Ramsey County History – Winter 2011: “‘Write Us in Your Own Way:’ A Tombstone from the Sears, Roebuck Catalog”

“Write Us in Your Own Way:” A Tombstone from the Sears, Roebuck Catalog
Author: Janice R. Quick

The article highlights the process of buying a tombstone from none other than Sears & Roebuck catalog about 1909. This is what Katherine Rittle and two of her sisters in St. Paul did following the death of their mother. The practice of ordering headstones from the Sears mail-order catalog was widespread at the time, and it had the merit that Sears offered a variety of sizes of headstones, ornamental details, lettering styles, and set prices. Once the tablet was ordered, it was delivered by rail about twelve weeks later, and a hired dray hauled it to Calvary Cemetery, where the sisters paid to have it installed.
PDF of Quick article