The Castlemaine mausoleum in Glenwood Cemetery was constructed for Frederick H. Castlemaine.
Mr. Castlemaine was born in 1867 in Castlemaine Ontario, the son of Ralph Abercrombie Castlemaine.
Mr. Castlemaine married Isabella Sutherland, one of the world famous "Seven Sutherland Sisters".
After Frederick died of an apparent morphine overdose in 1896 his widow (Isabella) had the ornate granite mausoleum constructed at the top of the Niagara escarpment in the northern section of the cemetery. His remains were the first to be entombed in the structure.
The exterior of the mausoleum is in perfect condition as of 2014, with exception of damage caused by vandals in 1898.
The mausoleum gained considerable local attention during it's construction, and then again a few years later because of an attempted grave robbery.
Theories around the attempted grave robbery were that the ghouls intended to steal the body and hold it for ransom, or they were possibly just looking for valuables that they believed were in the casket.
Regardless, there were no valuables in the vault, and although the vandals were able to gain entry into the structure through a small rear window, they were unable to remove the body out the small window, or they just didn't try.
Much has been written about the "Seven Sutherland Sisters" and the Castlemaine family.
I tried to piece together the names of the dead entombed in the mausoleum and I made Find-A-Grave entries for those that didn't already have them.
I listed my sources under each Find-A-Grave entry. Usually my source was the local newspaper at the time (The Lockport Journal).
A local historian, Clarence O. Lewis, published a series of articles about the Seven Sutherland Sisters in the Lockport Union Sun and Journal in the 1960's. I used his articles as a resource.
This is an article about the attempted grave robbery. Following this article is a list of the dead whose remains are in the strucure to the best of my knowledge.
Lockport Journal, Saturday March 12, 1898, Front page:
GHASTLY.
GRAVE ROBBERS MOLEST THE DEAD IN GLENWOOD CEMETERY.
A DETESTABLE CRIME.
One of the most despicable acts of crime ever committed within the precincts of this city has come to light.
Grave robbers, those most degraded of criminals, has been plying their ghastly vocation in Glenwood Cemetery.
An agent for a granite firm in Clarence, N.Y , yesterday visited Glenwood and upon inspecting the Castlemaine
mausoleum found evidence that it had been entered by grave-robbers, probably the night before. The plunderers had, it was found, used both dynamite and powder in an attempt to blow open the door but their efforts in this direction
were futile. They then turned their attention to the window in the rear of the structure and succeeded in gaining entrance through that opening.
Upon gaining the inside of the mausoleum, the robbers opened the outer box in which incased the coffin containing the remains of the late Frederick H. Castlemaine and pried open the top of the casket. They searched carefully for valuables which they evidently expected to find in the coffin but there were none.
They then searched the inside of the mausoleum, displacing all the movable articles in a vain hunt for the rich find they had expected but as no valuables had ever been placed in the vault the predators had their trouble for their pains and at last gave up the and left, taking with them the handsome outside bronze door of the mausoleum.
Mrs. Castlemaine was at once notified by Cemetery Supt. Stockwell of the deed. She notified the police and in a short time the officers were on the scene, searching for a clue. Wagon tracks were found on the road in the rear of the cemetery and evidence was found that the bronze door had been dragged to the wagon. The officers traced the wagon for a considerable distance but finally were obliged to give
up the hunt.
A guard was placed at the mausoleum last night and to-day the police are still working on the case. A full description and cut of the handsome and costly Castlemaine mausoleum has been published by the Journal heretofore.
Remains in the mausoleum are believed to be as follows:
Caskets:
1) FREDERICK H. CASTLEMAINE (for whom the mausoleum was built). He died in 1896, and was placed in the mausoleum in 1897.
2) ISABELLA SUTHERLAND CASTLEMAINE SWAIN. Died 1914.
Isabella married Alonzo Swain a few years after her first husband (Frederick) died.
3) FLETCHER S. BAILEY (Son of Naomi Sutherland Bailey). Fletcher was killed in a motorcycle accident in Buffalo New York on July 1, 1918. He was 31 years old.
4) SARAH SUTHERLAND. Died September 14, 1919 at the family home in Cambria New York.
5) Unknown (Possibly Martha Brink, aunt of the seven sisters).
Urns containing ashes:
1) NAOMI BAILEY BOOTH (Dora Sutherland Bailey's niece). Naomi Bailey Booth was the wife of Charles Brandon Booth, she died in Shanghai China.
2) CARROLL BOOTH (Son of Naomi Bailey Booth).
Most of the above information is from an article written by Clarence O. Lewis that appeared in the Lockport Union Sun and Journal on January 2, 1963.
Mr. Lewis theorized that the fifth casket is that of Martha Brink, an aunt of the seven sisters. Martha Brink died on October 31, 1911.
I don't know how Mr. Lewis came upon the fact that there are five caskets in the structure, nor do I know how he developed the information about the Chinese urns containing the above mentioned ashes.
All the other entombments are confirmed (somewhat) by obituaries in the local newspaper.
There was an article published in the Lockport Union Sun and Journal on Thursday June 7, 1934 reporting the death of Joseph Bailey (husband of Naomi Sutherland). According to the article Mr. Bailey's remains were to be "buried in the family mausoleum at Glenwood Cemetery".
Cemetery records indicate Mr. Bailey's remains were buried in the ground in a "pine box" at Section 16 Lot 12 Grave 8 on June 9, 1934.
If he was in fact buried in the ground his unmarked grave is to the right of the Castlemaine mausoleum, immediately to the left of the Harry Sutherland Bailey grave.
At this time (January 2021) the mausoleum is sealed shut making it impossible to see the crypts inside.
Unfortunately cemetery records are scant with respect to entombments in the mausoleum.
The following article was published on the front page of "The Press" (New York City) on Thursday March 26, 1896:
"DEATH IN HIS DREAM
Catlemaine killed himself with morphine.
"SUTHERLAND SISTER" HIS WIFE
Policemen find two of the long haired septet working over the corpse.
Fred H. Castlemaine killed himself last night, at No. 54 West Twenty fifth street, with a dose of morphine. He had been drinking hard, and when last seen before his death was considerably under the influence of liquor.
