Asa Tucker Drake was the son of James V. Drake. He was the only undertaker in town and used this barn to store coffins. Locals call it the “old coffin house”. Drake also owned the store next door at one time. John Hunt writes: While Asa Drake did operate the funeral home in Washington, and may have used it store coffins, his father, James, sold coffins out of this barn prior to the funeral home. He also sold copings for cemeteries. Evidence of this is in front of the house that sits next to barn. This was James’ house. James is also connected the “Doctor’s Office” as he was the constable or “justice of the peace” and conducted court in this little building.[This information comes from my mother, now 91, who was James’ granddaughter and was raised in many of these houses listed in Philomath back when she was little].
John Hunt adds: History of the Coffin House goes deeper than is listed. While Asa Drake did operate the funeral home in Washington, and may have used it tp store coffins, his father, James, sold coffins out of this barn prior to the funeral home. He also sold copings for cemeteries. Evidence of this is in front of the house that sits next to barn. This was James’ house. James is also connected the “Doctor’s Office” as he was the constable or “justice of the peace” and conducted court in this little building.
***This information comes from my mother, now 91, who was James’ granddaughter and was raised in many of these houses listed in Philomath back when she was little.
Philomath Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Vanishing Georgia: Photographs by Brian Brown 
History of the Coffin House goes deeper than is listed.
While Asa Drake did operate the funeral home in Washington, and may have used it store coffins, his father, James, sold coffins out of this barn prior to the funeral home. He also sold copings for cemeteries. Evidence of this is in front of the house that sits next to barn. This was James’ house. James is also connected the “Doctor’s Office” as he was the constable or “justice of the peace” and conducted court in this little building.
***This information comes from my mother, now 91, who was James’ granddaughter and was raised in many of these houses listed in Philomath back when she was little.
Thank you so much for this update, John.
Duh. I just discovered your vanishingnorthgeorgia.com not long ago! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! I can’t believe you have even photographed Philomath and Penfield. I discovered these little places in the 1970’s when measuring rivers for the U. S. Geological Survey. They must have made some money in Philomath at one time. I took my wife to Penfield in the 1970’s and we still come back now and then.