Mt. Crest Abbey Mausoleum, 1914, on the grounds of City View Cemetery [Photo: Salem Heritage Network} Cemeteries are typically the silent repositories of the history of local communities, and historic cemeteries often prove to be the gatekeepers to the treasures of our rich heritage! While strolling through the peaceful grounds, you can discern major components of local history just by reading the headstones: wars, epidemics, notable families, working families, times of plenty, times of trouble. Our guest today, Rick Hilts of family-owned City View Cemetery & Funeral Home, accepts this responsibility willingly.
Rick Hilts [Photo: CVC] The Hilts Family, first father and mother William and Fern, and later brothers Rick and Dave, have been operating this long-time Salem business since 1966 when they purchased the business from Fern's uncle and aunt, Herman and Leta Johnston. William Hilts, originally from Kansas, was introduced by friends to Fern Ingram of Albany who was teaching in Coos Bay after graduating from Willamette University. Fern's grandfather, Burl ingram, was a Linn County Commissioner from 1959-1974. They were married in the Congregational Church in Salem, and the rest, as they say, is history. Rick, whose background was originally in forestry, took over leadership of the business in 1983 due to the ill health and subsequent death of his father.
The cemetery was founded in 1893 by Jason Porter (J.P.) Frizzell. Mr. Frizzell and his parents had emigrated to Oregon over the Oregon trail and settled in Polk County. J.P. acquired this acreage from the Baskett and Headrick families. Herman Johnston, who previously worked with Forest Lawn Cemetery in Los Angeles, California, was hired by the Frizzell family to manage City View in 1940, and then purchased the business in 1949. It's not known what lead Mr. Frizzell, a farmer from Perrydale, to purchase this acreage in south Salem nor what prompted him to begin a cemetery, but wouldn't it be fun to find this out? But that's best left for another day.
 Mt. Crest Mausoleum [Photo: breakfastonbikes.blogspot.com]
 1924 Thomas Livesley Home; now known as Mahonia Hall [Photo:Google Images] | City View has areas dedicated to war veterans (American Civil War (GAR), Spanish-American War, on through Viet Nam), infants and young children, and several fraternal organizations. One of the showpieces of the complex is the 1914 Mt. Crest Abbey Mausoleum. This Classic Greek-Roman-style structure is one of a small number of impressive mausoleums built throughout Oregon by the Portland Mausoleum Company. Mt. Crest Abbey was designed in 1913 by young Ellis F. Lawrence, later known as the "father" of architecture in Oregon. Besides being the Dean of Architecture at the University of Oregon from 1914-1946 and designing several buildings on that campus, Mr. Lawrence designed several other buildings in Salem, including the 1926 Elsinore Theater, the 1912 Masonic Building, and the 1924 Thomas Livesley House, aka Mahonia Hall, the official residence of the Oregon governor since 1988. |
Several notable individuals are interred in the Mausoleum, including Mary "Indian Mary" Peters (1853-1921), ferry operator and park namesake; Henry Schauer (1918-1997), U.S. Army soldier and recipient of the Medal of Honor; and Larry Norman (1947-2008), Christian musician, singer/songwriter. Also resting in Mt. Crest Abby are the remains of at least eight former Oregon governors. Their photos are displayed below.
 Zenas Moody, 7th Governor, 1882-1887 [Findagrave.com] |  William Paine Lord, 9th Governor, 1895-1899 [FAG] |  Oswald West, 14th Governor, 1911-1915 [CityViewCemetery] |  James Withycombe, 15th Governor, 1915-1911 [CVC] |
 Ben W. Olcott, 16th Governor, 1919-1923 [CVC] |  Walter M. Pierce, 17th Governor, 1923-1927 [CVC] |  Isaac L. Patterson, 18th Governor, 1927-1929 [CVC] |  Charles A. Sprague, 22nd Governor, 1939-1943 [CVC] |
The Hilts family have long been helping local citizens discover their history. Rick was integral to the recent public archaeology project to uncover the Chinese Shrine in Salem Pioneer Cemetery. Their staff are always willing to assist folks trying to trace their geneology, and they welcome those with FindAGrave.com to locate and photograph headstones. As Rick stated so emphatically, "History is a big part of who we are, and the cemetery is where history resides."
We encourage you to make a discovery or two about your own heritage by strolling through your local cemeteries, wherever they may be. You won't be disappointed--and you'll get to add to your exercise credits, too.
We encourage you to make a discovery or two about your own heritage by strolling through your local cemeteries, wherever they may be. You won't be disappointed--and you'll get to add to your exercise credits, too.
~~Posted by Deb Meaghers
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