Some community members learned the origin of the term "basket case" and other interesting facts when Bart and Roxanne Shively, owners of the Suber-Shively Funeral Home, Fletcher, presented a program about funeral home antiques and memorabilia at the St. Paris Antique Study Club on Wednesday. The Shivelys purchased the Suber Funeral Home in Fletcher less than two years ago and have since been organizing a number of items with plans to open a museum. Along with the funeral home, the Shivelys acquired a number of items accumulated by the Subers over a 100-year period in the funeral home business.

One of the items presented was a wicker body basket. Shaped similar to a casket, the basket was used to transport bodies from one location to another.

"This really is where the term 'basket case' came from," Mr. Shively said.

Members also had the opportunity to view a child's coffin with a viewing window. Mr. Shively explained that in the late 1800s and early 1900s embalming techniques were not as sophisticated as they are today. Bodies were often sealed in coffins with thumbscrews and the body viewed through a window because natural changes in the body could make viewing unpleasant.

The Shivelys described the process that loved ones followed to prepare for a funeral. In the late 1800s to early 1900s family members designed a casket to suit the wishes of the family. First, loved ones chose a case. They were then given a choice of fabrics that would line the case. Hardware including handles, decorative plaques and other items were chosen. Burial clothing was often purchased from the funeral home. If a casket was ordered in the morning, it could be delivered by rail to St. Paris or Fletcher that afternoon, according to Mr. Shively.

The Shivelys displayed a collection of silver-plated hardware typically available at that time, including plates personalized with "mother," "father," "lamb" and "our darling."

Burial clothing that Mrs. Shively told the group had just been discovered the day before included a number of dresses and a man's suit with a cardboard collar.

Mr. Shively explained that prior to 1932 most funerals were held in the home along with preparation of the body. Funeral directors transported collapsible biers or church trucks, lighting, curtains, floral racks and other items to the home, where furniture was rearranged before visitation and funeral services were held. In 1932, to ease the confusion for families, funerals started being held in funeral parlors.

"I'm not sure it was a good thing. It takes away from the personalization and some of the necessary grieving doesn't take place," Mr. Shively said, adding that the trend is starting to turn back to personalization of funerals.

One item that piqued the interest of a number of members was a horsehide coat trimmed with a buffalo-hair collar and cuffs owned by J.C. Suber. A family had lost a child and had no means to pay for the funeral. When the couple's horse met its demise, the couple tanned the hide and had it made into a coat for Suber.

Members also viewed photos of the horse-drawn hearse used by the Subers and a collection of collectible figurines distributed for advertising by the Crane and Breed Casket Company of Cincinnati. A number of other items was on display.

Mr. Shively was employed by the Suber Funeral Home at age 16. After graduating with a degree in mortuary science, he was employed by both Suber Funeral Home and Richeson-Wickham and Atkins Funeral Home in St. Paris.

Mrs. Shively was born and reared in St. Paris and is the former Roxanne Zerkle.

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