Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, December 12, 1953, Page 15, Image 15

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    Saturday. December 12, 195S
TUB CAPITAL JOTONAL. fWem. Oretna
Para 11
I Salem's Friendly y-XT - - "
'; Homo-Owned Jjp
rf Hi tBSfei""" I''Ja.a-BaM, , fT
CAPITAL DRUG STORE
PRESCRIPTIONS
405 State Corner of Liberty
WE GIVE GREEN STAMPS
Rigdon Co., Funeral Directors,
Has Served Families in Salem
Region for Some 63 Years
This funeral heme he been under the Jurisdiction ef one
family for that length ef time Tedey, the practical
thinking Americen is rapidly taming to the invesrige
tie ef funeral matte rt In advance ef the need.
By B. KENNETH EVANS
Among; thinking Pp1e to The present mortuary
the nation there ii a growinf building waa constructed In
V. T. Rigdon Co. Funeral Directors
One family serving Salem and surrounding
community for 62 years.
299 N. Cottage Phone 3-3173
TANKS
GASOLINE - OIL - WATER - STORAGE
SEPTIC TANKS
W. W. Rosebrauqh Co.
680 S. 17th Metal Product! That Last Sines 1912
Phone 3-7609
This Year Buy Useful
WOOLEN GIFTS
DIRECT FROM THE MILL.
KAY WOOLEN MILL STORE
260 SOUTH 12th ST.
CUSTOM LAUNDERED SHIRTS
LOOK BETTER FEEL BETTER FIT BETTER
Home of Semitone Dry Cleaning
oc ReWlinsosft PicV.up ond
Only AeeVbeo. CimfCfl il
1264 Broadway CZZZIZZIZI
Delivery
J Phone 3-3165
A Complete Line of
PIPE & PLUMBING SUPPLIES
Bathroom Fixtures - Appliencei - Hardware - Mill Suppliei
Saffron Supply Co.
325 N. Commercial Phone 2-4189, If no oniw., dial 3-6478 or 2-4914
SEE THE NEW
MODEL 33 CHAIN SAW
2.1 Actual Horsepower . , M . . . ....
20-lbs. Actual Weight 2 Mode,J Avai,ab,e
12-inch Blade 16-inch Blede
908 Edoowdtor
lovne Equipment Co.
Phone 4-1541
movement to investigate fu
neral matters in advance of
need. The aound thinking
American hat come to realize
without any Ion of pathoe or
respect, that funeral need!
are Just aa imperative in the
well planned exiitance aa any
other commodity or eerrice.
Cemetery lota, mausoleums,
crypts, etc, are, more fre
quently than not, selected In
advance of the need. Ameri
cana are practical in the plan
ning of their daily lives and,
with a realization of how
short is the time for planning,
following death, it is in every
way desirable to give thought
t o funeral arrangements
ahead of time. It is also recog
nized that the state of mind
unbalances Judgment, follow
ing the demise of a loved one,
and this has been another fac
tor in encouraging people to
prepare in advance of the
eventuality.
There are many things
which may be learned by
those who take this sensible
precaution. A knowledge is
had of the mortuary with the
proper equipment, environ
ment and facilities for supply
ing Just the type of funeral
desired. Expense is deter
mined and decided in advance
in keeping with the family's
financial and economic position.
Thinking people have the
turn of mind to accept these
things philosophically and,
with consideration for those
left behind. Therefore, it is
quite generally admitted that
the public is entitled to know
the competency and facilities
of the funeral director upon
whom, sooner or later, they
will be forced to call. '
Serving the Region tS Years
The W. T. Rigdon Co., op
erating a most modern mortu
ary or funeral home, at 229
North Cottage in Salem, has
been serving the families in
Salem and this section of the
Willamette valley, for M
years.
Winfield Taylor Rigdon was
born in Powershiek county,
Illinois, Feb. 16, 1849. In his
first year, the Rigdon family
began the trek into the Ore
gon country and arrived in
the Willamette valley along
with the other pioneers,
known as the "forty-niners.
Forty-two years later W. T.
Rigdon established a funeral
home in Salem. From the very
beginning Mr. Rigdon con
stantly studied for further
proficiency in his chosen pro
fession. Along with constant
ly increasing efficiency in the
operation of his mortuary, W.
T. Rigdon introduced modern
embalming methods on the
west coast. He waa the first
to use arterial embalming in
this region. Constantly keep
ing abreast of advancement in
the profession of directing fu
nerals he brought the first
motorized hearse to Salem.
W. T. Rigdon passed away
In 1942. Members of the fam
ily had been trained to carry
on the high ethical standards
of funeral service established
by him. Therefore, this is
Salem's oldest mortuary, own
ed and operated by the same
family for 63 years.
1924 under the planning and
direetiod of W. T. Rigdon. Mr.
Rigdon proved by hia ar
rangement in the mortuary
building that, efficiency in
the handling of the prepara
tion work and conducting the
body to the last resting place.
By no means, completed the
duties of the funeral director.
The ability ef the W. T.
