Wilhelm's Portland Memorial Funeral Home: Difference between revisions

Wilhelm's Portland Memorial
Funeral Home
Wilhelm's Portland Memorial; Funeral Home
	Wilhelm's Portland Memorial in 2012
General information
Architectural style	Mission Revival
Address	6705 SE 14th Avenue
Town or city	Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Coordinates	45°28′28″N 122°39′07″W / 45.4745°N 122.6519°W
Opened	April 24, 1901
Website
	wilhelmportlandmemorial.com

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Wilhelm's Portland Memorial Funeral Home, Mausoleum and Crematory is a funerary establishment in the Sellwood neighborhood of southeast Portland, Oregon, United States. Opened in 1901 as the Portland Crematorium, it is the first and oldest crematorium west of the Mississippi River,^[1] and the largest privately managed indoor burial site in the Pacific Northwest.^[2]

Established due to a growing demand for crematory services in Portland at the turn of the 20th century, the establishment evolved to house a mausoleum as well, which consists of eight stories and over 5 miles (8.0 km) of hallways, featuring ornate stained glass and Italian sculptures.

History

Wilhelm's Portland Memorial Funeral Home was originally established as the Portland Crematorium on April 24, 1901, in response to the demand for crematory services in the Portland area.^[3] The Spanish Mission Revival-style mausoleum was built between 1900 and 1901, featuring whitewashed stucco walls, a tile roof, and mosaic tile doors.^[3] Frank Gibson, the secretary of the San Francisco Cremation Company, served as the first superintendent and manager of the crematory.^[3] At the time of its opening, charges for cremation were $45, and $25 for children under the age of twelve.^[3] Upon its opening, the Portland Railway, Light and Power Company operated a funeral car that could accommodate a casket as well as sitting benches for grieving family members.^[4]

In subsequent decades, the crematorium expanded into a full-fledged mausoleum.^[3] Connected by vault-lined hallways, staircases, and elevators,^[4] the mausoleum faces the Willamette River and Oaks Bottom swamp,^[4] is eight stories in height, and contains over 5 miles (8.0 km) of hallways.^[3] The mausoleum features numerous marble fronts on crypts which originate from quarries in Italy, while a variety of statues and other religious sculptures throughout were made by the Italian Tavarelli Studios.^[3] One of the central statuaries in the mausoleum is a replica of Michelangelo's La Pietà.^[3] Stained glass crafted by the Povey Brothers is incorporated throughout.^[3]

The original crematorium building is the Rose Chamber, grouped with several rooms below it, also named after flowers: the Lily, Daisy, Tulip, and Carnation Rooms.^[4] Various wings throughout the mausoleum take their names from religious figures as well as U.S. presidents.^[4]

Zugänglichkeit

Wilhelm's Portland Memorial Funeral Home is open to the public. Each Memorial Day,^[2] the historic private tomb of George Rae, one of the wealthiest men in Portland history, is open to the public for 90 minutes.^[5]^[6]

Notable burials

Homer Daniel Angell, U.S. congressman
Charlie Babb, Major League Baseball player^[7]
Jack Beutel, actor^[8]
William Alexander Ekwall, U.S. congressman^[9]
William Russell Ellis, educator and politician^[9]
Charlie High, Major League Baseball player^[7]
Robert Denison Holmes, 28th Governor of Oregon^[10]
Syl Johnson, Major League Baseball player^[7]
Fielder Jones, Major League Baseball player^[7]
Rufus Mallory, politician and lawyer
Mayo Methot, actress^[4]
Theodore Penland, U.S. soldier
Charlie Swindells, Major League Baseball player^[7]
Wayne Twitchell, Major League Baseball player
John Yeon, architect^[4]

Gallery

Sculpture in mausoleum
Mausoleum entry
Seating area
Overhead view of fountain above atrium
South end of building

References

^ Hallman, Jr., Tom (May 22, 2009). "Secrets, scandal entombed in Portland funeral home". The Oregonian. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
^ ^a ^b "Memorial Day at Wilhelm's Portland Memorial Mausoleum". The Oregonian. May 14, 2014. Archived from the original on September 13, 2019.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Beck, Dana (July 6, 2018). "Wilhelm's Portland Memorial Mausoleum: Westmoreland's hidden gem". Portland Tribune. Archived from the original on September 13, 2019.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Barnes 2004, p. 44.
^ KGW Staff (July 24, 2014). "Portland tomb opened only 90 minutes a year". KGW. Archived from the original on January 3, 2015.
^ Collins, Jessica (May 27, 2010). "Another Weekend Idea: Celebrate Memorial Day at the historic Portland Memorial Mausoleum". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on September 13, 2019.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Lee 2015, p. 497.
^ Wilson, Scott (2016). Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons (3rd ed.). McFarland. p. 100. ISBN 978-1-476-62599-7.
^ ^a ^b Spencer 1998, p. 274.
^ Spencer 1998, p. 430.

