The Proffitt Family Funeral Home

For generations, local businesses have helped shape the story of our community. The Crawfordsville District Public Library’s newest local history display focuses on one such business and the family behind it: the Proffitt family and the funeral home they operated in Crawfordsville for many years.

The Proffitt family’s connection to Crawfordsville began in 1917 when Henry W. Proffitt and his son, Asher Proffitt, opened H.W. Proffitt & Son on May 14 on South Washington Street. Before coming to Crawfordsville, Asher had already gained experience in the funeral profession. He graduated from the Askin Embalming School in Indianapolis, earning the highest grade in his class, and had previously operated an undertaking business in Bainbridge.

After purchasing the undertaking business of P.F. Harwood, Asher and his family moved to Crawfordsville, bringing their experience and dedication to a growing community. Newspaper articles from the time described Asher as a capable and efficient embalmer and predicted success for the new business.

The funeral home continued to grow over the years. In 1922, the business moved to the Thomas property at the corner of Pike and Green Streets, where extensive improvements were made to expand the funeral home. By the 1930s, the business had expanded to include modern equipment, a chapel for funeral services, and an ambulance service.

The name of the business changed as the family grew and responsibilities shifted. From 1917 to 1933, the business operated as H.W. Proffitt & Son, with Henry and Asher at the helm. From 1934 to 1936, it became known as Proffitt & Son. In 1937, Henry stepped away from daily operations, and Asher and his brothers, James and Frederick, took over, changing the name to Proffitt & Sons.

The Proffitt family’s commitment to serving Crawfordsville families continued for decades. A 1946 open house celebrated 29 years of the business and introduced the third generation of Proffitts actively involved in the funeral home. The event highlighted James and Frederick’s education and training as they continued the family tradition.

The library’s local history display, available now through September 2026, shares photographs, newspaper articles, and memorabilia from the Proffitt family and their funeral home. Visitors will also have a unique opportunity to see the original funeral home chairs, which will be on display for approximately one week in mid-July. Visit the second floor soon to explore this piece of local history.