Next year Cleveland will mark the hundredth anniversary of the passing of noted sculptor and state legislator Joseph Carabelli, co-creator of the President James A. Garfield mausoleum there.
Carabelli, great-grandfather of Ed Williams, husband of Susan Fieg Williams, was the founder of the Lake View Granite & Monumental Company which continues today under new ownership as the Johns-Carabelli Co.
Carabelli immigrated to the United States from Italy in 1870 to work his craft in New York City where he created a number of sculptures including some commissioned for the Federal Building.
President Garfield, felled by a madman's bullet as he stepped off the train in Washington, died on Sept. 18, 1881. He is honored with an elaborate Carabelli monument at Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland, which is considered to be the country's first mausoleum and is grander than the tombs of both Lincoln and Washington.
The exterior of the 180-foot tall crypt is comprised of a sandstone terrace, five bas relief panels of Garfield's life and an observation deck. The interior with its stained glass windows, mosaic tiles and marble stairs is equally elaborate and amazingly, includes a ballroom! A marble statue of Garfield stands in the center of the hall.
Known as the "Father of Little Italy" in recognition of his many civic endeavors and contributions to the Italian-American community in Cleveland, Carabelli was also a pillar of his church.
"He was a devout Catholic," said 91-year-old Eleanor Carabelli Williams of Youngstown, Joseph Carabelli's granddaughter and Ed's mother. "He was instrumental in bringing a number of Catholic priests to the United States from Italy." Ed and Susan, who reside in the Chicago area, visit the cemetery often on their way to visit Eleanor.
Carabelli, who died on April 19, 1911, was elected in 1908 as the first Italian-American state representative. In 1910, he capped his political career by pushing through the legislature a bill proclaiming Columbus Day an official state holiday.
He was personally acquainted with the late oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller who made a key contribution to a settlement house founded by Carabelli. Rockefeller's monument, also in Lake View Cemetery, was created by Joseph's son, also named Joseph, after Rockefeller's death in 1937. It is a 70-foot tall obelisk where, reminiscent of Rockefeller's habit of offering dimes to the people he met, visitors often leave their own dimes in hopes of having their wealth increased like Rockefeller's.
"He was a devout Catholic," said 91-year-old Eleanor Carabelli Williams of Youngstown, Joseph Carabelli's granddaughter and Ed's mother. "He was instrumental in bringing a number of Catholic priests to the United States from Italy." Ed and Susan, who reside in the Chicago area, visit the cemetery often on their way to visit Eleanor.
Carabelli, who died on April 19, 1911, was elected in 1908 as the first Italian-American state representative. In 1910, he capped his political career by pushing through the legislature a bill proclaiming Columbus Day an official state holiday.
He was personally acquainted with the late oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller who made a key contribution to a settlement house founded by Carabelli. Rockefeller's monument, also in Lake View Cemetery, was created by Joseph's son, also named Joseph, after Rockefeller's death in 1937. It is a 70-foot tall obelisk where, reminiscent of Rockefeller's habit of offering dimes to the people he met, visitors often leave their own dimes in hopes of having their wealth increased like Rockefeller's.
Rumor has it that the Garfield mausoleum is haunted. Unexplained lights have been seen inside at night and some claim that the ghosts of Garfield and Rockefeller engage in an on-going chess game using the cemetery's tombstones as chess pieces!
Ed's mom sold her interests in the monument company to the Johns family in 1970. Ed is a retired electrical engineer and Susan operates Good BuyTravel in Chicago.
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| James A. Garfield Mausoleum, Lake View Cemetery, Cleveland, OH |
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