For a half-century Hornthal & Co. served as New York City's premiere funeral supply house and hearse and limousine livery,  supplying large numbers of funeral vehicles to metropolitan funeral directors who couldn't afford to own the sometimes large number of vehicles needed for the funerals of the rich and famous. Other directors found that the excellent service offered by the numerous rental firms enabled them to operate without owning any vehicles at all.

Hornthal & Co. was a Manhattan-based funeral supply house whose livery division rented out funeral cars and limousines to small New York City funeral home operators who were short on equipment and personnel.

Many metropolitan funeral directors couldn't afford to own the sometimes large number of vehicles needed for the funerals of the rich and famous so they relied upon livery companies such as the Hornthal to supply them with extra vehicles. Other directors found that the excellent service offered by the numerous rental firms enabled them to operate without owning any vehicles at all.

During the teens and twenties the Universal Funeral Chapel, another Hornthal operation, offered smaller funeral directors a spacious and well-equipped facility in which to hold their larger services. Located at the northeast corner of 52nd Street and Lexington Ave. (mailing address, 597 Lexington Ave.), it handled the services of such celebrated New Yorkers as: General Douglas MacArthur, N.Y. Gov. Herbert Lehman, Johnny Mize and Babe Ruth. However, it wasn't New York City's most celebrated facility – that distinction goes to Frank E. Campbell's Funeral Church (originally at 241-243 W. 23rd Street – currently at 1076 Madison Ave.) which remains Manhattan's most celebrated funeral facility.

The various Hornthal operations all trace their history to one man, Louis H. Hornthal (b. Apr. 14, 1817 - d. Jan. 10, 1885). The family patriarch was born in Bavaria on April. 14, 1817 to Moses and Hannah Hornthal. As a youngster he worked in the family's e, his father being a well-known Jewish merchant, who sent him to the United States sometime around 1840. He arrived in Boston where he learned the ins and outs of the city's wholesale and retail garment industry. While in Boston he met and married Babat (Barbara) Selling, the daughter of another Jewish-German immigrant family, and in 1849 they welcomed their first child, Louis Jr.

In the early 1850s the young family moved to Hartford, Connecticut where Louis established his own clothing store at 57 State St. In 1855 he entered into a partnership with Henry Selling (one of his wife's relatives) in the style of Selling & Hornthal, just across the street at 50 State St. The partners also operated a 'fancy goods' business at 228 Main Street. Life in Hartford was good to the Hornthals, and they welcomed several more children into the family: Joseph (b.1855); Rosa (b. 1856); Jacob (b.1858); and Leah (b.1862) Hornthal. In 1863 Louis moved his family to New York City, opening up a store in Tribeca at 108 Chambers St., in the style of Selling, David & Co., its listing in the 1864 New York City directory follows:

"Selling, David & Co. (Louis Hornthal) 108 Chambers"

The 1870 US Census puts the family at 256 E. 59th St. and lists the following individuals:

"Louis Hornthal, (56 yo, b. in Bavaria – dry goods) - wife, Barbara (40 yo, b. in Bavaria); children: Louis (22 yo, b. July 8, 1849 in Mass); Joseph (15 yo, b. in Conn); Rosa (14 yo, b. in Conn.); Jacob (12 yo, b. in Conn.); Leah (7 yo, b. in Conn.); Minnie (6 yo, b. in New York.)."

The address is confirmed by his listings in the 1869-1870 New York City directories:

"Louis Hornthal, millinery, h. 256 E. 59th."

The 1872 New York City directory notes a move for the family to 318 E. 65th St. and a move of his business from 109 Chambers St. to 344 Broom St.:

"Louis Hornthal, trimmings, 344 Broom St., h. 318 E. 65th"

Municipal records indicate that on March 31, 1873 'merchant' Louis H. Hornthal, a former subject of the King of Bavaria, became a naturalized citizen in a ceremony that took place in New York City's Court of Common Pleas.

