Situated on approximately fourteen acres, the former Wauwatosa Cemetery Chapel was completed in 1853 and served as the First Baptist Church of Wauwatosa for thirty-five years. Located along Wauwatosa Avenue, just south of W. North Avenue, the former church was purchased in 1888 by Wauwatosa native Frederick D. Underwood who, by that time, was the general supervisor of the Soo Line Railroad. The building’s function from 1888 to 1904 remains unclear; however, by 1904, Underwood offered its use to the Wauwatosa Minute Men (later known as the Wauwatosa Light Guard) for use as an armory. Among the alterations made for its conversion include the removal of the bell tower, the replacement of its original triple-hung windows with double-hung examples topped with a transom, and painting the brick red.

Following its use as an armory (1905-1914), the building was moved to the nearby cemetery grounds (north of W. North Avenue) and adaptively reused a second time--again through the efforts of Frederick D. Underwood--but this time as a funerary chapel. Building alterations made in 1915 included a new basement/foundation, the addition of a pedimented portico entry, a gabled rear wing, as well as the application of stucco throughout.

Although use of the building as a funerary chapel was discontinued in 1951 and used as a tool shed and storage building thereafter, the interior continues to retain attributes of its funerary function. The main floor includes a raised altar area, in front of which is the casket lift, comprised of concrete walls and wooden panel doors. In addition to office space for the former cemetery sexton, the lower level still contains two rows of three, reinforced concrete vaults for casket storage.

The cemetery is non-denominational and owned by a private cemetery association. Although the chapel building is not currently open to the public, the Association hopes to soon restore it make it available for public use once again.