Sources

Barnes, Christine (2004). Only in Oregon: Natural and Manmade Landmarks and Oddities. Helena, Montana: Farcountry Press. ISBN 978-1-560-37292-9.
Lee, Bill (2015). The Baseball Necrology: The Post-Baseball Lives and Deaths of More Than 7,600 Major League Players and Others. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. ISBN 978-1-476-60930-0.
Spencer, Thomas E. (1998). Where They're Buried: A Directory Containing More Than Twenty Thousand Names of Notable Persons Buried in American Cemeteries, with Listings of Many Prominent People who Were Cremated. Baltimore, Maryland: Clearfield Company. ISBN 978-0-806-34823-0.

External links

Wilhelm's Portland Memorial Funeral Home at Find a Grave

[Hallman-1] Hallman, Jr., Tom (May 22, 2009). "Secrets, scandal entombed in Portland funeral home". The Oregonian. Retrieved January 2, 2014.

[memorial-2] "Memorial Day at Wilhelm's Portland Memorial Mausoleum". The Oregonian. May 14, 2014. Archived from the original on September 13, 2019.

[pt-3] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Beck, Dana (July 6, 2018). "Wilhelm's Portland Memorial Mausoleum: Westmoreland's hidden gem". Portland Tribune. Archived from the original on September 13, 2019.

[FOOTNOTEBarnes200444-4] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Barnes 2004, p. 44.

[5] KGW Staff (July 24, 2014). "Portland tomb opened only 90 minutes a year". KGW. Archived from the original on January 3, 2015.

[6] Collins, Jessica (May 27, 2010). "Another Weekend Idea: Celebrate Memorial Day at the historic Portland Memorial Mausoleum". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on September 13, 2019.

[FOOTNOTELee2015497-7] Lee 2015, p. 497.

[8] Wilson, Scott (2016). Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons (3rd ed.). McFarland. p. 100. ISBN 978-1-476-62599-7.

[FOOTNOTESpencer1998274-9] Spencer 1998, p. 274.

