incredible mausoleiums [music] and even more fascinating stories to explore.

[00:28:37]I'd also like to hear from you. [music] Which mausoleum or story stood out in your mind the most? Let me know in the comments below.

[00:28:46]Thank you so much for joining me today.

[00:28:47]Until next time, remember, every mausoleum [music] has a story.

[00:28:52]I'll see you on the next Crypto Adventure.