Castlemaine was the husband of Jeannette Sutherland, one of the "seven sisters," who have become well known by traveling over the country advertising a hair grower. Castlemaine was general traveling manager for the firm that manufactures the preparation at No. 414 Bleecker street.
Patrolman Juan of the West Thirtieth street police station was passing by the Twenty-fifth street house, which is kept by Mrs. Annie Stein, at 7 p. m., when he was told there was a man in there dying. He made inquiries, but was told at the door that the man was only sick.
A CRY FOR HELP.
Half an hour later Patrolman Madden and Special Policeman James M. Harris were standing in front of the house, when a window on the third floor was flung up and a cry rang out: "Help! help! Police!"
Running into the house, they found Castlemaine stretched insensible on a bed, his wife and her sister, Dora Sutherland, working to restore him to consciousness. Madden called an ambulance from New York Hospital, but the wife refused to let Dr. Kenneth, who responded to the call, see her husband.
Then Dr. H. N. Forbes, who lives in the same block, was called, and said that the man had been dead for fully half an hour.
TRIED TO SAVE HIM.
Mrs. Castlemaine insisted, however, that on several previous occasions her husband had been pronounced dead from overdoses of morphine, and had been restored to consciousness by artificial respiration. Dr. Forbes and Dr. Pierce of the Hoffman House made the attempt, but it was useless.
The police found three letters in the dead man's pockets. One was addressed to "My Wife," and read: "when she, Dora, tells me from her own mouth that she is not particular. I may have reason to believe the rest. But God bless her. I know nothing but good of her."
On the back of the paper on which this was written there appeared the words: "Sweet, peaceful, welcome death."
Another letter, addressed "To the Public," read: "I feel too weak to write. There is a friend of mine who understands everything, who will attend to all."
This was signed "Castlemaine."
CANNOT SAY WHY.
The letter to his father read: "I have written a letter to the public. God bless you, father, and Dora. I cannot say why I did It. but Mrs. Keck will know."
It could not be learned who the Mrs. Keck mentioned is, but she is thought to be a relative of the dead man.
BACK FROM A TOUR.
The Castlemaines had just returned from Savannah, Ga., about a week ago. It is understood the "Sutherland sisters" had been making a tour of the South, and came north by steamer.
Mrs. Stein said Castlemaine was frequently under the influence of liquor, and had had several quarrels with his wife.
Mrs. Castlemaine was out at dinner with her sister when her husband took the drug, and found him lying in the corner where he had probably fallen when overcome by its influence."
Note: The article is wrong where it mention that Mr. Castlemaine was the husband of "Jeannette Sutherland".
He was the husband of Isabella Sutherland.
In the files at the Niagara County Historian Office there is a hand drawn sketch titled "Castlemaine Mausoleum - Door Open". The handwriting is that of Clarence Lewis .
The sketch shows five rectangles (apparently representing caskets) and handwritten notes as follows: "Two Chinese urns with the ashes of Naomi Bailey Booth and small son Carroll".
The caskets are labeled as follows: Frederick Castlemaine 1896, Aunt Martha Brink 1911, Sarah Sutherland 1919, Fletcher Bailey 1918, Isabella Castlemaine=- Swain 1914. Date of the sketch is unknown.
Note: There is no mention of Dora Sutherland.
NOTE: For many years it was believed that Dora Sutherland's ashes were also within the Castlemaine mausoleum.
This was based on a number of newspaper articles reporting on plans to move her ashes from California to Lockport.
Apparently Dora's ashes were never moved to Lockport.
In 2022 it was proven that Dora Sutherland's ashes remain in a "community niche" in a mausoleum at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Los Angeles.
NOTE: The following is some information about Dora Sutherland. Again, it has been proven that her remains are not in Lockport. The following is information about her only.
Buffalo News, Wednesday December 15, 1926:
AUTO KILLS DORA SUTHERLAND, ONE OF FAMOUS SISTERS.
LOCKPORT. Dec. 15. DORA SUTHERLAND, 62 years old, one of the famous Seven Sutherland Sisters, known all over the world for their long hair, which averaged at least five feet, was killed in Los Angeles Friday when she was struck by an automobile. She lived an hour after being taken to a hospital. She was on her way home after doing Christmas shopping. The funeral was held in Los Angeles. The body will be brought to Niagara County for final interment in the spring.
Dora Sutherland was born in a farm near the Million Dollar highway. She was educated In Lockport schools and lived with her sisters on High Street. The sisters toured all over the country in concert programs, later capitalising their remarkable heads of hair by posing as "living examples" for various hair tonics concerns.
Harry S. Bailey , 86 Springville Avenue Buffalo is secretary - treasurer of the Seven Sutherland Sisters Corporation, in addition to being a nephew of Dora.
Dora was the second youngest of the seven sisters and the fifth to die. Mary and Grace Sutherland of Los Angeles survive.
Lockport Union Sun and Journal, Saturday December 22, 1962, front page:
ASHES OF FAMED DORA SUTHERLAND TO BE REBURIED.
One of the famed Sutherland Sisters is coming home to Niagara County, it was disclosed by Clarence O. Lewis, Niagara County Historian.
The ashes of Miss Dora Sutherland, one of the seven sisters famed throughout the world in the 1870's for their floor length tresses, will be arriving any day according to Mr. Lewis.
Dora, the youngest of the sisters was killed in an automobile accident in 1926 in Los Angeles.
Her ashes have been kept in Inglewood California. The other six sisters are buried in cemeteries in Niagara County.
The ashes will be re-interred at Glenwood Cemetery under the auspices of the Niagara County Historical Society and the Glenwood Cemtery Assn.
The sisters were children of Fletcher Sutherland, a Niagara County resident, who concocted a "hair grower" in the 1870's and promoted huge sales by touring the world with his daughters.
Mr. Lewis said they earned $2,669,000.00 selling their hair tonic.
Appropriate ceremonies will be conducted at Glenwood Cemetery upon receipt of the ashes which will arrive in a brass urn "about 10 inches high and 8 inches in diameter" guessed Mr. Lewis. He expects the package to arrive either by express or by parcel post.
Added July 8. 2014:
Note: The agreement to move Dora's ashes to Lockport may have fallen through. A local expert states that the ashes remain at Inglewood Cemetery in Los Angeles California.
