The 11 May 1934 edition of The Matawan Journal announced the impending establishment of the Bedle Funeral Home on Main Street in Matawan. The funeral home was to be operated by Ralph Bedle, the son of Keyport's well-known funeral director, Harvey S Bedle. An eerie sort of wedding present from Ralph's father, the funeral home would also serve as residence for the young undertaker and his soon-to-be bride after their wedding in the fall.
The property was next door to the First Presbyterian Church until the church burned down in the 1950s and relocated to its current Route 34 location. Both Bedle Funeral Homes are currently part of the Sidun Funeral Group.
Below is the beginning of the 1934 Journal article:
Harvey S Bedle Buys House In Matawan
Taylor Property Purchased for Ralph Bedle; House Will Be Altered Into Funeral Home
Harvey S Bedle, of Keyport, has purchased the Floyd T Taylor property adjoining the Presbyterian Church in Matawan for his son, Ralph, whose engagement to be married has recently been announced. It is expected the marriage will take place in the fall.
In the meantime extensive alterations to the property will be made, whereby the already fine house will be turned into a modern funeral home, similar to that in Keyport, and Ralph and his bride will make their home in the same building.
This Bedle family in direct line of father and sons have been undertakers for nearly 100 years. William Bedle, the first of the line to enter the profession when the undertaker not only took care of the body of the deceased but made his own coffins, established himself about 1840.
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