The 1876-1877 New York City directories list a new location, and a new line of business for the enterprising businessman:

"Louis Hornthal, coffin dealer; 183 Bowery, h. 318 E. 65th"

He also established a satellite branch in Chicago, Illinois in partnership with Bernard Schulhafer, in the style of Hornthal & Schulhafer, its listing in the 1876 Chicago Business Directory being:

"Hornthal & Schulhafer (Louise Hornthal & Bernard Schulhafer) undertakers goods, 217 5th Ave."

The 1880 US Census lists a new home for the Hornthal family, 121 E. 64th St., Manhattan: Louis Hornthal, (63 yo - undertaker trimming) - wife, Babat (46 yo); children: Joseph (24 yo - undertaker trimming); Jacob (aka Jacques - 22 yo - undertaker trimming); Leah (17 yo); Minnie (16 yo).

The 1882 New York City directory indicates his three sons had gone into business for themselves:

"Jacques Hornthal, Undertakers'gds., 290 Bowery, h. 121 E. 64th"

"Joseph Hornthal, Undertakers'gds., 290 Bowery, h. 121 E. 64th"

"Louis Hornthal, Undertakers'gds., 290 Bowery, h. 121 E. 64th"

"Louis H. Hornthal, Undertakers'gds., 105 Crosby."

"L. Hornthal & Co., Undertakers'gds., 290 Bowery."

A February 24, 1883 Fire originating at a 5-story brick building located at 288 Bowery caused extensive damage to the Hornthal works located next door, the following day's New York Times reporting:

"L. Hornthal Co., manufacturers of burial caskets, at No. 290 Bowery, sustain a loss of $1,000 by water."

The 1884 New York City directory indicates that Louis Sr. had retired to North Carolina, albeit for a short time:

"Joseph Hornthal, Undertakers'gds., 290 Bowery, h. 747 Madison Av."

"Louis Hornthal, Undertakers'gds., 290 Bowery, h. 121 E. 64th"

"Louis H. Hornthal, Undertakers'gds., 311 Bowery, h. N.C."

"L. Hornthal & Co., Undertakers'gds., 290 Bowery."

Unfortunately his retirement lasted little more than a year, for on January 10, 1885 the New York Times announced his passing:

"Died – Louis Hornthal – in the 68th year of his age. Relatives and friends, also members of Congregation Temple Beth-El Arrarat Lodge I.O.B.B. of Hartford, Conn., Hathjah Lodge No. 10, U.O.T.B., ... are invited to attend the funeral from his late residence, No. 121 East 64th St. on Sunday at 10 o'clock A.M."

On May 20, 1886 Louis Hornthal Jr. married Sarah Eiseman in Manhattan. The marriage coincided with the reorganization of the brother's undertaking supply business as Hornthal, Noble & Co. The new firm remained at 290 Bowery and the 1889 Manhattan directory listed its principals, one of whom was his brother-in-law (Moses Hatch, married Leah Hornthal):

"Hornthal, Noble & Co. (Joseph Hornthal, William J. Noble & Moses Hatch) 290 Bowery."

Louis Hornthal Jr. and his bride moved to Chicago where he took over management of the family's 217 5th Ave. satellite branch, which was renamed Hornthal & Co. He remained there for the next 20 years, his passing being reflected in the November 14, 1905 edition of the New York Times:

"HORNTHAL – On Sunday, Nov. 12, at his residence, 4,640 Drexel Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois, Louis Hornthal, beloved husband of Sarah Hornthal, nee Eiseman, and brother of Joseph Hornthal and Mrs. M. Hatch of New York City and Mrs. H.J. Milhauser of Chicago."

Following Louis Jr.'s death, Hornthal's Chicago executives, E.C. Bergman; W.E. Klever; and H.C. Moll, ran the concern for the Hornthal estate, which subsequently sold the operation to the National Casket Co.

Back in New York, Hornthal, Noble & Co. had moved into a new facility located at 31 Bond St. Two part-color catalogs survive from the time that list 31 Bond St. as their address. One entitled, 'Album of Designs of Wood-Finished and Textile Covered Burial Cases' lists the firm name as Hornthal, Noble & Co., 31 Bond Street, New York, New York, and the second, lists the firm name as Hornthal & Co., 31 Bond Street, New York, New York.

