Development of Funeral Transportation Flashcards
One of the most inescapable needs created by death in an organized society arise from the fact that the deceased must be _____ from the place of death to other places for funeralization and disposition.
Moved
French in nature from “Herse” but derived from the Latin word Hirpex meaning rake or harrow- originally a stationary ornate framework.
Entomology of the Word Hearse
From the Latin word Funeralis.
Funeral
Of all processions this is probably the oldest known to mankind.
Funeral Procession
Transportation became necessary and elaborate when interments changed from intramural to extramural in medieval Europe demanding a vehicle to transport the remains. (Bubonic plague caused thousands of bodies to be transported to extramural burial places).
Early Transportation of the Body
- Bier or “Bear”
- Bearers and underbearers
- The Distance
Early Methods of Transportation of the Body
A hand stretcher on which uncoffined remains were placed to lie in state or waked and then utilized to transport the remains to the grave.
Bier (“Bear”)
Would be responsible to carry to bier (sometimes a person’s bed) to the grave. The four bearers, when exhausted, would be relieved by four underbearers.
Bearers and Underbearers
Created by the change from intramural to extramural interment required that horse (or donkey) drawn carts be utilzed to carry to bier and later the coffin.
The Distance
From 1600 to 1800 transportation of the dead went from farm wagon to elaborate glass paneled, ornate exteriors and hand carved wood with draped interiors. Prior to the Revolutionary war, the liveryman entered fneral service, it was one short step from providing transportation to directing funeral processions, and eventually taking charge of all funeral related proceedings.
Colonial American Hearses
Innovators of the funeral vehicle development 1850-1910
- James Cunningham & son & co.
- Hudson sampson
- Crane, Breed & co
Horse Drawn Hearses of the Late 19th (post Civil War) and early 20th Centuries
Featured a “funeral car” at the New Orleans Cotton Exposition in 1884. It was rectangular, falling back to an earlier style with five urns and gilded columns.
James Cunningham & Son & Co.
In 1889 introduced the eigh poster, oval decked “funeral car”. This marked the end of the ornamental deck hearse that had dominated hearse styling.
Hudson Sampson
Exhibited at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893, the ost elaborate and outstanding funeral car of the 19th century. It weighed 2400 lbs. as opposed to the 1600 lb. standard hearse. It was a church on wheels.
Crane, Breed & Co.
The majority of the hearses at this time were hand made, and horse drawn designed by cabinet makers and/or liveryman undertakers.
Late 19th (post Civil War) and early 20th Centuries
Before 1865, simple yet ornate, and hand carved. It was basically a long rectangular box with windows along the side and skimped curtains with a drivers seat on top and pulled by one horse.
The Pre-Civil War Hearse