Arizona sun., 1948-01-02

ferson Streets will hold open house
Sunday from to 9 o'clock, p. m.
This event marks great step in
this community for Negro people
by providing a building and serv-
ice equal to the best in the coun-
try, where a dignified memorial
services can be held. The building
includes a reception room, business
office, living quarters for night at
tendant and a complete modernly
equipped operating room which is
designed for efficiency and the
highest quality preparation.
The Chapel, designed exclusively
to create a sacred atmosphere, is
simple and refined with recessed
indirect lighting. The family room
and music room are screened from
the audience by vertical natural
finished wooden grills extending
from floor to the ceiling. The
acoustical ceiling has been left nat
ural while the walls are of pale
gray, making beautiful quiet
background relieved by the old
rose draperies at the windows. In
direct sunlight is admitted through
a large glass block panel above the
entrance door, diffusing the light
across the ceiling.
The appointments of the chapel
are of such that it will be made
available for weddings and other
special occasions.
The corner site has been taekn
advantage of by placing the family
room on the Jefferson Street side
of the chapel with private en-
trance direct from the street.
The project was planned and de-
signed by architects E. Harry
Herrscher and Mel Ensign. The
careful research on the part OF MI.
Herrscher, here and in California,
to obtain the latest ideas and re-
quirements for such an establish
ment is reflected in the practlcal
arrangement of the various rooms.
Mr.. Ensign's acquaintance with
modern European architecture can
be detected in the simple pleasing
lines and proportions of the build
ing.
The mortuary business is moth
ing new to the Ragsdales. VIII
Ragsdale, the grandfather, was the
first Negro mortician in the state
of Oklahoma. He opened business
in the year of 1891 and operated
in what was then Indian territory
until his passing in 1921. Five or
his sons were licensed mort1c1ans.
Mr.. and Mrs. H. w. Ragsdale, the
parents, are the owners and opera
tors of the Ragsdale Funeral Home
and the Friendship Burial Associa-
ton of Ardmore, Oklahoma.
Messrs. Hartwell and Lincoln
Ragsdale have followed in the fam
lily profession by establishing the
Ragsdale Mortuary at Eleventh
Street and East Jefferson here IN
Phoenix.
third generation to receive license.
Hartwell II, is the first OF the
third generation to receive license.
He is a graduate of the San Fran
cisco College of Mortuary Science
and has successfully passed the
California, Arizona and Oklahoma
State Embalmers Boards. He serv-
ed as embalmer for the Ardmore
Army Air Base while managing the
Ragsdale Funeral Home in Ard
more, Oklahoma.
Lincoln Ragsdale, former officer
with the u. S. Army Air Forces,
was stationed at Luke Field IN
1945. He holds diploma from the
Lamson Business College in Busi-
ness Administration and Income
Tax. Also, he is Notary Public
and holds a Commercial Flying LII
cense.
Wallace G.. Ragsdale, enrolled in
the next class of the Los Angeles
College of Mortuary Science, will
return to Phoenix at the compile
tion of the course to assist in the
business.