The 1899 New York City directory listed three separate addresses for the firm:

"Hornthal & Co., (Jos. Hornthal), supplies, 31 Bond, 116 W. 50th, 329 E. 53rd"

The 1899 Annual Report of the Factory Inspectors of the State of New York for New York County reported that in 1898 the firm's two factories employed 8 (10 E. 22d St.) and 40 (327-329 E. 53d St.) hands respectively, turning out casket trimmings (10 E. 22d St.) and burial caskets (327-329 E. 53d St.).

The obituary of the firm's founder's (Louis H. Hornthal) widow, Babet, appeared in the Oct 27, 1900 edition of the New York Times:

"HORNTHAL - On Friday, Oct 26, 1900 at her son's residence. 158 East 63rd St., Babette Hornthal. beloved wife of the late Louis Hornthal, in her 80th year."

Hornthal & Co. operated their own chapel, the 'Hornthal Mortuary Chapel' on the first floor of their 10 East 22d St. facility, which was rented out to small funeral directors who needed additional capacity for larger funeral services.

The firm's listing in the 1904 Trow Directory follows:

"Hornthal & Co. (Joseph Hornthal & Moses Hatch) 10 E. 22d & 329 E. 53d."

By this time, Joseph Hornthal's son, Samuel (b. Jan. 10, 1887), a Cornell graduate, had begun working for the family business, which continued to be controlled by Joseph and his brother-in-law, Moses Hatch, who remained connected with the firm until his sudden death on October 3, 1906 while attending a coffin manufacturer's convention in Buffalo.

February 1908 issue of the Commercial Vehicle:

"CASKET DELIVERY WORK

"Two manufacturers of burial caskets are using motor trucks. The National Casket Co., located at 465 S. Canal street, faces difficulties in its delivery work on account of the bad street conditions, as the manufactory is on a street leading to the freight yards and which is in constant need of repair. Nevertheless, its second-hand 3,000 pound Knox air-cooled truck has performed wonders, even in the hands of careless drivers. President Richards looks with favor upon the truck and will probably add more.

"Hornthal & Co. have bought a truck from the Rapid Motor Vehicle Co., which was exhibited at the commercial vehicle show in Chicago, in December, where it attracted considerable attention. It was described in the report of the show. It has a closed body large enough to contain six caskets. Hornthal & Co. are more favorably located with regard to street conditions than the National Casket Co., and the results, of course, should be better."

On the subject of funeral vehicles, prior to 1915, Hornthal's relied on a Manhattan coachbuilder named Gustav Dessecker (succeeded by Peter Kief) for their funeral coaches. For many years Dessecker supplied the firm with their horse-drawn conveyances and when the motorized funeral coach was introduced, Dessecker supplied those as well.

Their hearses of the early teens were built on White Motor Co. commercial car chassis by Peter Kief, a Manhattan-based coachbuilder who succeeded the Gustav Dessecker carriage works in 1904.

Gustav Dessecker died on July 9, 1902, his passing was noted in the July 13th edition of the New York Times:

"DESSECKER - July 9, Gustav, husband of Elizabeth C. Dessecker, 1,831 Seventh Avenue."

Soon after Gustav Dessecker's passing Pete Kief took over the Dessecker carriage works from his widow as executrix of his estate, the Dec. 3, 1904 issue of the Real Estate Record and Builders' Guide, reporting his 5-year, renewable lease on the firm's Elizabeth Street manufactory:

"Elizabeth st., Nos. 152 and 154, all Eliz. C. Dessecker, EXTRX, Gustave W. Dessecker, to Peter Kief, 5 years from Oct. 1 1904 with 5 years renewal. Nov. 20, 1904."

The 1906 edition of the Trow Copartnership and Corporation Directory of New York City lists the firm as follows:

"Gustav Dessecker (Peter Kief only) 152 Elizabeth"

For the next decade Kief continued to list the firm under both his name and Dessecker's as follows under the carriage makers heading in the Manhattan directories:

1911-1912 Manhattan Directory:

"Gustav Dessecker (firm of) carriages, 152 Elizabeth."

