I don’t recall them looking like this but in April, 2012, this row of structures in what used to be called The Valley of the Mausoleums at Old Calvary Cemetery was completely enveloped by greenery. Kind of cool to see, actually, though it would have been in the interest of the structural integrity of the buildings to take a giant weed whacker to that stuff.

Mausoleua Engulfed in Greenery

Mausoleua Engulfed in Greenery

These structures made a brief appearance in The Godfather, in the funeral scene that was filmed at Calvary.

They’ve been taking care of business more recently at Calvary, evidenced by the surprising cleanup job done for the mighty Johnston Mausoleum. Since 2002 I’d wandered Old Calvary unaware that its natural and intended color was not grimy brown but granite white. Check out the before and after photos I put together.