Rigdon Co. to take charge of
minerals under all circum
stances, for the last 63 rears.
has Justified the faith which
has been placed in this mor
tuary by Salem and Willam
ette valley families. Constant
improvement in funeral dl
rection was the pledge of W.
T. Rigdon when he first en
tered this professional field.
This pledge has been reaf
firmed by making use- of
every aid to better service
throughout the years. It
should be stressed that the
W. T. Rigdon Co. service is a
personalized service which
has been perfected with the
constant thought to soften the
grief that cornea with the
palling of loved ones. Thus,
when every detail has been
carefully planned and exe
cuted, aa is the ease with this
mortuary, fear of the unex
pected can be forgotten!
Detailed direction has also
played an important part in
the planning of every funeral
service. When a funeral is
directed by the W. T. Rigdon
Co. there is no phase of pro
cedure, impressive or solici
tude slighted. The staff Is
well versed hi various de
nominational and fraternal
rites; the equipment Is always
kept aightly; care and good
taste is always evidenced in
the arrangement of the floral
designs and attention to the
mourners' comfort
8taff la Well Fianned
The W. T. Rigdon Co. staff
has been planned with as
much care and consideration
as has characterized the ar
rangements "of the mortuary.
Charles W. Claggett has been
manager since 1848. Charles
Claggett comes from one of
Oregon and Salem's pioneer
families. He entered the mor
tuary of W. T. Rigdon in 1929
as an apprentice studying fu
neral direction and embalm
ing. He completed his ap
prentice work and attended a
recognized school of funeral
direction and embalming. He
licensed, by the Oregon
state board, in 1939 as a fu
neral director and embalmer.
Harriet Rigdon Mercer,
daughter of the founder, has
been president of the com
pany and active in its opera
tion since 1944. Winifred Rig
don Herrick, also a daughter
of the founder, haa lived in
the environment of her fath
er's funeral home since 1925.
She has been active as secretary-treasurer
since 1930. A
Lee Dorner Is a licensed fu
neral director and embalmer.
He is a member of the staff
with a background of experi
ence. Frederick George Hal
vorsen is completing his ap
prentice work with the W. T.
Rigdon Co. mortuary. Jennie
K. Welsh Is hostess In the eve
ning, residing in the funeral
home.
G
1 ' i
Across the Street or Across the Nation
Capital City Transfer Co.
230 S. Front Phone 2-2436
THE ELEGANT NEW '54
DODGE
MOCE tO II -H06E IK II - MOffi OF IT
Stan Baker Motors
II 525 CHEMEKETA
III I 111
r-rfTI-rW-'iiH. ..H"-s 4 USES
FOR COMFORT
AND HEALTH
Call 3-8555
Sheet Mstal
Contractors
1085
Broadway
Salem Heating & Sheet Metal Co.
SERVING SALEM AND
WILLAMETTE VALLEY SINCE 1910
Grabenhorsf Bros.; Realtors
1J4 S. Ifcerh - Its) bbt, talaris brmtiMBh, fcsesrtr MiMeesMsl, lmarics, Urn - FkeN 25471
MAKE DAVIDSON'S YOUR AUTO CENTER
AAA 24-HOUR TOW SERVICE
DAVIDSON AUTO SERVICE
530
Chemeketa
Serving Salem 33
Yean
Phone S-89SI
Haydife Building Blocks
Water Proofing Compounds
Complete lathing & Plastering
SuDDiies
Pumilile Block & Supply Co.
1690 Dallas Rd.
. Fireplace Materials " .
Exculsive Modemfold Door '
Spacemaster Door .
Ra-fox Folding Door
Phone 2-2445
't3S5y-tT ST - , i- I .
Centrally located in downtown Salem, the W. T. RIGDON CO. MORTUARY offers ample perking specs
and convenient access to Salem's cemeteries. Throughout the years, every effort I made to keep facili
ties modem ... to better serve Salem. PHONE 3-3173.
THE MODERN
W. T. RIGDON
CO.
MORTUARY
AT
Chemeketa and
Cottage
SALEM, OREGON
To secure privacy for the fern
during the services, Mr. Rigdon
oneered the private family room, t
accommodating mora than thirty- L
five parsons, with its own entrence. I' '
Adjoining the family room is the j I
eu r-i i u . i. rrvTv.t',
" tnwywi wirn rrs iov
with seating capacity
three hundred. The
is especially
far
nose to the etmosoh
The last horse drawn hearse with its
beautiful white horses, puss and tab.
On December 9, 1919, Mr. Rigdon re
placed the hearse with a motorized fun
eral coach, the first one in Salem.
- m v r . ...-.-i
pi-1 Ji :lrr -i
J i i I rr, - t
"I, t jgT
nily room is the I Ii? " tJ SplW V J)
its iov.iv murois TFC'r&':- f.-r2& --y
.pacity of .boat pS,
e beautiful fover f -. . ; ...
epocially noted by their patrons 'v""''"ii L'' ' " .iy'-' '.
its cheery fireplace lending coai-iV'.V-"'"i
t to the atmosphere. ilini i "u '7i, ' ""..."km mmU