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Memorial Planning Funeral Home Spotlight: Kirk & Nice, Inc. (Plymouth Meeting, PA)
For more than 265 years, one funeral home has grown alongside American history. From a small carpenter’s shop in colonial Pennsylvania to a trusted funeral provider serving families today, the story of Kirk & Nice reflects generations of fascinating history, innovation, and high standards of service.
1761: Jacob Knorr, carpenter and undertaker
Before the Declaration of Independence was signed and thirteen colonies formed the United States of America, Jacob Knorr opened a simple shop that would become a cornerstone of funerary history.
Jacob was a prominent builder and carpenter based in Germantown, a small community that would later be incorporated into Philadelphia.
As he led local building projects (many of his structures remain standing to this day), he also sold lumber, furniture, and coffins.
Like many carpenters at the time, Jacob provided coffins as a side venture, but this would soon change when history brought the Revolutionary War to Jacob’s front door.
In 1777, the Revolutionary War was in its second year, and the outlook was dire: Philadelphia, the birthplace of the United States, had been captured as a prime target.
In response, General George Washington attempted to retake the city in what would be known as the Battle of Germantown. But ultimately, the Continental Army lost, leaving hundreds of casualties in its wake.
In the face of this tragedy and blow to the Patriots’ morale, Jacob rose to the occasion to help bury fallen troops. This act would establish him as the local undertaker and his shop as a reliable firm that served the community for the rest of his life.
1869: Kirk & Nice, making funeral history
These were the days when people still paid for services with shillings and horse-drawn carriages escorted caskets to their final resting place.
More than one hundred years after its founding, the Germantown joiner shop was still operating when two former shop apprentices began a partnership: Benjamin Kirk and William Nice. Their partnership began during a major shift in funeral traditions and would cement the funeral home’s place in history.
Deathcare had changed rapidly thanks to advancements in embalming during the Civil War.
While the war raged from 1861-1865, undertakers improved their embalming techniques, allowing them to send the bodies of fallen soldiers back home and preserve President Abraham Lincoln for a funeral train through 7 states.
With these changes, Kirk and Nice ultimately decided to devote their shop to funeral service, discontinuing the carpentry side of the business.
In the years to come, the old Philadelphia funeral home continued to have a positive impact throughout the state.
According to a Kirk & Nice documentary, Benjamin oversaw the funeral arrangements and was an innovator in the profession. He spearheaded official licensing for undertaking and a code of ethics for Pennsylvania funeral homes, and he was the 7th president of the Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association. Benjamin was also married to Elizabeth Knorr, a descendant of the Knorr family.
Benjamin’s desire to continuously improve the family experience served the funeral home well, and that purpose remains strong in the 21st century.
In the years to come, the funeral home moved and expanded and now has a location in Plymouth Meeting and Huntingdon Valley, PA. Modern improvements ensure comfort beyond appearances while honoring the one-of-a-kind history treasured within its walls.
When families come to Kirk & Nice, they understand they’re stepping into a chapel of local tradition and will be embraced with a compassion that has not wavered in over 260 years.
Sources:
Germantown Tour: The Buildings of Jacob Knorr
Kirk & Nice Funeral Home 250th Anniversary Documentary
Past Presidents of the Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association
Revolutionary Ventures: Surviving And Profiting Through The Centuries
Which Funeral Home is Really the Oldest in America?
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