Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1917-07-05
NOTES BY OBSERVER.

sons who well remember Shepherds
towns undertake, OF half century ago
Thomas Hopkins, referred to usually as
Tommy Hopkins. though not so address,
ed TO his face. Old Mr.. Hopkins came
here from MARYLAND and had his cabinet
makers shop and undertaker's place in
an old ramshackle building that faced
Main street on the lot just east OF Toliver's
brick building. A broad flight OF stairs
on the outside OF the building that led to
the second story was feature OF the an
cient structure.
There were no factory made cloth
covered caskets in those days-at least
not in ShepherdStown-nor was any sur
plus stock carried on hand. When
death occurred, the dimensions OF the
corpse were given TO Mr.. Hopkins, and
he thereupon proceeded TO make a solid
and substantial coffin from well-seasoned
walnut boards stacked up alongside his
place. The Innings were OF cost and
richness 10 suit the desires OF the family.
but rich and poor alike could be assured
that the coffin was well-made, for Tommy
Hopkins had reputation TO sustain Tor
good workmanship and it endures TO the
present time. Not in reference TO collins,
for naturally il is rarely that any test has
been made as to their lasting qualities
but as cabinet-maker he excelled, and
10 this day if il is assured that piece OF
furniture was made by Hopkins, no fur
Their guarantee is asked. He did excel
lent work in mahogany, not ornate or
fancy in design, but heavy and durable
pieces that will last for centuries. There
are still in this community numbers OF
tables and bureaus and other articles that
he constructed, to say nothing OF wooden
beds, which seemed TO be a specially.
Mr.. Hopkins had as his assistant Jacob
Smooth, also an excellent workman.
There were no motor hearSes in those
days-the automobile was undreamed OF.
The village hearse was modest ore
horse vehicle OF no pretentlonS, useful
rather than stylish. Indeed. the hearse
was not used at all funerals, for often, un-
less there was some considerable dis
lance to 90, the coffin, covered with
black pail, was carried on bier by four
men, literally pallbearers. The bier had
a handle al each corner, and il was not
an undigniiied way OF carrying the corpse.
To be sure, il would probably cause some
smiles now if the palbearerS should wear,
as they did then, heavy crepe bands
around their hats with mournful black
streamers hanging down behind. AS
rule, in olden times the hearse was sell
dom driven into the cemetery-nearly
always The coffin was carried on a bier
from the gates to the grave. Fifty years
ago there were but few buggies and car
riages in this section, and many OF the
mourners walked in the cortege attending
town funerals. Observer well remembers
funeral professions in which the hearse
and a few vehicles slowly passed along
the street, while friends walked sedately
upon the sidewalk-where there was
sidewalk. The mourners, like the pail
bearers, would wearthe crepe and stream
ers on their hats, and it was tunereal in
deed. The man who drove the hearse
had the most imposing.streamer OF all. In
latter years the crepe was left off OF the
hats and was worn upon the sleeve-now
il has been laid aside almost entirely.
Nearly always in funeral professions that
came in from the country the men would
ride on horseback, two by two, and
sometimes an unruly horse would occa-
sion considerable diversion.
AS referred to above, when Mr.. Hop
kins was called upon TO make coffin it
was necessary to furnish him with the
dimensions ofthe corpse, particularly as 10
length, so as to make the receptacle OF
proper size. Mr.. Will Byers used to
tell a funny story concerning this. On
one occasion a certain well-known resi-
dent living some distance west OF town
yielded up the ghost, and relative was
commissioned to place the order for a
coffin with Hopkins. He had no yard
stick or tape-line, so he went into the
field and got a cornStalk. Placing II
alongside the dead man, he cut it oil to
the right length and then put it in his
spring wagon, preparatory to taking it to
town. Unfortunately, while he was in
the house changing his clothes loose
horse came along and unbeknownst
chewed section OF eight or ten inches
off the end OF the cornStalk. Later the
man, not knowing OF the depreciation by
the horse, delivered the stalk to Mr..
Hopkins, who made good, stout coffin
accordingly. When an attempt was
made next day to place the corpse in the
coffin there was lamentable misfit, and
Hopkins had violent dispute with the
man who had given him the measure
mentS, for he regarded il as consider
able reflection upon his ability that he
should be accused OF making such mis-
take. The only thing to do was to bend
the knees OF the dead man slightly, and
though he made no protest, the incident
created good deal OF feeling. for Hop
kins wouldn't let the subject drop until
long afterward.
Hopkins was peculiar character. He
was bachelor, and was not of dis
position to make many friends. There
were some persons in town who sought
TO have sport with him-though they had