There is no mention of Dora Sutherland's ashes in Glenwood Cemetery records.
Mr. Castlemaine was born in 1867 in Castlemaine Ontario, the son of Ralph Abercrombie Castlemaine.
Mr. Castlemaine married Isabella Sutherland, one of the world famous "Seven Sutherland Sisters".
After Frederick died of an apparent morphine overdose in 1896 his widow (Isabella) had the ornate granite mausoleum constructed at the top of the Niagara escarpment in the northern section of the cemetery. His remains were the first to be entombed in the structure.
The exterior of the mausoleum is in perfect condition as of 2014, with exception of damage caused by vandals in 1898.
The mausoleum gained considerable local attention during it's construction, and then again a few years later because of an attempted grave robbery.
Theories around the attempted grave robbery were that the ghouls intended to steal the body and hold it for ransom, or they were possibly just looking for valuables that they believed were in the casket.
Regardless, there were no valuables in the vault, and although the vandals were able to gain entry into the structure through a small rear window, they were unable to remove the body out the small window, or they just didn't try.
Much has been written about the "Seven Sutherland Sisters" and the Castlemaine family.
I tried to piece together the names of the dead entombed in the mausoleum and I made Find-A-Grave entries for those that didn't already have them.
I listed my sources under each Find-A-Grave entry. Usually my source was the local newspaper at the time (The Lockport Journal).
A local historian, Clarence O. Lewis, published a series of articles about the Seven Sutherland Sisters in the Lockport Union Sun and Journal in the 1960's. I used his articles as a resource.
This is an article about the attempted grave robbery. Following this article is a list of the dead whose remains are in the strucure to the best of my knowledge.
Lockport Journal, Saturday March 12, 1898, Front page:
GHASTLY.
GRAVE ROBBERS MOLEST THE DEAD IN GLENWOOD CEMETERY.
A DETESTABLE CRIME.
One of the most despicable acts of crime ever committed within the precincts of this city has come to light.
Grave robbers, those most degraded of criminals, has been plying their ghastly vocation in Glenwood Cemetery.
An agent for a granite firm in Clarence, N.Y , yesterday visited Glenwood and upon inspecting the Castlemaine
mausoleum found evidence that it had been entered by grave-robbers, probably the night before. The plunderers had, it was found, used both dynamite and powder in an attempt to blow open the door but their efforts in this direction
were futile. They then turned their attention to the window in the rear of the structure and succeeded in gaining entrance through that opening.
Upon gaining the inside of the mausoleum, the robbers opened the outer box in which incased the coffin containing the remains of the late Frederick H. Castlemaine and pried open the top of the casket. They searched carefully for valuables which they evidently expected to find in the coffin but there were none.
They then searched the inside of the mausoleum, displacing all the movable articles in a vain hunt for the rich find they had expected but as no valuables had ever been placed in the vault the predators had their trouble for their pains and at last gave up the and left, taking with them the handsome outside bronze door of the mausoleum.
Mrs. Castlemaine was at once notified by Cemetery Supt. Stockwell of the deed. She notified the police and in a short time the officers were on the scene, searching for a clue. Wagon tracks were found on the road in the rear of the cemetery and evidence was found that the bronze door had been dragged to the wagon. The officers traced the wagon for a considerable distance but finally were obliged to give
up the hunt.
A guard was placed at the mausoleum last night and to-day the police are still working on the case. A full description and cut of the handsome and costly Castlemaine mausoleum has been published by the Journal heretofore.
Remains in the mausoleum are believed to be as follows:
Caskets:
1) FREDERICK H. CASTLEMAINE (for whom the mausoleum was built). He died in 1896, and was placed in the mausoleum in 1897.
2) ISABELLA SUTHERLAND CASTLEMAINE SWAIN. Died 1914.
Isabella married Alonzo Swain a few years after her first husband (Frederick) died.
3) FLETCHER S. BAILEY (Son of Naomi Sutherland Bailey). Fletcher was killed in a motorcycle accident in Buffalo New York on July 1, 1918. He was 31 years old.
4) SARAH SUTHERLAND. Died September 14, 1919 at the family home in Cambria New York.
5) Unknown (Possibly Martha Brink, aunt of the seven sisters).
Urns containing ashes:
1) NAOMI BAILEY BOOTH (Dora Sutherland Bailey's niece). Naomi Bailey Booth was the wife of Charles Brandon Booth, she died in Shanghai China.
2) CARROLL BOOTH (Son of Naomi Bailey Booth).
Most of the above information is from an article written by Clarence O. Lewis that appeared in the Lockport Union Sun and Journal on January 2, 1963.
Mr. Lewis theorized that the fifth casket is that of Martha Brink, an aunt of the seven sisters. Martha Brink died on October 31, 1911.
I don't know how Mr. Lewis came upon the fact that there are five caskets in the structure, nor do I know how he developed the information about the Chinese urns containing the above mentioned ashes.
All the other entombments are confirmed (somewhat) by obituaries in the local newspaper.
There was an article published in the Lockport Union Sun and Journal on Thursday June 7, 1934 reporting the death of Joseph Bailey (husband of Naomi Sutherland). According to the article Mr. Bailey's remains were to be "buried in the family mausoleum at Glenwood Cemetery".
Cemetery records indicate Mr. Bailey's remains were buried in the ground in a "pine box" at Section 16 Lot 12 Grave 8 on June 9, 1934.
If he was in fact buried in the ground his unmarked grave is to the right of the Castlemaine mausoleum, immediately to the left of the Harry Sutherland Bailey grave.
At this time (January 2021) the mausoleum is sealed shut making it impossible to see the crypts inside.
Unfortunately cemetery records are scant with respect to entombments in the mausoleum.
The following article was published on the front page of "The Press" (New York City) on Thursday March 26, 1896:
"DEATH IN HIS DREAM
Catlemaine killed himself with morphine.
"SUTHERLAND SISTER" HIS WIFE
Policemen find two of the long haired septet working over the corpse.
Fred H. Castlemaine killed himself last night, at No. 54 West Twenty fifth street, with a dose of morphine. He had been drinking hard, and when last seen before his death was considerably under the influence of liquor.
Castlemaine was the husband of Jeannette Sutherland, one of the "seven sisters," who have become well known by traveling over the country advertising a hair grower. Castlemaine was general traveling manager for the firm that manufactures the preparation at No. 414 Bleecker street.
