Elmer S. Rigdon
Elmer S. Rigdon | |
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Member of the California Senate from the 17th district | |
In office January 8, 1917 - December 13, 1922 | |
Preceded by | Archibald E. Campbell |
Succeeded by | Ralph Hughes |
Member of the California State Assembly from the 53rd district | |
In office January 4, 1915 - January 8, 1917 | |
Preceded by | Abram B. Green |
Succeeded by | Carlton W. Greene |
Personal details | |
Born | Elmer Scott Rigdon (1868-06-16)June 16, 1868 Cambria, California |
Died | December 13, 1922(1922-12-13) (aged 54) San Francisco, California |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Alica |
Children | 1 |
Occupation | California State Senate member |
Elmer Scott Rigdon (June 16, 1868 – December 13, 1922) was a member of the California State Senate from Cambria, California. He was the key proponent for building the Carmel-San Simeon Highway along the Big Sur coast. He was a member of the California Senate Committee on Roads and Highways and during World War I promoted the military necessity of defending California's coast. He persuaded the legislature to approve the project. In 1919, the legislature approved submission of a bond measure to voters.
He was the son of Rufus Rigdon and Indiana Scott Rigdon. His parents homesteaded 145 acres (59 ha) in Cambria during the 1860s. Elmer Rigdon became a rancher and timber harvester. He also owned a brickyard in Cambria and the Bank Mine on San Simeon Creek. He extracted quicksilver from the mine from 1903 to 1906, when he sold his interest. He was elected to the California State Assembly in 1914 and to the State Senate in 1916.[1]
Dr. John L. D. Roberts, who founded Seaside, California, had a strong interest in building a road along the California central coast. In 1897, he walked the entire stretch of rocky coast from Monterey to San Luis Obispo in five days and mapped out the course of the future road. He photographed the land and became the first surveyor of the route. In 1915, he presented the results of his survey and photographic work to a joint session of the California legislature. Roberts initially promoted the coastal highway to allow access to a region of spectacular beauty, but failed to obtain funding.[2] Rigdon embraced the necessity of building the road. As a member of the California Senate Committee on Roads and Highways during World War I, he promoted the military necessity of defending California's coast and persuaded the legislature to support the project.[1][3] The $1.5 million bond issue was approved by voters, but construction was delayed by World War I. Federal funds were appropriated and in 1921 voters approved additional state funds.[1][3]
Rigdon died in office in San Francisco on December 13, 1922, before the highway was completed.[4] At the dedication of the highway on June 27, 1937, his wife dedicated a silver fir to her husband's memory. A small park and drinking fountain in a turnout between Vicente Creek Bridge and Big Creek Bridge, 4 miles (6.4 km) north of Lucia. was dedicated as the Elmer Rigdon Memorial Drinking Fountain.[5][6]
References
- ^ a b c "Elmer Rigdon". cambriahistory.org. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
- ^ Longfellow, Rickie (April 7, 2011). "Back in Time". U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. Archived from the original on January 29, 2012. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
- ^ a b Newland, Renee. "Bixby Creek Bridge". Monterey County Historical Society. Archived from the original on July 16, 2004. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
- ^ "Senator Rigdon Dies, Following Collapse at Hotel". Santa Cruz Evening News. San Francisco. AP. December 13, 1922. p. 1. Retrieved July 7, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Big Sur Drinking Fountains - A Snippet of Coastal California History
- ^ "Roosevelt Highway Fountain - Elmer S. Rigdon". Retrieved December 29, 2017.
External links
- Elmer S. Rigdon at Find a Grave
- Join California Elmer S. Rigdon
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- Big Sur Village
- Slates Hot Springs
- Posts
- Gorda
- Lucia
- Jamesburg
- Palo Colorado Canyon
- Plaskett
- Tassajara Hot Springs
Federal | |
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State |
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Local / county | |
University | |
Private | |
Management |
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- Santa Lucia Range
- Malpaso Creek
- McWay Falls
- McWay Creek
- Little Sur River
- Big Sur River
- Ragged Point
- Anderson Canyon
- Palo Colorado Canyon
- Pfeiffer-Redwood Creek
- Jade Cove
- Sand Dollar Beach
- Cone Peak
- Pico Blanco
- Ventana Double Cone
- Junipero Serra Peak
- Chews Ridge
- Notley's Landing
- Big Creek Bridge
- Bixby Creek Bridge
- Pfeiffer Beach
- San Carpóforo Canyon
- Ventana Wildlife Society
- Ventana Wilderness Alliance
- Community Association of Big Sur
- Pacific Valley School
- Pine Ridge Trail
- Coast Ridge Road
- Old Coast Road
- Nacimiento-Fergusson Road
- Big Sur Coast Highway
- Palo Colorado Road
- José Abrego
- Ansel Adams
- Juan Bautista Alvarado
- Morley Baer
- Richard Brautigan
- John B. R. Cooper
- Kaffe Fassett
- William Randolph Hearst
- Robinson Jeffers
- Jack Kerouac
- Carolyn Mary Kleefeld
- Michael Murphy
- Henry Miller
- Emile Norman
- Nathaniel Owings
- Dick Price
- Elmer S. Rigdon
- Hunter S. Thompson
- Jean Varda
- Vilmos Zsigmond
- Esselen people
- Salinan people
- Ohlone people
- Rancho El Sur
- Rancho San Francisquito
- Rancho San Jose y Sur Chiquito
- Rancho Tularcitos
- Rancho Milpitas
- Rancho San Jose y Sur Chiquito
- Manchester
- Los Burros Mining District
- USS Macon
- USS Ventura
- Marble Cone Fire
- Basin Complex Fire
- Soberanes Fire
- Dolan Fire
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