Tuesday, February 14, 2012

the Edson Adams mausoleum

Edson Adams was one of the founding fathers of Oakland, which was incorporated in 1852.  He came out to California during the Gold Rush and eventually made a fortune in real estate.  The title of "founder" suggests an illustrious career that actually had a seamier side.  He and his partners essentially stole the land from the Peralta family, which owned much of the East Bay through a land grant from the Spanish king.  Of course, the Peraltas (and the king for that matter) had themselves taken the land from the native peoples who lived in the area millennia before the Europeans arrived.  As befitting a prominent citizen, Adams' family mausoleum is built into a hillside at Mt. View Cemetery where succeeding generations of the Adams family are also interred.  For more cemetery wanderings, visit Julie's meme Taphophile Tragics.
Posted by Oakland Daily Photo at 1:06 AM
Labels: , , ,

12 comments:

  1. JulieFebruary 14, 2012 at 3:42 AM

    I figure Carolyn, that the mausoleum was constructed and the hill back-filled over it. It sure does make it a softer and more approachable ediface.

    Invariably there is a seamier side to immense wealth. The same goes in the past as goes with those of us with immense wealth today.

    The noticeable thing with the mausoleum or Edson Adams is the dearth of information about his time on this earth. I guess he was so important, that everyone was expected to know him by reputation.

    I do however admire the taste of whomsoever created this mausoleum for the Adams family (oops ... ). The carving of the leaves and the details on the poles is exquisite, as is the lines of the chunks of granite. At least, I am thinking it is granite.

    Once again, thank you for your contribution to Taphophile Tragics. Between you and Gene, I am starting to know a bit about Oakland.

    ReplyDelete
  2. 黄清华 Wong Ching WahFebruary 14, 2012 at 4:07 AM

    Great photo, rather creepy !

    ReplyDelete
  3. 黄清华 Wong Ching WahFebruary 14, 2012 at 4:08 AM

    Not forgetting Happy Valentines day

    ReplyDelete
  4. Herding CatsFebruary 14, 2012 at 8:27 AM

    What an impressive mausoleum!

    ReplyDelete
  5. GeneFebruary 14, 2012 at 2:21 PM

    Edson Adams lived 1824-1888, and was partnered with Horace Carpentier and Andrew Moon. The Adams Point neighborhood in Oakland is named for him, and was originally part of his 400-acre estate. (It's prime real estate, on some low hills overlooking Lake Merritt. Might as well keep some nice property for yourself when you're stealing enough for a whole town.)

    ReplyDelete
  6. KathyFebruary 14, 2012 at 5:58 PM

    I'm so glad you joined this site because your cemetery photos are magnificent!

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnnFebruary 14, 2012 at 6:43 PM

    I haven't seen a mausoleum built into the hill like that before. I rather like it.

    ReplyDelete
  8. HildaFebruary 14, 2012 at 10:18 PM

    If it weren't for the fancy entrance, it could be a barrow.

    ReplyDelete
  9. VioletSkyFebruary 15, 2012 at 9:58 AM

    I really like this mausoleum. Never seen one built into a hillside before. Of course, most of the filthy rich of years gone by got rich by being filthy.

    ReplyDelete
  10. UnknownFebruary 15, 2012 at 10:54 AM

    Quite impressive and I also like the grass 'roof'.

    ReplyDelete
  11. CaTFebruary 15, 2012 at 8:15 PM

    how big! i like the ornaments on the... eehmm.. poles. sorry, dont know how to write in english at the moment... :)
    isnt it always like this? people take land that was originally from others, but used to be.. while in fact the natives.... how sad! why should it be possession anyways?

    ReplyDelete
  12. SondraFebruary 16, 2012 at 6:40 PM

    Thats a very impressive resting place...well come to think of it all of the American Soil was stolen...and who knows it may be stolen again--;o}

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)