Although Delaware County Historical Society did not receive it until the mid-
20th century, the youth coffin in its collection is representative of an earlier
time.
The coffin is wooden and hexagonal in shape, similar to those used in the
18th and early 19th centuries. In the 1800’s, women often cleaned and
prepared the body and men either made a plain wood coffin or would get
one from a carpenter. Men also dug the graves.
During that time, the body was laid out at home and then a graveside
service was also held for people to pay their respects.
By the end of the 19th century, caskets were in use and the foundation of
the funeral profession was beginning to be established.
However, some groups such as Jews and Quakers preferred the less
ornate wooden structures to elaborate contraptions that had emerged.
Cultural factors had large influences on the burial process. The Irish would
have a wake where loved ones would visit the deceased in the home for a
period of days. Some, such as Buddhists and Hindis, require that bodies be
cremated.
Parts of the youth coffin’s journey to DCHS remain a mystery.
Ray Imschweiler, an embalmer for Fairlamb & Sons during the 1920’s,
gave the coffin to Joseph Jeffries, superintendent of Chester Rural
Cemetery.
Embalmers were responsible for caring for the bodies of the deceased
while undertakers, later known as funeral directors, coordinated the
funerals. The practice of embalming became popular after President
Abraham Lincoln had been viewed by multitudes of Americans.
In 1939, Jefferies donated it to Delaware County Historical Society.
It is unknown why Imschweiler gave the coffin to Jefferies, or why Jefferies
gave it to DCHS. The possibilities, however, continue to be great topics of
conversation.
The youth coffin is stored at the home of Delaware County Historical
Society, located at 408 Avenue of the States in Chester. It is open to the
public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday and Friday; 1 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Thursday; and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Parking is free in the lot behind
the building or across the street in the city’s municipal lot.
For more information or for ways to get involved, please call 610-359-0832.
The child's coffin was donated to Delaware County Historical Society by a Chester embalmer in the 1930's.