The Oregon Journal, Portland, OR., October 4, 1931, section 2, page
1
Includes portrait
SAMUEL HILL'S ASHES PLACED AT MARYHILL
Goldendale, Oct. 3 - The ashes of Samuel Hill, famous
good roads builder in the Northwest, who began his spectacular career as
an employee of J.J. Hill, "Empire Builder," this week were placed in the
concrete vault build built by himself when the Stonehenge Memorial was
constructed.
Without ceremony the last simple rites of the man who
was a friend of kings and queens, the man who dreamed great dreams of connecting
all parts of the world with good roads and lived to see his dreams come true,
were performed.
When asked where he wished to be buried, Mr. Hill said:
"Standing on the bluff in front of my place at Maryhill,
and looking down the canyon of the Columbia, you will see a mass of ragged
rocks, natures great upheaval. Here at the bluff in time to come I hope there
will be over my ashes a bronze tablet bearing this inscription: "Samuel Hill,
amid natures unrest, he sought to rest."
The ashes were accompanied by Edgar Hill, a cousin, from
Seattle.
A survey will be made in the near future, and the piece
of ground surrounding the crypt will be set aside and dedicated as Wells
park, for one of Mr. Hill's closest friends.
The Oregon Journal, Portland, OR., March 22, 1931, section 1, page
6
Includes photographs, titled:
On a cliff near Maryhill, overlooking the Columbia, with Mt. Hood an eternal
sentinel over his repose and the Columbia River highway a silver ribbon
shimmering into the gorge, a tomb has been prepared for the ashes of Samuel
Hill. The region will not be easily tamed, and it is likely that the grandeur
of desolation which he loved in life will surround his tomb for many years.
Above is the tomb of concrete. It is not far from Stonehenge memorial to
Klickitat county war dead, constructed at his orders, and shown below.
LAST HOME OF A RESTLESS DREAMER
FINISHING WORK STARTED ON CRYPT TO HOLD ASHES OF SAMUEL HILL, DREAMER
Goldendale, Wash., March 21. - Finishing work has been
started on the crypt were the ashes of the late Samuel Hill will be placed.
This is in compliance with the wishes of the dreamer and good roads builder
who died after a brief illness in a Portland hospital after his return from
a European tour last month.
The crypt was started many years ago, but did not prove
satisfactory to Mr. Hill, and was entirely rebuilt during the winter of 1928-29
by his workmen when they were at Maryhill erecting the Stone Henge memorial
there.
The Stone Henge memorial was erected by Mr. Hill in memory
of Klickitat county soldiers who gave their lives in the World war, and was
patterned after the Great Stone Henge on Salisbury Plains, England.
ON HIGH BLUFF
The crypt is located on a bluff overlooking the Columbia
river and the Columbia River highway, at Maryhill, 11 miles south of here.
It is built a few hundred feet below the Stone Henge memorial and is
approximately three miles east of the museum built by Mr. Hill and dedicated
by Queen Marie of Roumania in 1926. Provision has been made in his will to
have this museum completed in accordance with his plans made many years ago.
The plot of ground where the Stone Henge memorial and
crypt are located, and which is practically in the center of the 5000 acres
of land owned by Mr. Hill in Klickitat county, was set aside and named "Wells
Park" after a friend and associate of Mr. Hill. Eben F. Wells, owned land
adjoining the Hill tracts on the east, and had offices in the Home Telephone
company in Portland for many years.
BUILT OF CONCRETE
The crypt is built of concrete and has one large room
with a shelf or ledge built across the back and is finished with two large
oak doors in front. On one side of the door is a bronze plate giving the
date of birth and date of his friend Eben F. Wells, and on the other side
an indenture has been left in the concrete preparatory to placing a bronze
plate which will bear the following inscription:
"Samuel Hill, 1857-1931. Amid Natures Great Unrest, He
Here Sought Rest."
Edgar N. Hill, Seattle, cousin of Samuel Hill, was at
Maryhill this week looking over the situation with the view of carrying out
the wishes of Mr. Hill. The work of completion will be under direction of
Z.O. Brooks, local attorney and friend of Samuel Hill. The crypt will be
re-finished inside and out, the ashes will be placed inside and a bronze
plate put in place.
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© Jeffrey L. Elmer