FROM ROXBURY TO CANTON:
THREE GENERATIONS

In 1928, Barney Schlossberg began arranging Jewish funerals out of his house at 167 Magnolia Street in Roxbury where he lived with his wife, Sarah (Shuman) and their seven children, four girls and three boys. Later, in the same year, he rented a storefront at 195 Blue Hill Avenue in the Grove Hall area for B. Schlossberg and Sons. Barney built simple wooden caskets in the basement of the storefront and Sarah sewed shrouds at the house on Magnolia Street.

In the 1930’s, B. Schlossberg and Sons moved to the first floor of a large house (1272 Blue Hill Avenue) at the corner of Clarkwood St. in Mattapan near Morton Street.

The house was owned by their eldest daughter, Jesse and her husband, Harry Sandofsky. Barney and Sarah lived upstairs. Barney still built simple wooden caskets himself and Sarah still sewed shrouds.

In the late 1930’s, Barney was joined in the business by his middle son, Louis, and they operated the business together through World War II. After the war, Louis purchased the business from Barney and, shortly thereafter, was joined in the business by his younger brother, Albert, who was discharged from the Navy. Barney died in 1948. Louis and Albert were a team for nearly fifty years, joined at various times by their own children and nephews.

In the early 1950’s, Louis built a free-standing Chapel across the street at 1257 Blue Hill Avenue, a beautiful brick colonial building with ample parking.

In the early 1960’s, Louis and his wife, Annette (Lichtenstein) negotiated the purchase of the Solomon Funeral Home on Harvard Street in Brookline, changing the name of B. Schlossberg and Sons to the Schlossberg-Solomon Memorial Chapel.

Then, in the early 1970’s, Louis, following the movement of the Jewish community in Roxbury-Dorchester-Mattapan to the south suburbs, purchased the vacated Trinity Episcopal 1897 stone chapel at 824 Washington Street in Canton across from town hall. Albert passed away in 1997. Louis is now 93 and the business is being managed by his son, Kenneth.

God willing, the relationship between the Schlossberg-Solomon Memorial Chapel and the metropolitan Boston Jewish community will continue for many years to come.