hung out his "Cabinet Maker" shingle on a
small frame house in the 1700 block of
Pennsylvania Avenue, a short distance
from the White House.
Like so man early-day cabinet makers,
young Joseph Gawler found that a major
part of his business entailed designing and
building coffins. Before long, he added
"Undertaker" to his cabinetmaker sign and
began to handle the various burial details,
which formerly had been the responsibility
of relatives or friends of the deceased.
Eventually, the demand for these services
multiplied to such an extent that Joseph
Gawler discontinued cabinet-making to
become one of Washington's first full-time
funeral directors.
Joseph Gawler introduced many "firsts" in
the industry, to include the beginning
chapters of American and Washingtonian
funeral service, as well as unveiling the
first Motor Driven Funeral Car in the area.
Before the advent of the telephone, Joseph
Gawler placed a slate with chalk on his
business door. Each morning he would
follow instructions as directed by the
messages placed.
Joseph Gawler died in 1910, sixty years
after founding his business.
