Chapel of the Chimes (Oakland, California)

{{Short description|Crematory and columbarium in Oakland, California, United States}}

{{confused|Chapel of the Chimes (Hayward, California)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}}

File:Chapel-chimes (19045532981).jpg

File:Oakland-columbarium-s.jpg.]]

{{designation list|designation1=ODL|designation1_number=129|designation1_date=1999}}

Chapel of the Chimes was founded as California Electric Crematory in 1909 as a crematory and columbarium at 4499 Piedmont Avenue, at the entrance of Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland, California. The present building dates largely from a 1928 redevelopment based on the designs of the architect Julia Morgan.{{cite web|author=Chapel of the Chimes Oakland |url=http://oakland.chapelofthechimes.com/ |title=Chapel of the Chimes Oakland – Oakland, CA |publisher=Oakland.chapelofthechimes.com |access-date=2014-08-25}} The Spanish Gothic architecture features Moorish motifs and the interior is a maze of small rooms featuring ornate stonework, statues, gardens, fountains, and mosaics.

History

File:Chapel of the Chimes Exterior (150955804).jpg

The chapel originates with a crematory built in 1909 by the California Crematorium Association on the site of a trolley car station; the old structure still has train schedules on the wall. Architect Julia Morgan was hired to expand the facility; the new crematory and columbarium were dedicated on Memorial Day 1928, named Chapel of the Chimes for the chimes in the tower. Architect Aaron Green, a protégé of Frank Lloyd Wright, subsequently contributed six additions over 24 years, including mausoleums.{{Cite web |date=2012-06-29 |title=A Piece of History: Chapel of the Chimes Oakland |url=https://www.chapelofthechimesoakland.com/blog/2012/06/a-piece-of-history-chapel-of-the-chimes-oakland/ |access-date=2022-04-25 |website=Chapel of the Chimes Oakland |language=en-US}}

The building maintains its original functions and also serves as the venue for annual music festivals on the winter and summer solstices.{{cite web|url=http://www.gardenofmemory.com/ |title=a columbarium walk-through event at the Chapel of the Chimes |publisher=Garden of Memory |access-date=2014-08-25}}

The chapel's owners operate funeral homes and cemeteries, not designed by Morgan, in Hayward, also under the name Chapel of the Chimes, as well as Sunset Lawn Chapel of the Chimes in Sacramento.[http://www.lifemarkgroup.com/hayward/index.aspx] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203130746/http://www.lifemarkgroup.com/hayward/index.aspx|date=December 3, 2010}}

Chapel of the Chimes holds the records of the Chapel of Memories on Pleasant Valley Avenue.

Garden of Memory

{{Infobox music festival

| name =Garden of Memory

| image =File:Garden of Memory Oakland.jpg

| caption =

| location =Chapel of the Chimes (Oakland, California)

| years_active =1996–present

| founders =

| dates =Evening of the summer solstice

| genre = Electronic music, experimental music

| attendance =

| capacity =

| website =[http://gardenofmemory.com Garden of Memory]

}}

Garden of Memory has been held 1996–present; this is a columbarium walk-through event held every year on the evening of the summer solstice.{{cite web|url=http://www.sfexaminer.com/entertainment/mystical-musical-garden-memory|title=A mystical, musical garden of memory|author=Jason Victor Serinus|publisher=San Francisco Examiner|access-date=2011-09-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120805230515/http://www.sfexaminer.com/entertainment/mystical-musical-garden-memory#|archive-date=2012-08-05|url-status=dead}} It features over 40 musicians performing on unique instruments, or compositions designed for the event. The sound is often electronic or electro-acoustic in source and then electronically processed.{{cite web|url=http://www.gardenofmemory.com/|title=Garden of Memory – a columbarium walk-through event at the Chapel of the Chimes}}

Notable interments

Notable burials include the following:

See also

{{Commons category|Chapel of the Chimes (Oakland, California)}}

References

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