"Peter Kief, carriages, 154 Elizabeth"

Famous for their exceptional upholstery and drape-works, Dessecker did a good business in refurbishing tired coaches as well as furnishing new ones in the height of fashion. The firm supplied small numbers of motorized funeral vehicles to New York City livery firms such as Hornthal & Co.,starting in 1912.

Many metropolitan funeral directors couldn't afford to own the sometimes large number of vehicles needed for the funerals of the rich and famous so they relied upon livery companies such as the Hornthal to supply them with extra vehicles. Other directors found that the excellent service offered by the numerous rental firms enabled them to operate without owning any vehicles at all.

With the sudden popularity of motorized funeral vehicles, large metropolitan liveries like Hornthal sold their old horse-drawn hearses to South American and Caribbean-based brokers who were eager to purchase the now-obsolete coaches. A fine Cunningham hearse, almost worthless in NYC, might bring as much as $1000 in Havana during the mid to late teens.

The 1914 edition of the Official Automobile Directory of the State of New York has NY plate #24297 (a Walters automobile - predecessor of the Walters heavy-duty 4x4 truck) registered to George and Peter Kief, Jr., 152 Elizabeth St., N. Y. City.

1915 Manhattan Directory:

"Gustav Dessecker (firm of, Peter Kief) carriages, 152 Elizabeth."

Classified listing under Hearse Builders in 1915 directory:

"Gustav Dessecker (firm of) 14-24 Kenmare, Tel. Spring 594"

The 1915 edition of the Trow Copartnership and Corporation Directory of New York City lists the firm as follows:

"Gustav Dessecker (Peter Kief only) carriages, 152 Elizabeth & 14 Kenmare."

The firm's factory was located on the southeast corner of Elizabeth and Kenmare Sts. The two addresses (152 Elizabeth & 14 Kenmare) refer to the same structure. The 1900 US census list the Kief family as follows:

Peter Kief (b. Dec. 1850 in Germany-d. Aug 1915) Spouse Dora (b. Aug. 1859 to German–born parents) occupation clerk (1900 census). Children include Peter Jr. (b. Aug. 1886-d. 1962); George (b. Jan. 1889) and Edna (b. Jul. 1897) Kief.

The 1915 New York State Census lists the occupations of Peter Sr., Peter Jr., and George Kief as "makers of auto bodies," their home address 1541 50th St., Brooklyn.

Peter Kief senior passed away in August of 1915 and the firm was taken over by his two sons George and Peter Kief Jr.

The 1916 Manhattan directory lists Peter Kief Jr. as manager of the firm's Elizabeth St. works:

"Peter Kief (est. of) Peter Kief Jr., mgr., carriages, 152 Elizabeth St."

The firm name was changed to Peter Kief Co. in 1912 although he kept a listing under Dessecker as late as 1916, as the 1916 Manhattan Directory evidences:

"Gustav Dessecker (est. of Peter Kief) carriages, 14 Kenmare."

Starting in 1915 Hornthal started mounting their own bodies on extended Ford Model T chassis. For 1916 Hornthals started using the much stronger and longer White 140" professional car chassis.

With the sudden popularity of motorized funeral vehicles, large metropolitan liveries like Hornthal sold their old horse-drawn hearses to South American and Caribbean-based brokers who were eager to purchase the now-obsolete coaches. A fine Cunningham hearse, almost worthless in NYC, might bring as much as $1000 in Havana during the mid to late teens.

Two years after the passing of Peter Kief Sr. the Kief family decided to withdraw from the carriage business. Peter Kief Jr., enrolled in the US Army, serving from Sep. 21, 1917 to May 10, 1919 as a musician and soldier, spending one year fighting in the European conflict. Peter Kief Jr. married and moved to Long Island where he became an auditor. His younger brother George remained in the auto body business for several years as a painter and later moved to Norwood, Ohio where he worked as a printer for Gibson Greeting Card.

Kief's largest customer, Hornthal & Co. (Jos. & Saml. Hornthal ) at 327-329 E. 53d St. was suddenly without a supplier of hearses, and subsequently opened up their own hearse manufactory, hiring former employees of the Kief works to handle the construction.

The first Hornthal motor hearse where mounted on extended wheelbase Ford Model T chassis, but they soon experienced problems with the delicate conveyance, electing to go to the much sturdier White 140" commercial car chassis in 1916.

