For those folks who haven’t quite decided what to do with their earthly remains after they’ve shuffled off this mortal coil, Oxford Township officials would like them to consider an above-ground option with a historical flavor.

Last week, the board of trustees voted 5-2 to set a price of $10,000 each for a crypt inside the mausoleum located in the township cemetery on the south side of W. Burdick St. That price does not include the opening and closing of a crypt, the current cost for which is $315.

Built in 1924, the 2,100-square-foot mausoleum contains 152 crypts.

The names carved into the marble fronts of the crypts read like a veritable who’s who of Oxford history. Drahner, Crawford, Meriam – names that now adorn street signs and buildings line the inside of the mausoleum.

There’s even a crypt for E. Henry Congdon, who owned and published The Oxford Leader from 1898 to 1955.

Clerk Curtis Wright came to the board requesting it determine a price for the remaining crypts because about a month ago, an individual had inquired about purchasing one and he had no information to give.

“We (don’t) have any prices set for a stone crypt because we’ve never done it (during) my tenure at the township,” he said.

Wright noted it appears the last time a body was interred in the mausoleum was 1990.

Information provided during the board meeting indicated there were 51 crypts available. But further research revealed there are only seven crypts available. As for the rest, 92 are occupied and 53 are sold, but unoccupied, according to Wright.

The clerk’s office did some research by contacting four cemeteries and asking what they charge for crypts.

With three of the cemeteries, the cost ranged from $9,600 to $20,000.

“I can’t believe what they get for a crypt. . . It’s amazing,” said Supervisor Bill Dunn.

“That’s more than my first house,” he quipped.

“To me, I don’t think we’d sell very many crypts at $20,000,” Wright said.

The fourth cemetery didn’t have any more crypts available, but when they were being sold, they cost $1,800.

Trustee Jack Curtis said many people probably don’t realize there’s space available in the mausoleum, so the township should advertise it. He recommended investing the sale proceeds in cemetery repairs and improvements.

“I don’t think they’re going to go like hotcakes,” Dunn noted.

Wright voted against setting the price at $10,000 because he felt it was too high.

Between the price and the fact that many people these days are choosing to be cremated, the clerk told this reporter “it doesn’t look like we’re going to be selling many crypts.”

Wright favored setting the price at $1,000.

“Even if it was $2,000, it would still be more reasonable than the other cemeteries that we surveyed,” he told this reporter. “I guess time will tell if $10,000 is a good price.”