Patrolman Juan of the West Thirtieth street police station was passing by the Twenty-fifth street house, which is kept by Mrs. Annie Stein, at 7 p. m., when he was told there was a man in there dying. He made inquiries, but was told at the door that the man was only sick.
A CRY FOR HELP.
Half an hour later Patrolman Madden and Special Policeman James M. Harris were standing in front of the house, when a window on the third floor was flung up and a cry rang out: "Help! help! Police!"
Running into the house, they found Castlemaine stretched insensible on a bed, his wife and her sister, Dora Sutherland, working to restore him to consciousness. Madden called an ambulance from New York Hospital, but the wife refused to let Dr. Kenneth, who responded to the call, see her husband.
Then Dr. H. N. Forbes, who lives in the same block, was called, and said that the man had been dead for fully half an hour.
TRIED TO SAVE HIM.
Mrs. Castlemaine insisted, however, that on several previous occasions her husband had been pronounced dead from overdoses of morphine, and had been restored to consciousness by artificial respiration. Dr. Forbes and Dr. Pierce of the Hoffman House made the attempt, but it was useless.
The police found three letters in the dead man's pockets. One was addressed to "My Wife," and read: "when she, Dora, tells me from her own mouth that she is not particular. I may have reason to believe the rest. But God bless her. I know nothing but good of her."
On the back of the paper on which this was written there appeared the words: "Sweet, peaceful, welcome death."
Another letter, addressed "To the Public," read: "I feel too weak to write. There is a friend of mine who understands everything, who will attend to all."
This was signed "Castlemaine."
CANNOT SAY WHY.
The letter to his father read: "I have written a letter to the public. God bless you, father, and Dora. I cannot say why I did It. but Mrs. Keck will know."
It could not be learned who the Mrs. Keck mentioned is, but she is thought to be a relative of the dead man.
BACK FROM A TOUR.
The Castlemaines had just returned from Savannah, Ga., about a week ago. It is understood the "Sutherland sisters" had been making a tour of the South, and came north by steamer.
Mrs. Stein said Castlemaine was frequently under the influence of liquor, and had had several quarrels with his wife.
Mrs. Castlemaine was out at dinner with her sister when her husband took the drug, and found him lying in the corner where he had probably fallen when overcome by its influence."
Note: The article is wrong where it mention that Mr. Castlemaine was the husband of "Jeannette Sutherland".
He was the husband of Isabella Sutherland.
In the files at the Niagara County Historian Office there is a hand drawn sketch titled "Castlemaine Mausoleum - Door Open". The handwriting is that of Clarence Lewis .
The sketch shows five rectangles (apparently representing caskets) and handwritten notes as follows: "Two Chinese urns with the ashes of Naomi Bailey Booth and small son Carroll".
The caskets are labeled as follows: Frederick Castlemaine 1896, Aunt Martha Brink 1911, Sarah Sutherland 1919, Fletcher Bailey 1918, Isabella Castlemaine=- Swain 1914. Date of the sketch is unknown.
Note: There is no mention of Dora Sutherland.
NOTE: For many years it was believed that Dora Sutherland's ashes were also within the Castlemaine mausoleum.
This was based on a number of newspaper articles reporting on plans to move her ashes from California to Lockport.
Apparently Dora's ashes were never moved to Lockport.
In 2022 it was proven that Dora Sutherland's ashes remain in a "community niche" in a mausoleum at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Los Angeles.
NOTE: The following is some information about Dora Sutherland. Again, it has been proven that her remains are not in Lockport. The following is information about her only.
Buffalo News, Wednesday December 15, 1926:
AUTO KILLS DORA SUTHERLAND, ONE OF FAMOUS SISTERS.
LOCKPORT. Dec. 15. DORA SUTHERLAND, 62 years old, one of the famous Seven Sutherland Sisters, known all over the world for their long hair, which averaged at least five feet, was killed in Los Angeles Friday when she was struck by an automobile. She lived an hour after being taken to a hospital. She was on her way home after doing Christmas shopping. The funeral was held in Los Angeles. The body will be brought to Niagara County for final interment in the spring.
Dora Sutherland was born in a farm near the Million Dollar highway. She was educated In Lockport schools and lived with her sisters on High Street. The sisters toured all over the country in concert programs, later capitalising their remarkable heads of hair by posing as "living examples" for various hair tonics concerns.
Harry S. Bailey , 86 Springville Avenue Buffalo is secretary - treasurer of the Seven Sutherland Sisters Corporation, in addition to being a nephew of Dora.
Dora was the second youngest of the seven sisters and the fifth to die. Mary and Grace Sutherland of Los Angeles survive.
Lockport Union Sun and Journal, Saturday December 22, 1962, front page:
ASHES OF FAMED DORA SUTHERLAND TO BE REBURIED.
One of the famed Sutherland Sisters is coming home to Niagara County, it was disclosed by Clarence O. Lewis, Niagara County Historian.
The ashes of Miss Dora Sutherland, one of the seven sisters famed throughout the world in the 1870's for their floor length tresses, will be arriving any day according to Mr. Lewis.
Dora, the youngest of the sisters was killed in an automobile accident in 1926 in Los Angeles.
Her ashes have been kept in Inglewood California. The other six sisters are buried in cemeteries in Niagara County.
The ashes will be re-interred at Glenwood Cemetery under the auspices of the Niagara County Historical Society and the Glenwood Cemtery Assn.
The sisters were children of Fletcher Sutherland, a Niagara County resident, who concocted a "hair grower" in the 1870's and promoted huge sales by touring the world with his daughters.
Mr. Lewis said they earned $2,669,000.00 selling their hair tonic.
Appropriate ceremonies will be conducted at Glenwood Cemetery upon receipt of the ashes which will arrive in a brass urn "about 10 inches high and 8 inches in diameter" guessed Mr. Lewis. He expects the package to arrive either by express or by parcel post.
Added July 8. 2014:
Note: The agreement to move Dora's ashes to Lockport may have fallen through. A local expert states that the ashes remain at Inglewood Cemetery in Los Angeles California.
There is no mention of Dora Sutherland's ashes in Glenwood Cemetery records.