Hornthal's listing in the 1920 New York City directory follows:

"Hornthal & Co., (Jos. & Sam. Hornthal), undertkr supplies, 597 Lexington Ave."

The Hornthal hearse works were short-lived and by the mid-1920s, they were buying complete funeral coaches from Sayers & Scovill and Cunningham, who both established a satellite sales and service facilities in Manhattan - Sayers & Scovill at 257 Broadway (rm.1409) and Cunningham at 231 W. 50th st.

In 1924 the National Casket Co. acquired all of the capital stock of the Manhattan and Chicago, Illinois operations of Hornthal & Co., operating the two firms as a subsidiary.

In 'COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REV. v. NATIONAL CASKET CO., Case No. 5691 - 78 F.2d 940; Circuit Court of Appeals, Third Circuit., July 31, 1935:

"In 1924, the respondent (National Casket Co.) acquired all of the capital stock of Hornthal & Co., a subsidiary. In 1925, the subsidiary operated at a gain, but in 1926, 1927, and 1928, it sustained operating losses. Throughout the period of affiliation, the respondent filed consolidated income tax returns. In 1928, the respondent dissolved the subsidiary and took over its assets, applying part to repay itself for advances made to the subsidiary and the balance toward its investment in the capital stock of that company. In its 1928 income tax return, the respondent claimed a deductible loss of $105,355.07, incurred through its investment in the subsidiary. The Commissioner reduced the deductible loss to $4,995.70 and assessed a deficiency. The Board of Tax Appeals reversed the Commissioner in part, allowed a deductible loss of $48,087.67, and found that there was an overpayment for 1928."

June 18, 1929 edition of the New York Times:

"A 12-story apartment house is to replace the four-story commercial building at 325 East Fifty-third street, which Edgar Ellinger has purchased from Samuel Hornthal, it was announced yesterday. J. M. Felson and Edmund L. Ellis have been chosen as architects of the proposed structure, which will be one of the first buildings erected in this city under the new multiple dwelling law."

The February 13, 1930 edition of the New York Times carried Joseph Hornthal's obituary:

"JOSEPH HORNTHAL DIES. - Retired Head of Funeral Supply House Stricken at 77. Joseph Hornthal, retired head of Hornthal Co., one of the oldest funeral supply houses in New York, died yesterday morning at his home, 151 West Eighty-sixth St., after a brief illness at the age of 77. His wife, Mrs. Ida Hornthal, died four months ago.

"HORNTHAL – Died February 12, 1930, after a short illness at his late residence. Joseph Hornthal, beloved husband of the late Ida Hornthal and devote father of Leah Newman and Sam Hornthal. Services at Beth-El Chapel of Congregation Emanu-El, 5th Ave. and 65th st. on Friday morning at 9:30 o'clock."

After the firm's acquisition by the National Casket Co., Samuel Hornthal, Joseph's son, remained as manager of the 'Universal Funeral Chapel' at 597 Lexington Ave. It remained in operation as a service chapel, which was rented out to independent funeral directors whose own facilities couldn't accommodate larger funerals. In 1944 Hornthal joined forces with three licensed funeral directors, John N. Gennerich, William Walters, and Samuel Berliner, to buy the firm back from the National Casket Co., a 1944 issue of the American Funeral Director reporting:

"Prominent F.D.s Acquire Universal Funeral Chapel

"In one of the most important business transactions of the year, ownership of the Universal Funeral Chapel in New York has passed into the hands of a group of prominent New York funeral directors.

"For the past 15 years the organization has functioned as a subsidiary of the National Casket Co.

The new group is headed by John N. Gennerich, Samuel Berliner, Jr., and William A. Walters. These three men, along with Sam Hornthal, will have full ownership.

"Caption - The Universal Funeral Chapel at 597 Lexington Ave., New York City, which Was Recently Taken Over by a group of prominent funeral directors."

After Hornthal's retirement, the facility was taken over by Samuel Berliner Jr., who remained in charge of the facility into the mid-1950s.

© 2015 Mark Theobald for Coachbuilt.com

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