Plinton Funeral Home

The Plinton Funeral Home was established in 1949 by W. Hollis Plinton (1915 - 1983), a graduate of Westfield High School. Mr. Plinton attended Boston University and the School of Embalming and Restoration after serving in World War II, for which he was the first Black man drafted in Westfield. He was also the first Black president of the New Jersey Funeral Directors Association. As a 7th grade student at Roosevelt Junior High School, Mr. Plinton drew the plans for his business on West Broad Street in his Mechanical Drawing class.

In comments to the Westfield Historical Society, Mr. Plinton noted that the town of Westfield had changed during his lifetime and he remembered when portions of town had board sidewalks, which would throw him off his bicycle while he was delivering papers. “I call it the days of walking back and forth downtown and you spoke to everybody downtown and you knew everybody you spoke to.” He also remembered that when he left for the war “my front door was never locked,” but when he came back the door had a lock on it.

Hollis Plinton was a member of the Bethel Baptist Church, served on the Board of Directors of the Westfield Community Center, and was a member of the Centennial Lodge. During his tenure as the Chairman of the Housing Committee at the Centennial Lodge, they facilitated the construction of houses on Windsor Avenue, for returning Black WWII veterans. He was also active on the Westfield Recreation Commission for over twenty-two years, following in his mother’s footsteps.

After his death in 1983, the Plinton Funeral Home continued to be owned and managed by his widow, Eva Holmes Plinton. Hollis Plinton was the brother of James O. Plinton, Jr.

The Black Professional Zone (1940-1970)

This area of Westfield was home to Black businesses and professional offices throughout the twentieth century. Many Black doctors and dentists had their offices here in addition to Black-owned businesses such as the Cameron Barbershop, the Braxton Pool Hall (403 West Broad St.) and two taxi companies. Some of the professionals were:

Dr. James Byrd, DDS – 550 Trinity Place – Having been raised in Westfield and graduating from Westfield High School in 1928 (where he was a great long distance runner), Dr. Byrd attended Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. He maintained his dental practice in Westfield for over 40 years.

Dr. Howard Brock, MD – 413 West Broad Street – Dr. Brock was born in West Chester, PA in 1890. He attended the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and earned his medical degree at Howard University, in Washington, D.C. Dr. Brock maintained his practice in Westfield for more than 50 years and had an office in New York City until 1957. 

Dr. Russell Corbin, DDS – 432 West Broad Street – Dr. Corbin was raised in Westfield, graduating from Westfield High School in 1924. Dr. Corbin maintained his dental practice for close to 40 years.

Dr. George H. Jones, DDS – 450 West Broad Street – After growing up in Norlina, North Carolina, Dr. Jones earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery at Howard University and maintained a practice in Westfield for over 40 years.

James O. Plinton, Sr. and James O. Plinton, Jr. – 516 West Broad Street – James O. Plinton, who was born in Jamaica, West Indies, was a dental technician whose laboratory was maintained at his home. He did work for dentists from Elizabeth to Bound Brook and was the first Black owner of a dental laboratory in Union County. His son, James Plinton, Jr. was born and raised in Westfield, graduating from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, and serving it the U.S. Merchant Marines. In 1941 Mr. Plinton began a 40-year career in aviation that took him from being a flight instructor for the Tuskegee Airmen, to starting air services in Ecuador and Haiti, to becoming a Vice President for TWA and Eastern Airlines. He is the brother of Hollis Plinton (see site No. 6, Plinton Funeral Home). 

Dr. Minturn Thompson, MD – 530 West Broad Street – Dr. Thompson was a lifelong resident of Westfield who received his medical degree from Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, D.C. After his internship at Freedmen’s Hospital, now the Howard University Hospital, he maintained his medical practice on West Broad Street for over 36 years.

Dr. Robert Thompson, DDS – 203 Palsted Avenue – Dr. Thompson was raised in Westfield and graduated from Westfield High School in 1941. He attended the College of Dentistry at Howard University in Washington, D.C., where he received numerous citations and certification for his many years of public service. Dr. Thompson practiced dentistry in Westfield for over 40 years.

Dr. Hubert Humphrey, MD – 430 Downer Street – Dr. Humphrey was born and raised in Westfield, graduating from Westfield High School in 1927. After receiving his medical degree from the Howard University College of Medicine in 1935, and interning at Freedmen’s Hospital in Washington, D.C., he began his Westfield medical practice in 1936, which lasted over 33 years.

Plinton, Hollis O., Interview, Oral History Project for the Westfield Historical Society and the Westfield Memorial Library (April 13, 1978), audio and transcript versions available at: http://www.digifind-it.com/westfield/interviews.php (select: Hollis O. Plinton from list).

Joyce Allen-Pretlow, oral history and personal papers.