The Castlemaine mausoleum in Glenwood Cemetery was constructed for Frederick H. Castlemaine.
Mr. Castlemaine was born in 1867 in Castlemaine Ontario, the son of Ralph Abercrombie Castlemaine.
Mr. Castlemaine married Isabella Sutherland, one of the world famous "Seven Sutherland Sisters".
After Frederick died of an apparent morphine overdose in 1896 his widow (Isabella) had the ornate granite mausoleum constructed at the top of the Niagara escarpment in the northern section of the cemetery. His remains were the first to be entombed in the structure.
The exterior of the mausoleum is in perfect condition as of 2014, with exception of damage caused by vandals in 1898.
The mausoleum gained considerable local attention during it's construction, and then again a few years later because of an attempted grave robbery.
Theories around the attempted grave robbery were that the ghouls intended to steal the body and hold it for ransom, or they were possibly just looking for valuables that they believed were in the casket.
Regardless, there were no valuables in the vault, and although the vandals were able to gain entry into the structure through a small rear window, they were unable to remove the body out the small window, or they just didn't try.
Much has been written about the "Seven Sutherland Sisters" and the Castlemaine family.
I tried to piece together the names of the dead entombed in the mausoleum and I made Find-A-Grave entries for those that didn't already have them.
I listed my sources under each Find-A-Grave entry. Usually my source was the local newspaper at the time (The Lockport Journal).
A local historian, Clarence O. Lewis, published a series of articles about the Seven Sutherland Sisters in the Lockport Union Sun and Journal in the 1960's. I used his articles as a resource.
This is an article about the attempted grave robbery. Following this article is a list of the dead whose remains are in the strucure to the best of my knowledge.
Lockport Journal, Saturday March 12, 1898, Front page:
GHASTLY.
GRAVE ROBBERS MOLEST THE DEAD IN GLENWOOD CEMETERY.
A DETESTABLE CRIME.
One of the most despicable acts of crime ever committed within the precincts of this city has come to light.
Grave robbers, those most degraded of criminals, has been plying their ghastly vocation in Glenwood Cemetery.
An agent for a granite firm in Clarence, N.Y , yesterday visited Glenwood and upon inspecting the Castlemaine
mausoleum found evidence that it had been entered by grave-robbers, probably the night before. The plunderers had, it was found, used both dynamite and powder in an attempt to blow open the door but their efforts in this direction
were futile. They then turned their attention to the window in the rear of the structure and succeeded in gaining entrance through that opening.
Upon gaining the inside of the mausoleum, the robbers opened the outer box in which incased the coffin containing the remains of the late Frederick H. Castlemaine and pried open the top of the casket. They searched carefully for valuables which they evidently expected to find in the coffin but there were none.
They then searched the inside of the mausoleum, displacing all the movable articles in a vain hunt for the rich find they had expected but as no valuables had ever been placed in the vault the predators had their trouble for their pains and at last gave up the and left, taking with them the handsome outside bronze door of the mausoleum.
Mrs. Castlemaine was at once notified by Cemetery Supt. Stockwell of the deed. She notified the police and in a short time the officers were on the scene, searching for a clue. Wagon tracks were found on the road in the rear of the cemetery and evidence was found that the bronze door had been dragged to the wagon. The officers traced the wagon for a considerable distance but finally were obliged to give
up the hunt.
A guard was placed at the mausoleum last night and to-day the police are still working on the case. A full description and cut of the handsome and costly Castlemaine mausoleum has been published by the Journal heretofore.
Remains in the mausoleum are believed to be as follows:
Caskets:
1) FREDERICK H. CASTLEMAINE (for whom the mausoleum was built). He died in 1896, and was placed in the mausoleum in 1897.
2) ISABELLA SUTHERLAND CASTLEMAINE SWAIN. Died 1914.
Isabella married Alonzo Swain a few years after her first husband (Frederick) died.
3) FLETCHER S. BAILEY (Son of Naomi Sutherland Bailey). Fletcher was killed in a motorcycle accident in Buffalo New York on July 1, 1918. He was 31 years old.
4) SARAH SUTHERLAND. Died September 14, 1919 at the family home in Cambria New York.
5) Unknown (Possibly Martha Brink, aunt of the seven sisters).
Urns containing ashes:
1) NAOMI BAILEY BOOTH (Dora Sutherland Bailey's niece). Naomi Bailey Booth was the wife of Charles Brandon Booth, she died in Shanghai China.
2) CARROLL BOOTH (Son of Naomi Bailey Booth).
Most of the above information is from an article written by Clarence O. Lewis that appeared in the Lockport Union Sun and Journal on January 2, 1963.
Mr. Lewis theorized that the fifth casket is that of Martha Brink, an aunt of the seven sisters. Martha Brink died on October 31, 1911.
I don't know how Mr. Lewis came upon the fact that there are five caskets in the structure, nor do I know how he developed the information about the Chinese urns containing the above mentioned ashes.
All the other entombments are confirmed (somewhat) by obituaries in the local newspaper.
There was an article published in the Lockport Union Sun and Journal on Thursday June 7, 1934 reporting the death of Joseph Bailey (husband of Naomi Sutherland). According to the article Mr. Bailey's remains were to be "buried in the family mausoleum at Glenwood Cemetery".
Cemetery records indicate Mr. Bailey's remains were buried in the ground in a "pine box" at Section 16 Lot 12 Grave 8 on June 9, 1934.
If he was in fact buried in the ground his unmarked grave is to the right of the Castlemaine mausoleum, immediately to the left of the Harry Sutherland Bailey grave.
At this time (January 2021) the mausoleum is sealed shut making it impossible to see the crypts inside.
Unfortunately cemetery records are scant with respect to entombments in the mausoleum.
The following article was published on the front page of "The Press" (New York City) on Thursday March 26, 1896:
"DEATH IN HIS DREAM
Catlemaine killed himself with morphine.
"SUTHERLAND SISTER" HIS WIFE
Policemen find two of the long haired septet working over the corpse.
Fred H. Castlemaine killed himself last night, at No. 54 West Twenty fifth street, with a dose of morphine. He had been drinking hard, and when last seen before his death was considerably under the influence of liquor.
