closed museum

[Mike Stevens]

Don't know if this has been coverd on this site before. I don't remember seeing anything in the national media.
The Museum of Funeral Customs in Springfield, Illinois closed in March 2009. The museum located at 1440 Monument Ave in Springfield had to shut its doors due to a lack of visitors. The posting I saw said they will be open by appointment to groups of six or more. This was the second largest funeral museum in the U.S. The biggest is in Houston, Texas.
Just thought I would put this here for your information.
Mike
61 M-M

 

[Bruce Oliphant]

I went to the one in Houston a few years ago. It's pretty amazing.

 

[Adam Borkat]

Mike,
Was the IL musuem the one with the Rolls Royce hearse, or is that the TX one, do you know?
AB

 

[Mike Stevens]

RR hearse?

It has been several years since I was in Houston. I don't remember a RR hearse there.
Our next trip to Texas the Houston Museum will be one of our stops.
Mike
61 M-M

 

[Adam Borkat]

I'm actually not sure what funeral musuem it's in, but we only have a few, so it shouldn't be that hard to find. All I know is it's a pre-war RR, it's in a musuem, and someone sent me this blurry picture.

 

[Jon Power]

National Museum of Funeral History. Houston, Texas

Found this page of pics including one of the RR.

http://www.asergeev.com/pictures/archives/2009/709/browser1.htm

 

[John ED Renstrom]

so that's were the Rock falls hearse is located at. they were built in Sterling Il. I got a few pictures off somewhere of one. definitely a old buggy plant as all most all the body was wood. beautiful built car. nope not the same one as the pictures I have are of a black 29 this one in tex is a blue 21. same body thought

 

[Tom Hoczyk]

1921 Rock Falls Carved Hearse

The hearse pictured here was once owned by Mr. Delmar Hasler of Brazil, Indiana. He brought it to my very first PCS Meet in 1988 in Decatur Illinois. It's as marvelous as it appears in these pictures, and yes, it does run. It was originally black, and Mr. Hasler chose to just clear coat it when he discovered the marvelous birdseye maple in many places on the car. I have some photos of that car while at Decatur PCS. If I remember I'll scan and post. Can someone tell me how to attach them here?

Mr. Walter Cassens, former chief engineer at Eureka in Rock Falls told me once that the Rock Falls hearse factory building is still standing, and I believe he told me it's where the local newspaper is now located. Tom

www.bippusautostorage.com/cars

 

[John ED Renstrom]

if that is so I have been past it a number of times. they was at one time one displayed in Sterling but it has gone. in order to post pictures you will need to be a site supporter or you can link to a online storage site like flicker all the Rock falls I have seen were finished in a natural wood. same as this one in Tex.