[FOOTNOTESpencer1998430-10] Spencer 1998, p. 430.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Infobox building
-| name                = Wilhelm's Portland Memorial<br/>Funeral Home
+| name                = Wilhelm's Portland Memorial<br />Funeral Home
 | image               = Sellwood, Portland, Oregon (2015) - 19.JPG
 | image_size          =
 | image_alt           =
 | image_caption       = Wilhelm's Portland Memorial in 2012
 | map_type            =
 | map_alt             =
 | map_caption         =
 | map_size            =
 | map_dot_label       =
 | map_dot_mark        =
 | relief              =
 | location            =
 | address             = 6705 SE 14th Avenue
 | location_city       = [[Portland, Oregon]], U.S.
 | location_country    =
 | architectural_style = [[Mission Revival architecture|Mission Revival]]
-| opened_date         = {{startdate|1901|4|24}}
+| opened_date         = {{start date|1901|4|24}}
 | coordinates         = {{coord|45.4745|N|122.6519|W|type:landmark_region:US-OR|display=inline, title}}
 | website             = {{URL|https://wilhelmportlandmemorial.com/}}
 | footnotes           =
 }}
-'''Wilhelm's Portland Memorial Funeral Home, Mausoleum and Crematory''' is a [[funeral|funerary]] establishment in the [[Sellwood, Portland, Oregon|Sellwood]] neighborhood of southeast [[Portland, Oregon]], United States. Opened in 1901 as the Portland Crematorium, it is the first and oldest [[crematorium]] west of the [[Mississippi River]],<ref name=Hallman>{{cite news|last1=Hallman, Jr.|first1=Tom|title=Secrets, scandal entombed in Portland funeral home|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2009/05/secrets_scandal_entombed_in_po.html|access-date=January 2, 2014|work=[[The Oregonian]]|date=May 22, 2009}}</ref> and the largest privately-managed indoor burial site in the [[Pacific Northwest]].<ref name=memorial/>
+'''Wilhelm's Portland Memorial Funeral Home, Mausoleum and Crematory''' is a [[funeral|funerary]] establishment in the [[Sellwood, Portland, Oregon|Sellwood]] neighborhood of southeast [[Portland, Oregon]], United States. Opened in 1901 as the Portland Crematorium, it is the first and oldest [[crematorium]] west of the [[Mississippi River]],<ref name=Hallman>{{cite news|last1=Hallman, Jr.|first1=Tom|title=Secrets, scandal entombed in Portland funeral home|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2009/05/secrets_scandal_entombed_in_po.html|access-date=January 2, 2014|work=[[The Oregonian]]|date=May 22, 2009}}</ref> and the largest privately managed indoor burial site in the [[Pacific Northwest]].<ref name=memorial/>
 Established due to a growing demand for crematory services in Portland at the turn of the 20th century, the establishment evolved to house a [[mausoleum]] as well, which consists of eight stories and over {{convert|5|mi|km}} of hallways, featuring ornate stained glass and [[Italy|Italian]] sculptures.
 ==History==
+[[File:Wilhelm's Portland Memorial - DSC 0115 (2120125422).jpg|thumb|left|Large hall in mausoleum]]
-Wilhelm's Portland Memorial Funeral Home was originally established as the Portland Crematorium on April 24, 1901, in response to the demand for [[cremation|crematory]] services in the Portland area.<ref name=pt/> The Spanish [[Mission Revival architecture|Mission Revival]]-style mausoleum was built between 1900 and 1901, featuring whitewashed stucco walls, a tile roof, and mosaic tile doors.<ref name=pt/> Frank Gibson, the secretary of the [[San Francisco]] Cremation Company, served as the first superintendent and manage of the crematory.<ref name=pt/> At the time of its opening, charges for cremation were $45, and $25 for children under the age of twelve.<ref name=pt/> Upon its opening, the [[Portland Railway, Light and Power Company]] operated a funeral car that could accommodate a casket as well as sitting benches for grieving family members.{{sfn|Barnes|2004|p=44}}
+Wilhelm's Portland Memorial Funeral Home was originally established as the Portland Crematorium on April 24, 1901, in response to the demand for [[cremation|crematory]] services in the Portland area.<ref name=pt/> The Spanish [[Mission Revival architecture|Mission Revival]]-style mausoleum was built between 1900 and 1901, featuring whitewashed stucco walls, a tile roof, and mosaic tile doors.<ref name=pt/> Frank Gibson, the secretary of the [[San Francisco]] Cremation Company, served as the first superintendent and manager of the crematory.<ref name=pt/> At the time of its opening, charges for cremation were $45, and $25 for children under the age of twelve.<ref name=pt/> Upon its opening, the [[Portland Railway, Light and Power Company]] operated a funeral car that could accommodate a casket as well as sitting benches for grieving family members.{{sfn|Barnes|2004|p=44}}
