-poised for the new technological challenge ?The Newburg Funeral Parlour now in its 90th year, is the oldest funeral homeFounder of the business Joseph Eleazor Lykenin the history of Funeral Services in Guyana.The history of the Lyken Funeral Home runs parallel with the history of technological development in Guyana over this 21st Century.The first period dates back to the 1920s when the late Joseph Eleazor Lyken established the “Croal Street Livery Stables”.There were no funeral parlours in those days. The funeral businesses were all called “Livery Stables” because the service offered was of horse-drawn hearses, carriages and Landaus. The coachmen were dressed in fine livery top-hats or beavers and frock coats and gloves – all symbols of grace and dignity for the solemn occasion.There were no soul funerals but the Druids and Lodges, with their music and regalia,Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys, attracted crowds as you see them today.The Croal Street Stables located at the head of Alexander Street became one of the leading funeral services in the country.Joseph Lyken, who was said to be a man not content to go along the beaten track,Wholesale Hockey Jerseys China, created a new design for the coffin – a coffin with a triple lid.This, now known as the ‘3-lid’, has come down through the years as a fitting alternative to the elaborate casket,NFL Jerseys 2018, and is much sought after. It has been duplicated by all the funeral homes that followed.The Croal Street Livery Stables, then a successful enterprise, seemed poised in the 1930’s for expansion. The King Street Stable located at Robb and King Streets then up for sale, was bought and the Croal Street Stables moved into that location.The merger became known as the Georgetown Livery Stables.Although expansion seemed prudent at that time, it occurred at the most disastrous period in the history of the business.The King Street business was riddled with debt; expansion had taken place in the depression of the 30’s and this and the imminent approaching World War II took its toll on maintenance and supplies.The sale of the business was a source of grief and great concern to the young Robert Lyken (Joseph’s son), who was then only 18 years old. He had prevailed on his father not to sell, but to hold out and give him a chance to turn the business around.But the elder Lyken considered his son too young to give advice, and proceeded with the sale. Undaunted, Robert took photographs of the best hearse sold and that photograph was used to take the Lyken Service into the present period.The Newburg Funeral ParlourRobert was determined to create his own business and worked towards this goal, against the wishes of his father, who had given him clear instructions that he was not to get involved in the Funeral Business.Arrangements were made for him to be interviewed for a position in the then British Guiana Police Force, but on the day of the interview, Robert failed to show up.When his father found out that he had disobeyed him,Cheap NFL Jerseys, he threatened to put Robert, who was then 21 years old, out of the family home.Dauntless, Robert set to work stripping an old wagon that was long out of use and lying under the family home.Using the photograph, he designed and built his first horse drawn hearse.When his father discovered what he was building, Robert was ordered to remove the unfinished hearse from the premises. He moved it to his friend’s home – the Lee Brothers – and there completed it.Robert was 21 years old on November 10, 1938; his father died on November 1, 1939.The way was then open, with the permission of his mother, to use the property for the development of his Funeral Service.? Horse drawn transport and a 24-hour burial were still in vogue.The motor vehicle was then taking its place as a mode of transport in Guyana and Robert bought a second hand Erskine motorcar from an expatriate and this he used as transport for funerals in the countryside, while the horse drawn hearse was used in the city.One of parlour’s horse drawn hearses.His brother, Joseph, known as ‘Big Joe’ left school and joined Robert known as “ipe Man” in the business, and later when another brother Arthur, aka ‘Soldier’ returned from the Second World War in 1945 he also joined Robert. The business was now “The Lyken Brothers”.The advent of the radio, refrigeration,NFL Jerseys Cheap China, air travel and motor transport had a direct influence on the changes wrought after the 1940s.Indeed it was refrigeration that put an end to the time restrictions on burials.The business continued to flourish and the next generation of Lykens were to further en