Beacon Street Tomb facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Beacon Street Tomb
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Beacon St., Lakeside Cemetery, Wakefield, Massachusetts |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1858 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| MPS | Wakefield MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 89000714 |
| Added to NRHP | July 6, 1989 |
The Beacon Street Tomb is a special old building in Lakeside Cemetery in Wakefield, Massachusetts. It was built around 1858. This tomb is a great example of Greek Revival architecture, which was a popular style back then. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989 because it's an important historical site.
What is the Beacon Street Tomb?
The Beacon Street Tomb is a unique stone building. It's found on the south side of Lakeside Cemetery. This cemetery is located next to Lake Quannapowitt. The tomb faces south, looking towards Beacon Street.
How does the tomb look?
It's a single-story building made from large, cut granite blocks. The roof slopes down on two sides, like a house roof. The front of the tomb has four tall, round columns. These columns support a triangular section at the top, called a gable. In the middle of this triangle, there's a round window with slats, like a vent. The tomb does not have any regular windows. It has a large double door on its south side.
Why was the tomb built?
Lakeside Cemetery started in 1848. Before that, the land was used by a company that collected ice from the lake in winter. The Beacon Street Tomb was built between 1858 and 1860. It was used as a "receiving tomb." This means it was a temporary storage place. In the winter, the ground would freeze, making it impossible to dig graves. So, caskets were kept safely inside this tomb until the spring. This practice continued into the 1900s.