Castlemaine was the husband of Jeannette Sutherland, one of the "seven sisters," who have become well known by traveling over the country advertising a hair grower. Castlemaine was general traveling manager for the firm that manufactures the preparation at No. 414 Bleecker street.
Patrolman Juan of the West Thirtieth street police station was passing by the Twenty-fifth street house, which is kept by Mrs. Annie Stein, at 7 p. m., when he was told there was a man in there dying. He made inquiries, but was told at the door that the man was only sick.
A CRY FOR HELP.
Half an hour later Patrolman Madden and Special Policeman James M. Harris were standing in front of the house, when a window on the third floor was flung up and a cry rang out: "Help! help! Police!"
Running into the house, they found Castlemaine stretched insensible on a bed, his wife and her sister, Dora Sutherland, working to restore him to consciousness. Madden called an ambulance from New York Hospital, but the wife refused to let Dr. Kenneth, who responded to the call, see her husband.
Then Dr. H. N. Forbes, who lives in the same block, was called, and said that the man had been dead for fully half an hour.
TRIED TO SAVE HIM.
Mrs. Castlemaine insisted, however, that on several previous occasions her husband had been pronounced dead from overdoses of morphine, and had been restored to consciousness by artificial respiration. Dr. Forbes and Dr. Pierce of the Hoffman House made the attempt, but it was useless.
The police found three letters in the dead man's pockets. One was addressed to "My Wife," and read: "when she, Dora, tells me from her own mouth that she is not particular. I may have reason to believe the rest. But God bless her. I know nothing but good of her."
On the back of the paper on which this was written there appeared the words: "Sweet, peaceful, welcome death."
Another letter, addressed "To the Public," read: "I feel too weak to write. There is a friend of mine who understands everything, who will attend to all."
This was signed "Castlemaine."
CANNOT SAY WHY.
The letter to his father read: "I have written a letter to the public. God bless you, father, and Dora. I cannot say why I did It. but Mrs. Keck will know."
It could not be learned who the Mrs. Keck mentioned is, but she is thought to be a relative of the dead man.
BACK FROM A TOUR.
The Castlemaines had just returned from Savannah, Ga., about a week ago. It is understood the "Sutherland sisters" had been making a tour of the South, and came north by steamer.
Mrs. Stein said Castlemaine was frequently under the influence of liquor, and had had several quarrels with his wife.
Mrs. Castlemaine was out at dinner with her sister when her husband took the drug, and found him lying in the corner where he had probably fallen when overcome by its influence."
Note: The article is wrong where it mention that Mr. Castlemaine was the husband of "Jeannette Sutherland".
He was the husband of Isabella Sutherland.
In the files at the Niagara County Historian Office there is a hand drawn sketch titled "Castlemaine Mausoleum - Door Open". The handwriting is that of Clarence Lewis .
The sketch shows five rectangles (apparently representing caskets) and handwritten notes as follows: "Two Chinese urns with the ashes of Naomi Bailey Booth and small son Carroll".
The caskets are labeled as follows: Frederick Castlemaine 1896, Aunt Martha Brink 1911, Sarah Sutherland 1919, Fletcher Bailey 1918, Isabella Castlemaine=- Swain 1914. Date of the sketch is unknown.
Note: There is no mention of Dora Sutherland.
NOTE: For many years it was believed that Dora Sutherland's ashes were also within the Castlemaine mausoleum.
This was based on a number of newspaper articles reporting on plans to move her ashes from California to Lockport.
Apparently Dora's ashes were never moved to Lockport.
In 2022 it was proven that Dora Sutherland's ashes remain in a "community niche" in a mausoleum at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Los Angeles.
NOTE: The following is some information about Dora Sutherland. Again, it has been proven that her remains are not in Lockport. The following is information about her only.
Buffalo News, Wednesday December 15, 1926:
AUTO KILLS DORA SUTHERLAND, ONE OF FAMOUS SISTERS.
LOCKPORT. Dec. 15. DORA SUTHERLAND, 62 years old, one of the famous Seven Sutherland Sisters, known all over the world for their long hair, which averaged at least five feet, was killed in Los Angeles Friday when she was struck by an automobile. She lived an hour after being taken to a hospital. She was on her way home after doing Christmas shopping. The funeral was held in Los Angeles. The body will be brought to Niagara County for final interment in the spring.
Dora Sutherland was born in a farm near the Million Dollar highway. She was educated In Lockport schools and lived with her sisters on High Street. The sisters toured all over the country in concert programs, later capitalising their remarkable heads of hair by posing as "living examples" for various hair tonics concerns.
Harry S. Bailey , 86 Springville Avenue Buffalo is secretary - treasurer of the Seven Sutherland Sisters Corporation, in addition to being a nephew of Dora.
Dora was the second youngest of the seven sisters and the fifth to die. Mary and Grace Sutherland of Los Angeles survive.
Lockport Union Sun and Journal, Saturday December 22, 1962, front page:
ASHES OF FAMED DORA SUTHERLAND TO BE REBURIED.
One of the famed Sutherland Sisters is coming home to Niagara County, it was disclosed by Clarence O. Lewis, Niagara County Historian.
The ashes of Miss Dora Sutherland, one of the seven sisters famed throughout the world in the 1870's for their floor length tresses, will be arriving any day according to Mr. Lewis.
Dora, the youngest of the sisters was killed in an automobile accident in 1926 in Los Angeles.
Her ashes have been kept in Inglewood California. The other six sisters are buried in cemeteries in Niagara County.
The ashes will be re-interred at Glenwood Cemetery under the auspices of the Niagara County Historical Society and the Glenwood Cemtery Assn.
The sisters were children of Fletcher Sutherland, a Niagara County resident, who concocted a "hair grower" in the 1870's and promoted huge sales by touring the world with his daughters.
Mr. Lewis said they earned $2,669,000.00 selling their hair tonic.
Appropriate ceremonies will be conducted at Glenwood Cemetery upon receipt of the ashes which will arrive in a brass urn "about 10 inches high and 8 inches in diameter" guessed Mr. Lewis. He expects the package to arrive either by express or by parcel post.
Added July 8. 2014:
Note: The agreement to move Dora's ashes to Lockport may have fallen through. A local expert states that the ashes remain at Inglewood Cemetery in Los Angeles California.
