Mount Pleasant Magazine May/June 2018

86 www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.ILoveMountPleasant.com | www.BestOfMP.com feature Catherine Stuhr recently shared the history of the business, which started in 1865. The first location was established by Patriarch Henry Dietrich Stuhr, German immigrant and cabinet maker, at 56 Wentworth St. in Charleston. Catherine’s great- great grandfather arrived in the United States around the end of the Civil War and began the business with John Bruning. At that time, it was common for cabinetmakers to build coffins. The partners’ sign read, “Stuhr and Bruning, Cabinet Makers, Undertakers.” These two gentlemen also designed and constructed the highly admired baptismal fount and prayer rail still in existence in St. Johannes Lutheran Church at the corner of Hassell and Anson streets. Bruning sold his interest in the business to Stuhr in 1894. In the early 1900s, J. Henry Stuhr Jr., the eldest son, took over the business after the death of his father. Following his sudden death in 1922, the business was incorporated. J. Henry Stuhr, Inc. continued to thrive and was operated by John A. Stuhr until his death in 1936. Members of the following generation, J. Harry Stuhr and J. Albert Stuhr, relocated to a larger location on Calhoun Street in 1941 and opened a second location in 1956 off Dorchester Road in North Charleston. W. Sanderson “Sandy” Stuhr, fourth generation, is still involved in the business, while his daughter, Catherine, her brothers, Sandy Stuhr Jr., Tim Stuhr and cousin Johnny Stuhr, are at the helm. There are currently five locations throughout the Lowcountry. The Mathis Ferry Road location opened in 1995 and has seen the impact of the unprecedented growth of Mount Pleasant. Catherine remembers: “Originally, our family knew and had some level of personal relationship with every family we served. When I was growing up, there was a telephone line in our home reserved for our parents, Sandy and Fonda Stuhr, in the event a family in the community needed to reach them after hours.” Today that is vastly different, yet she enjoys the new relationships and working to stay relevant while adapting to changes in our society from the influx of different cultures, norms and traditions. One of the biggest challenges they have faced in Mount Pleasant has been orchestrating funeral processions through ever-increasing traffic. Catherine’s gratitude to the town of Mount Pleasant was evident when she stated, “We are very blessed with the service we receive from our local law enforcement. Their response and diligence providing service in this area demonstrates our town’s commitment to the safety of our community.” Local businesses such as the ones featured here are a big part of what makes Mount Pleasant special. The town of Mount Pleasant’s Town Proud Program helps residents, visitors and business owners identify businesses that are rooted here and make our coastal community unique. Check out https://experiencemountpleasant.com/work/ programs. Catherine Stuhr. Sally Castengera 843.971.3501 (o) 843.452.7100 (m) sally.castengera@direalestate.com danielisland.com 393 Ralston Creek Street, Charleston, SC 29492 4 Bedrooms • 3 Full Baths •1 Half Bath • 4,280 Sq. Ft. • $1,499,900 Located in the sought after neighborhood, Daniel Island Park