One of Covington’s earliest advertisements for undertakers read, “…coffins ready made (sic), of every size and quality which can be had at a moment’s notice. A splendid two-horse hearse in readiness at all hours – decidedly the most beautiful in the city. Carriages furnished at the shortest notice on reasonable terms.”
V.T. Perkins, located at the corner of 6th and Madison in Covington, marketed these services as a cabinet maker and undertaker in the Licking Valley Register in November, 1847. Some of these businesses still exist to this day.
Join local historian Travis Brown as he briefly narrates the history of these grieving rituals in Kenton County, from the first known undertaker listed in the city directory to the origins of the funeral homes today, during the next virtual NKY History Hour at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, August 24. To register and participate in the free virtual presentation by Behringer-Crawford Museum, click here.
Information on how to connect to the Zoom session will be sent after registration. The event will also be streamed live on BCM’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/bcmuseumnky.
Travis Brown retired from the Fort Mitchell Police Department in 2014 after serving over 27 years as a police officer. During his tenure, he served with the Kentucky State Police, Fort Wright Police, Boone County Sheriff, and Kenton County Sheriff. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Louisville, earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Police Administration.
Travis earned a Master of Public Administration Degree at Northern Kentucky University. As an adjunct professor at Xavier University’s School of Criminal Justice, he teaches Police Management and Government/Non-Profit Budgeting. Involved in preserving local history, he currently serves as an executive board member of the Kenton County Historical Society.
NKY History Hours take place every other Wednesday evening. The sessions are currently free to the public but may become a BCM members-only benefit in the future. To support NKY History Hour and access many other entertaining and thought-provoking programs for free, join BCM today: http://bcmuseum.org/support-us/join/become-a-member.
Behringer-Crawford Museum is supported in part by its members, the City of Covington, Kenton County Fiscal Court, ArtsWave, Kentucky Arts Council, Kentucky Humanities, the Northern Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame and The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation.