I took a long journey via public transit to visit Oakridge Cemetery in Hillside, IL, to see the stained glass windows designed by Edgar Miller in the Oakridge Abbey Mausoleum.
The Abbey Mausoleum contains the single largest collection of Miller's stained glass windows.
Sometime in the late 1920s, Edgar Miller was hired to create a large assortment of stained glass windows for the monumental crypt, which was touted as one of the most elegant and beautifully designed mausoleums in the area. Indeed, it is quite a magnificent structure.
Responsible for its construction was Anders E. Anderson. Already a real estate developer, he decided to develop cemeteries believing that a mausoleum would prove to be a lucrative venture, all while providing a serene resting place for people’s loved ones. He became president of the Oak Ridge Cemetery and then, in 1917— the year Edgar arrived in Chicago— Anderson proceeded to take out a loan for the mausoleum project from Chicago Title and Trust for $300,000 (the equivalent of over $7,000,000 today).
edgarmiller.org
The mausoleum's architect was Joseph J. Nadherny, profiled in an excellent blog post by Under Every Tombstone.
Joseph Jerome Nadherny, architect
These are my photos of the mausoleum interior:
The chapel, with stained glass skylight designed by Edgar Miller.
Edgar Miller-designed stained glass window behind the altar.
Hall, with view toward Miller-designed window
Edgar Miller Windows in Oakridge Abbey Condition Survey
Under Every Tombstone - Joseph J. Nadherny