Spaulding & Curtin is among the 5 oldest Ferndale businesses still operating today. It was starting on Friday Nov 19, 1926 at 160 Vester as noted below. Their current funeral home at at 500 West Nine Mile was built in 1939, and modernized in 1960.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes found with the photo below: This glass, horse-drawn hearse was borrowed from Caskey Funeral Home in Stockbridge Michigan by Spaulding and Curtin Funeral home in 1968. It was borrowed to be used in Ferndale's 50th anniversary parade.

The hearse was transported from Stockbridge to Ferndale by trailer at which time it was cleaned up and restored for the parade. Notice the traditional dress of the gentlemen to stay in keeping with the time when hearses such as these were actually used. The hearse is parked to the side of Spaulding and Curtin Funeral home on West 9 Mile Rd. in preparation for the parade line up.

The gentleman standing next to the hearse is Merton Spaulding owner of Spaulding and Curtin Funeral Home. The gentleman sitting on the hearse itself driving with crop in hand, in the bowler hat is Michael Spaulding, the son of Merton Spaulding. The gentleman next to him is Patrick Curtin.

 

The history of Spaulding & Curtin was provided in the special newspaper edition to celebrate Ferndale's 50th anniversary. Click on the image below for a larger and more readable version.

 

After the Lincoln Junior High School was demolished in 1978/79, the school's flag pole was moved to the Spaulding & Curtin Funeral Home, a long-time neighbor of the school. A plaque exists near the base of the flag pole as shown below.

 

The Spaulding & Curtin Funeral Home offers additional information HERE

 

Ferndale Friends did an interesting story HERE