In the 1890s, Geary Dills and family ran a livery and undertaking business in the area of present day 620–626 Main St. The original funeral establishment was completely destroyed, along wth many other buildings, in the disastrous Simpson-Watkins fire of 1897 which destroyed almost the entire block between Pettebone and Swetland Streets.
The livery business consisted of renting out horses and coaches for funerals, weddings, and social events and served the Greater Pittston area. At one time, there were over 28 horses stored in the stables in back of the Dills' homestead on Main Street.
After Geary’s death in 1916, his wife, Mary, (one of the first female funeral directors in the state) ran the business until her passing in 1949. At that time her son, Joe, took over and son, Frank, followed in his footsteps.
Contained in these pages, are original, unedited records and notes from 1903 which give a good representation of the vernacular and expressions of the time used by the residents of Duryea.