-In subsequent decades, the crematorium expanded into a full-fledged [[mausoleum]].<ref name=pt/> Connected by vault-lined hallways, staircases, and elevators,{{sfn|Barnes|2004|p=44}} the mausoleum faces the [[Willamette River]] and [[Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge|Oaks Bottom]] swamp,{{sfn|Barnes|2004|p=44}} is eight stories in height, and contains over {{convert|5|mi|km}} of hallways.<ref name=pt>{{cite web|url=https://pamplinmedia.com/sb/75-features/399676-294464-wilhelms-portland-memorial-mausoleum-westmorelands-hidden-gem-pwoff|work=[[Portland Tribune]]|title=Wilhelm's Portland Memorial Mausoleum: Westmoreland's hidden gem|last=Beck|first=Dana|date=June 6, 2018|archive-url=https://archive.today/20190913225803/https://pamplinmedia.com/sb/75-features/399676-294464-wilhelms-portland-memorial-mausoleum-westmorelands-hidden-gem-pwoff|archive-date=September 13, 2019}}</ref> The mausoleum features numerous marble fronts on crypts which originate from quarries in [[Italy]], while a variety of statues and other religious sculptures throughout were made by the Italian Tavarelli Studios.<ref name=pt/> One of the central statuaries in the mausoleum is a replica of [[Michelangelo]]'s ''[[Pietà|La Pietà]]''.<ref name=pt/> Stained glass crafted by the [[Povey Brothers]] is incorporated throughout.<ref name=pt/>
+[[File:Wilhelm's Portland Memorial - DSC 0136 (2120139418).jpg|thumb|Mausoleum passageway]]
+In subsequent decades, the crematorium expanded into a full-fledged [[mausoleum]].<ref name=pt/> Connected by vault-lined hallways, staircases, and elevators,{{sfn|Barnes|2004|p=44}} the mausoleum faces the [[Willamette River]] and [[Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge|Oaks Bottom]] swamp,{{sfn|Barnes|2004|p=44}} is eight stories in height, and contains over {{convert|5|mi|km}} of hallways.<ref name=pt>{{cite web|url=https://pamplinmedia.com/sb/75-features/399676-294464-wilhelms-portland-memorial-mausoleum-westmorelands-hidden-gem-pwoff|work=[[Portland Tribune]]|title=Wilhelm's Portland Memorial Mausoleum: Westmoreland's hidden gem|last=Beck|first=Dana|date=July 6, 2018|archive-url=https://archive.today/20190913225803/https://pamplinmedia.com/sb/75-features/399676-294464-wilhelms-portland-memorial-mausoleum-westmorelands-hidden-gem-pwoff|archive-date=September 13, 2019}}</ref> The mausoleum features numerous marble fronts on crypts which originate from quarries in [[Italy]], while a variety of statues and other religious sculptures throughout were made by the Italian Tavarelli Studios.<ref name=pt/> One of the central statuaries in the mausoleum is a replica of [[Michelangelo]]'s ''[[Pietà|La Pietà]]''.<ref name=pt/> Stained glass crafted by the [[Povey Brothers]] is incorporated throughout.<ref name=pt/>
 The original crematorium building is the Rose Chamber, grouped with several rooms below it, also named after flowers: the Lily, Daisy, Tulip, and Carnation Rooms.{{sfn|Barnes|2004|p=44}} Various wings throughout the mausoleum take their names from religious figures as well as U.S. presidents.{{sfn|Barnes|2004|p=44}}
@@ Line 39: / Line 43: @@
 ==Notable burials==
 {{div-col}}
-*[[Homer D. Angell|Homer Daniel Angell]], U.S. congressman
+* [[Homer D. Angell|Homer Daniel Angell]], U.S. congressman
-*[[Charlie Babb (baseball)|Charlie Babb]], [[Major League Baseball]] player{{sfn|Lee|2015|p=497}}
+* [[Charlie Babb (baseball)|Charlie Babb]], [[Major League Baseball]] player{{sfn|Lee|2015|p=497}}
-*[[Jack Beutel]], actor<ref>{{cite book|edition=3rd|title=Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons|page=100|publisher=McFarland|author=Wilson, Scott|year=2016|isbn=978-1-476-62599-7}}</ref>
+* [[Jack Beutel]], actor<ref>{{cite book|edition=3rd|title=Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons|page=100|publisher=McFarland|author=Wilson, Scott|year=2016|isbn=978-1-476-62599-7}}</ref>
-*[[William A. Ekwall|William Alexander Ekwall]], U.S. congressman{{sfn|Spencer|1998|p=274}}
+* [[William A. Ekwall|William Alexander Ekwall]], U.S. congressman{{sfn|Spencer|1998|p=274}}
-*[[William R. Ellis|William Russell Ellis]], educator and politician{{sfn|Spencer|1998|p=274}}