There is no mention of Dora Sutherland's ashes in Glenwood Cemetery records.
Mr. Castlemaine was born in 1867 in Castlemaine Ontario, the son of Ralph Abercrombie Castlemaine.
Mr. Castlemaine married Isabella Sutherland, one of the world famous "Seven Sutherland Sisters".
After Frederick died of an apparent morphine overdose in 1896 his widow (Isabella) had the ornate granite mausoleum constructed at the top of the Niagara escarpment in the northern section of the cemetery. His remains were the first to be entombed in the structure.
The exterior of the mausoleum is in perfect condition as of 2014, with exception of damage caused by vandals in 1898.
The mausoleum gained considerable local attention during it's construction, and then again a few years later because of an attempted grave robbery.
Theories around the attempted grave robbery were that the ghouls intended to steal the body and hold it for ransom, or they were possibly just looking for valuables that they believed were in the casket.
Regardless, there were no valuables in the vault, and although the vandals were able to gain entry into the structure through a small rear window, they were unable to remove the body out the small window, or they just didn't try.
Much has been written about the "Seven Sutherland Sisters" and the Castlemaine family.
I tried to piece together the names of the dead entombed in the mausoleum and I made Find-A-Grave entries for those that didn't already have them.
I listed my sources under each Find-A-Grave entry. Usually my source was the local newspaper at the time (The Lockport Journal).
A local historian, Clarence O. Lewis, published a series of articles about the Seven Sutherland Sisters in the Lockport Union Sun and Journal in the 1960's. I used his articles as a resource.
This is an article about the attempted grave robbery. Following this article is a list of the dead whose remains are in the strucure to the best of my knowledge.
Lockport Journal, Saturday March 12, 1898, Front page:
GHASTLY.
GRAVE ROBBERS MOLEST THE DEAD IN GLENWOOD CEMETERY.
A DETESTABLE CRIME.
One of the most despicable acts of crime ever committed within the precincts of this city has come to light.
Grave robbers, those most degraded of criminals, has been plying their ghastly vocation in Glenwood Cemetery.
An agent for a granite firm in Clarence, N.Y , yesterday visited Glenwood and upon inspecting the Castlemaine
mausoleum found evidence that it had been entered by grave-robbers, probably the night before. The plunderers had, it was found, used both dynamite and powder in an attempt to blow open the door but their efforts in this direction
were futile. They then turned their attention to the window in the rear of the structure and succeeded in gaining entrance through that opening.
Upon gaining the inside of the mausoleum, the robbers opened the outer box in which incased the coffin containing the remains of the late Frederick H. Castlemaine and pried open the top of the casket. They searched carefully for valuables which they evidently expected to find in the coffin but there were none.
They then searched the inside of the mausoleum, displacing all the movable articles in a vain hunt for the rich find they had expected but as no valuables had ever been placed in the vault the predators had their trouble for their pains and at last gave up the and left, taking with them the handsome outside bronze door of the mausoleum.
Mrs. Castlemaine was at once notified by Cemetery Supt. Stockwell of the deed. She notified the police and in a short time the officers were on the scene, searching for a clue. Wagon tracks were found on the road in the rear of the cemetery and evidence was found that the bronze door had been dragged to the wagon. The officers traced the wagon for a considerable distance but finally were obliged to give
up the hunt.
A guard was placed at the mausoleum last night and to-day the police are still working on the case. A full description and cut of the handsome and costly Castlemaine mausoleum has been published by the Journal heretofore.
Remains in the mausoleum are believed to be as follows:
Caskets:
1) FREDERICK H. CASTLEMAINE (for whom the mausoleum was built). He died in 1896, and was placed in the mausoleum in 1897.
2) ISABELLA SUTHERLAND CASTLEMAINE SWAIN. Died 1914.
Isabella married Alonzo Swain a few years after her first husband (Frederick) died.
3) FLETCHER S. BAILEY (Son of Naomi Sutherland Bailey). Fletcher was killed in a motorcycle accident in Buffalo New York on July 1, 1918. He was 31 years old.
4) SARAH SUTHERLAND. Died September 14, 1919 at the family home in Cambria New York.
5) Unknown (Possibly Martha Brink, aunt of the seven sisters).
Urns containing ashes:
1) NAOMI BAILEY BOOTH (Dora Sutherland Bailey's niece). Naomi Bailey Booth was the wife of Charles Brandon Booth, she died in Shanghai China.
2) CARROLL BOOTH (Son of Naomi Bailey Booth).
Most of the above information is from an article written by Clarence O. Lewis that appeared in the Lockport Union Sun and Journal on January 2, 1963.
Mr. Lewis theorized that the fifth casket is that of Martha Brink, an aunt of the seven sisters. Martha Brink died on October 31, 1911.
I don't know how Mr. Lewis came upon the fact that there are five caskets in the structure, nor do I know how he developed the information about the Chinese urns containing the above mentioned ashes.
All the other entombments are confirmed (somewhat) by obituaries in the local newspaper.
There was an article published in the Lockport Union Sun and Journal on Thursday June 7, 1934 reporting the death of Joseph Bailey (husband of Naomi Sutherland). According to the article Mr. Bailey's remains were to be "buried in the family mausoleum at Glenwood Cemetery".
Cemetery records indicate Mr. Bailey's remains were buried in the ground in a "pine box" at Section 16 Lot 12 Grave 8 on June 9, 1934.
If he was in fact buried in the ground his unmarked grave is to the right of the Castlemaine mausoleum, immediately to the left of the Harry Sutherland Bailey grave.
At this time (January 2021) the mausoleum is sealed shut making it impossible to see the crypts inside.
Unfortunately cemetery records are scant with respect to entombments in the mausoleum.
The following article was published on the front page of "The Press" (New York City) on Thursday March 26, 1896:
"DEATH IN HIS DREAM
Catlemaine killed himself with morphine.
"SUTHERLAND SISTER" HIS WIFE
Policemen find two of the long haired septet working over the corpse.
Fred H. Castlemaine killed himself last night, at No. 54 West Twenty fifth street, with a dose of morphine. He had been drinking hard, and when last seen before his death was considerably under the influence of liquor.
Castlemaine was the husband of Jeannette Sutherland, one of the "seven sisters," who have become well known by traveling over the country advertising a hair grower. Castlemaine was general traveling manager for the firm that manufactures the preparation at No. 414 Bleecker street.
