Trustees Records, Vol. 7, 1886 (page 252)

252

[Old Chapel] Cremation begun
Old Chapel had been completed and that it was in
satisfactory use for the incineration of bodies, the
approval of the State Board of Health having been
received on April 7 last. The record of cremations
up to May 29 was stated as follows:

Number of Cremations to May 29

___
First Cremation	April 17, 1900
Cremations to May 29	___	16

Of these two were experimental and
made without charge.

The amounts received for the others were

___
For 12 cremations	at $30 each	$360
[For] 2 cremations	at $35 each	70
___	Total	$430

Niches for Urns in Crematory
Voted that the President be directed to employ an
architect and have plans and designs made for
a system of niches in the Old Chapel, now reconstructed
for the reception of urns containing the ashes of in-
cincrated human bodies the same to be submitted to
the Board for approval and action.

Vote of Thanks to Prof. Richards
The President offered the following vote of thanks
to Professor Richards for his services in connection
with the Crematory and the same was adopted:

"Voted, that the thanks of this Board be presented to
Professor Robert H. Richards of the Massachusetts In-
stitute of Technology for his valuable advice and personal
aid in the construction and successful operation of our
incincrating retorts.