+* [[William R. Ellis|William Russell Ellis]], educator and politician{{sfn|Spencer|1998|p=274}}
-*[[Charlie High]], Major League Baseball player{{sfn|Lee|2015|p=497}}
+* [[Charlie High]], Major League Baseball player{{sfn|Lee|2015|p=497}}
-*[[Robert D. Holmes|Robert Denison Holmes]], 28th Governor of Oregon{{sfn|Spencer|1998|p=430}}
+* [[Robert D. Holmes|Robert Denison Holmes]], 28th Governor of Oregon{{sfn|Spencer|1998|p=430}}
-*[[Syl Johnson (baseball)|Syl Johnson]], Major League Baseball player{{sfn|Lee|2015|p=497}}
+* [[Syl Johnson (baseball)|Syl Johnson]], Major League Baseball player{{sfn|Lee|2015|p=497}}
-*[[Fielder Jones]], Major League Baseball player{{sfn|Lee|2015|p=497}}
+* [[Fielder Jones]], Major League Baseball player{{sfn|Lee|2015|p=497}}
-*[[Rufus Mallory]], politician and lawyer
+* [[Rufus Mallory]], politician and lawyer
-*[[Mayo Methot]], actress{{sfn|Barnes|2004|p=44}}
+* [[Mayo Methot]], actress{{sfn|Barnes|2004|p=44}}
-*[[Grand Army of the Republic|Theodore Penland]], U.S. soldier
+* [[Grand Army of the Republic|Theodore Penland]], U.S. soldier
-*[[Charlie Swindells]], Major League Baseball player{{sfn|Lee|2015|p=497}}
+* [[Charlie Swindells]], Major League Baseball player{{sfn|Lee|2015|p=497}}
-*[[Wayne Twitchell]], Major League Baseball player
+* [[Wayne Twitchell]], Major League Baseball player
-*[[John Yeon]], architect{{sfn|Barnes|2004|p=44}}
+* [[John Yeon]], architect{{sfn|Barnes|2004|p=44}}
 {{div-col-end}}
 ==Gallery==
 {{Gallery
@@ Line 63: / Line 68: @@
 | File:Sellwood, Portland, Oregon (2015) - 12.JPG
 |Mausoleum entry
-|File:Wilhelm's Portland Memorial - DSC 0136 (2120139418).jpg
-|Mausoleum passageway
 |File:Wilhelm's Portland Memorial - DSC 0070 (2119321447).jpg
 |Seating area
 |File:Wilhelm's Portland Memorial - DSC 0085 (2119332955).jpg
 |Overhead view of fountain above atrium
-|File:Wilhelm's Portland Memorial - DSC 0115 (2120125422).jpg
-|Large hall in mausoleum
 |File:Sellwood, Portland, Oregon (2015) - 34.JPG
 |South end of building
@@ Line 82: / Line 83: @@
 ==Sources==
+{{Commons category|Wilhelm's Portland Memorial Funeral & Cremation}}
-*{{cite book|last=Barnes|first=Christine|year=2004|title=Only in Oregon: Natural and Manmade Landmarks and Oddities|publisher=Farcountry Press|location=Helena, Montana|isbn=978-1-560-37292-9}}
-*{{cite book|last=Lee|first=Bill|year=2015|title=The Baseball Necrology: The Post-Baseball Lives and Deaths of More Than 7,600 Major League Players and Others|publisher=McFarland|location=Jefferson, North Carolina|isbn=978-1-476-60930-0}}
+* {{cite book|last=Barnes|first=Christine|year=2004|title=Only in Oregon: Natural and Manmade Landmarks and Oddities|publisher=Farcountry Press|location=Helena, Montana|isbn=978-1-560-37292-9}}
-*{{cite book|last=Spencer|first=Thomas E.|year=1998|title=Where They're Buried: A Directory Containing More Than Twenty Thousand Names of Notable Persons Buried in American Cemeteries, with Listings of Many Prominent People who Were Cremated|publisher=Clearfield Company|location=Baltimore, Maryland|isbn=978-0-806-34823-0|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/wheretheyreburie00spen}}
+* {{cite book|last=Lee|first=Bill|year=2015|title=The Baseball Necrology: The Post-Baseball Lives and Deaths of More Than 7,600 Major League Players and Others|publisher=McFarland|location=Jefferson, North Carolina|isbn=978-1-476-60930-0}}
+* {{cite book|last=Spencer|first=Thomas E.|year=1998|title=Where They're Buried: A Directory Containing More Than Twenty Thousand Names of Notable Persons Buried in American Cemeteries, with Listings of Many Prominent People who Were Cremated|publisher=Clearfield Company|location=Baltimore, Maryland|isbn=978-0-806-34823-0|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/wheretheyreburie00spen}}
 ==External links==
+* {{Find a Grave cemetery}}
-{{Commons category|Wilhelm's Portland Memorial Funeral & Cremation}}
-*{{Findagrave|1215853}}
-{{Sellwood, Portland, Oregon}}
+{{Sellwood-Moreland, Portland, Oregon}}
 [[Category:1901 establishments in Oregon]]
-[[Category:Buildings and structures in Portland, Oregon]]
 [[Category:Crematoria in the United States]]
 [[Category:Death care companies of the United States]]
 [[Category:Mausoleums in the United States]]
 [[Category:Mission Revival architecture in Oregon]]
-[[Category:Sellwood, Portland, Oregon]]
+[[Category:Buildings and structures in Sellwood-Moreland, Portland, Oregon]]
+[[Category:Burial monuments and structures in Oregon]]