A Jewel Outside of Time - The San Francisco Columbarium

Words are inadequate when you’re alone inside. While not religious, I am spiritual. We fit. Stand under the copper domed rotunda and you are within 60 feet of 30,000 remains.  These folks being dead so long impacts me in a way that eludes description, kinda lonely.

Designed by Bernard J. S. Cahill, the Columbarium was built in 1898, a whisper from the vanished greater Odd Fellow Cemetery.  In 1934 it began deteriorating for 46 years. The Neptune Society became the caretaker in 1980 and restored the Columbarium.

Corrosion is pervasive throughout the building due to the years of neglect; most urns were last touched over a century ago. The poisons of blue and green verdigris are beautiful. Corrosion slowly encases as it creates a protective shell.

The positioning of a name on an urn makes obvious if they were to share the space with others. However, I see some souls are alone for eternity, no bedfellows. The other intended occupants missing, sad. Maybe they moved.

For me, many of these niches enjoy a presence. Due to low lighting a shallow depth of field contributes. Reflections are everywhere.  The glass bevel becomes important. Some niche windows are near opaque due to the corrosion, others are just dirty.  Both lend personality.