In 1895, Howard S. Eckels founded the "H. S. Eckels and Company" and "Eckels College of Mortuary Science" in Philadelphia, PA. At that time, with training as a pharmaceutical chemist, he was engaged in the manufacture of what was known as patent medicines. He specialized in the use of liquid disinfectants and antiseptics of which formaldehyde was his chief subject of research.

Prior to this time, embalming fluids were composed of arsenic, which was known to be very dangerous. Through his research and development, he changed the makeup of embalming fluids. He pioneered the use of formalin in embalming fluids. His teachings were very respected among the funeral director associations and because of this, he instituted his first three-day class. As more was discovered about the use and limitations of this embalming chemical the course developed into six weeks.

The Eckels College of Mortuary Science operated for many years a nine and twelve-month required curriculum including embalming, psychology, pathology, bacteriology, anatomy, chemistry and English. In 1948 the College formed an affiliation with the Community College of Temple University for Cultural Training, leading to a degree, Associate in Technology - Mortuary Science. This eventually led to a three year degree in Associate in Technology - Mortuary Education and then finally, a four year degree in Bachelor of Science, with certification in Mortuary Education.

From this small beginning, H. S. Eckels was under the direction of Howard S. Eckels, until his death in 1937. Management was taken over by his son, John H. Eckels who eventually became owner and president of both firms.

During the early years a Canadian representative was needed so they hired Bob Flint in 1919. He was followed by Thomas Ryan in 1940, and at that time manufacturing facilities were established in Toronto, Canada.

In 1958 Thomas Ryan and sales representative Burn Wilkinson bought the Canadian operation from the American company located in Philadelphia. As the company became more successful, Bill Bowes began working for Eckels in 1974, and he became partner with Mr. Wilkinson and facilities were moved from Toronto to Guelph, Ontario.

Mr. Bowes understood the needs of his customers. He had grown up the son of a funeral director. He received his own Funeral Director's licence in 1963 and worked at funeral homes in both Ottawa and Toronto. He eventually joined partnership to form a firm called Mackinnon & Bowes, a successful business which offers services to funeral directors, before his beginnings with H. S. Eckels.

Until 1997,Mr. Bowes had taken the company to new heights. More than 2000 different items were on hand in a 10,000 square foot facility. The company not only provided and manufactured a line of more than 30 preparation room chemicals, they also provided cremation urns, preparation room supplies, church trucks, stretchers, cemetery tents, grave markers, etc.

For the fifth time in its 107 year history H.S. Eckels has a new owner. Mr. Bowes had sold his interests in the business to Richard Steele, formerly operations manager of a large family owned funeral home. Mr. Steele's background in funeral service began in 1975, when he served his apprenticeship with Turner & Porter Funeral Directors Ltd. in Toronto. After eleven years with several funeral homes, he rejoined the staff of Turner & Porter, overseeing a staff of 80, which conducted approximately 2500 funerals a year.

Eckels now represents a variety of companies and their products, including Ferno Washington® stretchers and church trucks, Kimberly Clark® paper products, Edwards® embalming machines, Deaton-Kennedy® stationery and Lamcraft® lamination products. H.S. Eckels continues to increase their cemetery and cremation lines, which now include Frigid® lowering devices, Hawl® frost removers, Norvell® cemetery tents, Puckett® grave markers, and other related items.

A continued interest in cremation on the part of the public has brought a corresponding increase in Eckels' line of cremation urns, which includes products by Meierjohan-Wengler®, McKenzie®, Newman®, and Eckels own granite, wood and temporary urns.

On a personal note Mr. Steele says he is more than pleased to be the owner and president of a company that is a family-owned business for more than a 100 years.

"I look forward to the challenge of meeting the ever-changing needs of funeral service. Eckels in the past has taken pride in an innovative approach to keeping its product line up to date, and will continue to do so under my ownership."