Saturday, December 28, 2013

Shopping Saturday: James B. Cole

Manassas Journal - 12 December 1919

JAMES B. COLE
Independent Hill, Va.

Funeral Director and 
Licensed Embalmer

Life Like Features Restored
Robes and Caskets of all Kinds.
Hearse Furnished any Reasonable Distances.
REASONABLE PRICES

DEALER IN ALL KINDS MARBLE

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

An excerpt about the business in Ron Turner's book, PWCo 1805-1965 Business Licenses, reads, "According to John Samsky the funeral home at Independent Hill had a sign on the front that said “I’ll be the last one to let you down”."

The simple wooden building that held Cole's shop still stands in the lot beside Samsky's Store in Independent Hill, Coles District.  (And in case you're wondering -- yes, the Coles District was named after James' family.)

4 comments:

  1. This is my grandfather found this very interesting as I never met him he passed before I was born.

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    1. Hello, cousin! :-) I have a few newspaper articles about him if you're interested, as well as a photo of his tombstone from Woodbine Church. Do you have any photos of your grandfather? If so, I'd love to see them.

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  2. Yes I would be interested. And I do have a picture of him how could I send it to you. My email is bowiesquirrel@ verizon. Net. I have a picture of that old building somewere beside samskys market to.

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    1. Now why does your email sound familiar? I have a sneaky feeling we've corresponded before. ^-^ My email address is cyloran at gmail dotcom. I'll put together the clippings I have on James B. Cole and email them to you. Anyone else you're interested in?

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