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	History of Freeland, Pa. Undertakers and funeral homes listed in directories 1873-1940
	What's on this page: Undertakers and funeral homes listed in directories and maps, 1873-1940 On related pages: 20th- and 21st-century undertakers and funeral homes Freeland area cemeteries Florists The funeral card at top left was made by local photographer James J. Ward. Undertakers and funeral homes listed in directories and maps, 1873-1940 1873 Atlas of Luzerne County Undertakers in business listings: Troell, Justus, Cabinet Maker and Undertaker, South Heberton, P.O. Upper Lehigh Justus Troell 1889 obituary from Joe Moore - Troell was listed in the 1873 Atlas of Luzerne County list of Freehold (renamed Freeland in 1876) businesses. 1884-1886 city directory Undertakers in business listings: Brislin, H. N., undertaker, Centre below South 1886-1888 city directory Undertakers in business listings: Brislin, H. N., undertaker, Centre below South McNulty Bros., undertaker, 44 S. Centre It's hard to read, but the sign in the photo at far right is for the McNulty Bros. funeral home in 1886 - it was on the west side of the street back then, on Centre between South and Main streets. Later they would move across and down the street to 407 Centre Street. The photo was taken during Freeland's 10th anniversary and was published in the Freeland Penny Saver -- it's provided to us courtesy of Danny Balon. More about this remarkable photo is on the page about Freeland's 10th anniversary. 1889 mercantile directory Undertakers in business listings: Albert, F. H. - Furn. & Undertaker Breslin, H. M. - Furn. & Undertaker Myers, J. D. - Undertaker Troell, Justice - Furn. & Undertaker Justus Troell, called "the oldest undertaker in the region," in this 1889 ad from Joe Moore. H. M. Brislin ad from the 1890 Freeland Tribune. Note that the Breslin and Albert ads underscore the fact that a century and more ago it was common for furniture makers to also make coffins, and so many of them were involved in both furniture and undertaking businesses. A note about Hugh M. Breslin, from Mary Jo Breslin: "My grandfather was Daniel Joseph Breslin. ... His father, Hugh M. Breslin, also was undertaker in Freeland. So I am assuming the business was passed down. Daniel died in 1919 from the flu epidemic about 35 yrs. old. So his wife kept the license for the business not sure if she did the work [Teresa Ida Breslin]. She eventually moved to Wilkes Barre and planned to turn the business over to my father when he finished high school, but he said "no, thank you." Hugh came over from Ireland, but I don't know what is occupation was when he immigrated. ... Hugh M. Breslin, Sr. Was the head of the family and was an undertaker on 16 Centre Street. His sons Hugh, Jr, Cornelius and Daniel were also undertakers. Daniel married Teresa Shovlin and they lived on 402 Washington St and listed as undertakers. In 1920 census Hugh, Sr. Is not listed and assumed dead, but Hugh, Jr is listed as undertaker." 1895 Freeland city directory Undertakers in business listings: Albert, Frank H. - 50 Centre Bachman, E. & Son - Jacob Nagel, Manager; 14 Front Brislin, Hugh M. - 112 Centre McNulty, P. F. - 80 Centre 1894 F. H. Albert ad comes from Carol Jones. Two 1890 McNulty Bros. ads were in the Freeland Tribune. At far right, the Patrick F. McNulty ad emphasized that "Embalming of female corpses performed exclusively by Mrs. P. F. McNulty," reassuring any who might have qualms about that. Also, "Prepared to attend calls day or night." Thanks to Katherine Miller for this ad. 1897 city directory Funeral directors in business listings: Albert, F. H. - 48 S Centre Bachman, E. and Sons - 14 E Front Brislin, H. M. - Washington corner Luzerne McNulty, P. F. - 82 Centre 1897 city directory Undertakers in individual listings: Albert, F. H., furniture, undertaking, 48 S Centre, w, h Bachman, E. and Son, undertakers, 14 E Front, w Brislin, H. M., undertaker, Washington corner Luzerne, h, w McNulty, P. F., undertaking, 82 Centre S, h, w Funeral receipt from H. J. Breslin for payment for the funeral of Daniel "Dony" Boyle, from Eleanor Duckett. 1900-1901 city directory Undertakers in business listings: Albert, F. H., furniture, carpets and undertaker, 48 Centre Bachman, E. & Son, undertakers, 14 Front Breslin, H. M., undertaker, Centre McNulty, P. F., undertaker, 82 Centre

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