Patrolman Juan of the West Thirtieth street police station was passing by the Twenty-fifth street house, which is kept by Mrs. Annie Stein, at 7 p. m., when he was told there was a man in there dying. He made inquiries, but was told at the door that the man was only sick.
A CRY FOR HELP.
Half an hour later Patrolman Madden and Special Policeman James M. Harris were standing in front of the house, when a window on the third floor was flung up and a cry rang out: "Help! help! Police!"
Running into the house, they found Castlemaine stretched insensible on a bed, his wife and her sister, Dora Sutherland, working to restore him to consciousness. Madden called an ambulance from New York Hospital, but the wife refused to let Dr. Kenneth, who responded to the call, see her husband.
Then Dr. H. N. Forbes, who lives in the same block, was called, and said that the man had been dead for fully half an hour.
TRIED TO SAVE HIM.
Mrs. Castlemaine insisted, however, that on several previous occasions her husband had been pronounced dead from overdoses of morphine, and had been restored to consciousness by artificial respiration. Dr. Forbes and Dr. Pierce of the Hoffman House made the attempt, but it was useless.
The police found three letters in the dead man's pockets. One was addressed to "My Wife," and read: "when she, Dora, tells me from her own mouth that she is not particular. I may have reason to believe the rest. But God bless her. I know nothing but good of her."
On the back of the paper on which this was written there appeared the words: "Sweet, peaceful, welcome death."
Another letter, addressed "To the Public," read: "I feel too weak to write. There is a friend of mine who understands everything, who will attend to all."
This was signed "Castlemaine."
CANNOT SAY WHY.
The letter to his father read: "I have written a letter to the public. God bless you, father, and Dora. I cannot say why I did It. but Mrs. Keck will know."
It could not be learned who the Mrs. Keck mentioned is, but she is thought to be a relative of the dead man.
BACK FROM A TOUR.
The Castlemaines had just returned from Savannah, Ga., about a week ago. It is understood the "Sutherland sisters" had been making a tour of the South, and came north by steamer.
Mrs. Stein said Castlemaine was frequently under the influence of liquor, and had had several quarrels with his wife.
Mrs. Castlemaine was out at dinner with her sister when her husband took the drug, and found him lying in the corner where he had probably fallen when overcome by its influence."
Note: The article is wrong where it mention that Mr. Castlemaine was the husband of "Jeannette Sutherland".
He was the husband of Isabella Sutherland.
In the files at the Niagara County Historian Office there is a hand drawn sketch titled "Castlemaine Mausoleum - Door Open". The handwriting is that of Clarence Lewis .
The sketch shows five rectangles (apparently representing caskets) and handwritten notes as follows: "Two Chinese urns with the ashes of Naomi Bailey Booth and small son Carroll".
The caskets are labeled as follows: Frederick Castlemaine 1896, Aunt Martha Brink 1911, Sarah Sutherland 1919, Fletcher Bailey 1918, Isabella Castlemaine=- Swain 1914. Date of the sketch is unknown.
Note: There is no mention of Dora Sutherland.
NOTE: For many years it was believed that Dora Sutherland's ashes were also within the Castlemaine mausoleum.
This was based on a number of newspaper articles reporting on plans to move her ashes from California to Lockport.
Apparently Dora's ashes were never moved to Lockport.
In 2022 it was proven that Dora Sutherland's ashes remain in a "community niche" in a mausoleum at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Los Angeles.
NOTE: The following is some information about Dora Sutherland. Again, it has been proven that her remains are not in Lockport. The following is information about her only.
Buffalo News, Wednesday December 15, 1926:
AUTO KILLS DORA SUTHERLAND, ONE OF FAMOUS SISTERS.
LOCKPORT. Dec. 15. DORA SUTHERLAND, 62 years old, one of the famous Seven Sutherland Sisters, known all over the world for their long hair, which averaged at least five feet, was killed in Los Angeles Friday when she was struck by an automobile. She lived an hour after being taken to a hospital. She was on her way home after doing Christmas shopping. The funeral was held in Los Angeles. The body will be brought to Niagara County for final interment in the spring.
Dora Sutherland was born in a farm near the Million Dollar highway. She was educated In Lockport schools and lived with her sisters on High Street. The sisters toured all over the country in concert programs, later capitalising their remarkable heads of hair by posing as "living examples" for various hair tonics concerns.
Harry S. Bailey , 86 Springville Avenue Buffalo is secretary - treasurer of the Seven Sutherland Sisters Corporation, in addition to being a nephew of Dora.
Dora was the second youngest of the seven sisters and the fifth to die. Mary and Grace Sutherland of Los Angeles survive.
Lockport Union Sun and Journal, Saturday December 22, 1962, front page:
ASHES OF FAMED DORA SUTHERLAND TO BE REBURIED.
One of the famed Sutherland Sisters is coming home to Niagara County, it was disclosed by Clarence O. Lewis, Niagara County Historian.
The ashes of Miss Dora Sutherland, one of the seven sisters famed throughout the world in the 1870's for their floor length tresses, will be arriving any day according to Mr. Lewis.
Dora, the youngest of the sisters was killed in an automobile accident in 1926 in Los Angeles.
Her ashes have been kept in Inglewood California. The other six sisters are buried in cemeteries in Niagara County.
The ashes will be re-interred at Glenwood Cemetery under the auspices of the Niagara County Historical Society and the Glenwood Cemtery Assn.
The sisters were children of Fletcher Sutherland, a Niagara County resident, who concocted a "hair grower" in the 1870's and promoted huge sales by touring the world with his daughters.
Mr. Lewis said they earned $2,669,000.00 selling their hair tonic.
Appropriate ceremonies will be conducted at Glenwood Cemetery upon receipt of the ashes which will arrive in a brass urn "about 10 inches high and 8 inches in diameter" guessed Mr. Lewis. He expects the package to arrive either by express or by parcel post.
Added July 8. 2014:
Note: The agreement to move Dora's ashes to Lockport may have fallen through. A local expert states that the ashes remain at Inglewood Cemetery in Los Angeles California.
There is no mention of Dora Sutherland's ashes in Glenwood Cemetery records.
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