Turnbull Funeral Homes

Turnbull Funeral Home was established in January 1884, when Charles Blackburn and David Turnbull purchased the business of Joseph Espy, creating the business of Blackburn and Turnbull, Liverymen and Undertakers. Having the appropriate wagons allowed them to offer funerals and the associated services to families following a death.

This era of the Turnbull Funeral Home was operated out of a livery stable located on the corner of South Main Street and West Third Avenue on the North West Corner in Monmouth, Illinois. In 1904/05, the first "Funeral Home" building, housing only the funeral business, was built on the corner of South Main Street and East Second Avenue and served also as a residence for David Turnbull and his wife, Ada, who was also a licensed funeral director and active in the business.

The only remaining portion of that original building is located on the south side of the present building, and contains the round turret. In 1924, the family found that expansion was necessary to continue living in the funeral home, so the current north section of the building was added. This separated the residence from the business and offered a modern establishment solely for the purpose of conducting funeral services.

The building has evolved through many phases, based on the needs of the many generations served over the past 118 years. It is hoped that the building will continue to afford a comfortable and meaningful environment for today's families as they deal with their loss.