Dole Childs & Shaw

Specialties

Although personnel has changed over the years the oldest funeral home in Haverhill carries on a long and rich tradition, and continues to serve the families of greater Haverhill with compassion, caring, and honesty. In 1839 two brothers-​in-​law, John P. Randall and Joseph H. Cummings, opened a furniture business that made and sold burial coffins. Above the store they established J.H. Cummings, Furnishing Undertakers. In 1882 the business was relocated to a storefront on Main Street. The business was sold in 1886 to a stable owner, Fred G. Richards, who later became mayor of Haverhill, and a prominent banker, George H. Dole. They changed the name to Richards & Dole. Richards stand was the oldest in Haverhill, and one could rent Tally-​Ho coaches, barges, hacks, carriages, and find accommodations for 100 horses. Richards died in 1895, and George H. Childs, who had been an employee for four years, bought into the business, and the name change to Dole & Childs Funeral Home…