The Golden Ferry crossing the Santiam River at the family farm near Sherburn in Linn County, c1870 [Photo: Golden Family] June 7 & 21, 2018 Episodes.
The story of one of Salem's long-time families begins with Thomas Lowell Golden who emigrated over the Oregon trail, not once but twice. Family lore tells that he was involved with Kit Carson when he first came out from St. Louis, Missouri. In 1869, he settled in the Albany area where he opened his "oculist and aurist" (eyes and ears) practice. T.L. soon married Nancy Annhing Patton, daughter of William T. Patton, another early emigrant who lived in the Waldo Hills area. The Goldens also had a farm in the Sherburn area of Linn County. The family moved to Salem around 1875 into a house on Liberty Street NE, the more recent site of a former well-known restaurant, Knopp's Golden Pheasant. T.L. relocated his practice to an office on Commercial Street, near the Ladd & Bush Bank. [Note: the Golden Family graciously provided us with all the visual resources we use in this post.]
The story of one of Salem's long-time families begins with Thomas Lowell Golden who emigrated over the Oregon trail, not once but twice. Family lore tells that he was involved with Kit Carson when he first came out from St. Louis, Missouri. In 1869, he settled in the Albany area where he opened his "oculist and aurist" (eyes and ears) practice. T.L. soon married Nancy Annhing Patton, daughter of William T. Patton, another early emigrant who lived in the Waldo Hills area. The Goldens also had a farm in the Sherburn area of Linn County. The family moved to Salem around 1875 into a house on Liberty Street NE, the more recent site of a former well-known restaurant, Knopp's Golden Pheasant. T.L. relocated his practice to an office on Commercial Street, near the Ladd & Bush Bank. [Note: the Golden Family graciously provided us with all the visual resources we use in this post.]
 Advertisement in the Albany Register newspaper, April 10, 1869 |  Original Office Door Plaque remains in the Family, now with Thomas P. Golden  Check drawn on Ladd & Bush Bank, payable to T.L. Golden for $0.50, in payment of services, September 19, 1884 |
Our co-host, Christy Van Heukelem shared that she has been doing genealogical research for the Golden family and has documented a rich Oregon pioneer legacy. with at least 12 Golden-Patton relatives living in the Salem area before Oregon's statehood in 1859.
The story continues with Thomas Lowell Golden's son, Thomas Stephen--note the name pattern, it can be confusing--born in Oregon in 1872. T. Stephen had quite the varied career, including being a fireman, a candy maker, farmer, painter at the State Asylum,and as the deputy county coroner. He also owned a restaurant known as the Jitney Club. He and his wife Edith Penland Golden had a home in the 1300 block of Saginaw Street where they reared three children: daughters Veva, Annabelle, and son Virgil Thomas--"Tommy." It is from Virgil T. that most of our current knowledge of the Golden family descends.
 Edith Golden, standing left, T. Stephen, sitting left, Annabelle, next, with Veva & Virgil to the right. This occasion was Virgil's first haircut. |  Interior of the Jitney Club, owned by Thomas Stephen Golden. |
  | When the United States became embroiled in World War I, many young men in Salem signed up to do their part. The Salem National Guard Armory was base for two companies, M & L, who were called up for active duty. One of these young men in Company M proudly marching off to military service in 1917 was Virgil Thomas Golden, known as "Tommy," seen in the portrait to the left.  |
Tommy spent most of his service time driving ambulances in the Argonne area of France. He was wounded and returned to Oregon in 1919, where he began studying business administration at Oregon State College, graduating in 1923. Wishing to continue serving those in need, Tommy determined that Salem could support an effective ambulance service and in 1925 established Golden Ambulance Service at 171 South Commercial Street. He advertised that his converted Rollin sedan was designed with six doors for easy access for the rolling gurney, and was also "specially fitted with balloon tires and shock absorbers to provide the maximum amount of riding comfort." Although his intent was to transport medically fragile people to the hospital ($5 a trip, anywhere in Salem), he was soon asked to help with transporting those who had died there to the undertaker, as well. While working with Salem Hospital, Tommy met a young nurse named Grace Sarah Calkins, and they would eventually married in New York City in June 1931.
 Golden Ambulance Service used a specially converted Rollin sedan. The fleet would soon include two Packards. |  Grace Sarah Calkins worked as a nurse at Salem Hospital. |  The ambulance interior was fitted with a rolling stretcher and a passenger seat next to the cab area. |
Soon Tommy determined that the funeral business could be a good adjunct to his ambulance business and he undertook further study and practice to become a licensed mortician. In 1930, Virgil Thomas joined A.M. Clough, a practicing mortician since 1878, and Dr. L.E. Barrick, a local dentist, to reorganize the Clough-Taylor funeral director business into a new company, Clough-Barrick, located in the newly remodeled 1923 building at the corner of Ferry & Church Streets, purported as the first mortuary building in Marion County. This property would be enlarged over the years as adjacent parcels were purchased, and by 1944 Tommy would become a full partner of the firm.
 Virgil Thomas & Grace S. Golden as displayed in their original business brochure  Newspaper Advertisement for Open House at Virgil T. Golden Mortuary, 1949  Current view of Virgil T. Golden Funeral Services Building [Photo: SalemHistoryMatters.org] | Virgil Thomas and Grace S. Golden opened their own business, Virgil T. Golden Mortuary, in 1949 at a location hand-picked by Virgil at 605 Commercial Street S. The family states that the site was purchased from the family of William Willson, the gentleman who originally platted Salem and for whom the Willson Park adjacent to the Capitol Building is named. The family's use of Thomas as a given name continued into a third generation with Virgil T.'s son being named Thomas Curtis Golden. Tom C., as he was known, married Ethelwyne DeLapp of West Salem in 1957. Their children were named Anne and, for the fourth generation, Thomas Patrick. After a three-year stint in the Army, Tom C. joined the family business in 1960. Thomas Patrick and his wife Deena Eriksen (high school sweethearts) named their children Katrina and Tommy, carrying the name into a fifth generation. Tom P. has twin grandsons whose middle names are Thomas, entering a sixth generation. Following a short career in photography, Tom P. also joined the family business about 33 years ago, extending their family's legacy of leadership and community involvement into a third generation. |
Three Generations of Service: Virgil T. Golden, seated (deceased), son Thomas C. Golden, left, and grandson Thomas P. Golden. The family business has evolved over the years. The name was changed to Virgil T. Golden Funeral Services to better reflect the company philosophy of providing services to the grieving family, not just dealing with the disposition of the deceased. Both Tom, Sr. and Tom, Jr. have stated that being a part of this business is more a way of life than a job, as its 24/7 schedule shapes the family as well as the employee. Virgil T. is quoted as saying, "The impossible just takes a little longer," and this motto guides the family in their business. Throughout the history of their business, the desire of each "Tom" has been to be of service to others. This attitude of service continues on in this third-generation local business.
The character of Salem has been formed through the years by its residents, how they take care of one another, and their foresighted visions. Such deep roots as the Goldens possess keep us all standing tall and sturdy, and hopeful for the future of our community.
The character of Salem has been formed through the years by its residents, how they take care of one another, and their foresighted visions. Such deep roots as the Goldens possess keep us all standing tall and sturdy, and hopeful for the future of our community.
~~Posted by Deb Meaghers
RSS Feed