Bert J. Dibble was born in Binghamton, NY, on September 2, 1877, to Charles and Alice (Benedict) Dibble and spent most of his life in Binghamton.  His father was an undertaker with his own business, and Bert followed in his footsteps.  To prepare himself to assist his father in the business, Bert attended the Renouard School of Embalming, where he distinguished himself at age eighteen as the youngest graduate of that school at the time.  He continued his studies and graduated from the Eckles College of Embalming in Philadelphia.  In 1897, he married Pennsylvanian Julia L. Calph, and subsequently became a partner in his father’s business.   Sometime between 1905 and 1909, Bert and Julia moved to Denver with daughter Reita and son Herman, where Bert  established the B.J. Dibble Undertaking Company shown in the photo, at 56 South Broadway in Denver.  The 1910 Census reports that the Dibbles resided at the same address as the business.  They probably lived upstairs and had private access to their home via the door on the far left.  The girl standing in front of the main door may be Bert and Julia’s daughter Reita — she would have been about 12 years old in 1910, the estimated year for this photo.   In that same year, Julia gave birth to a second daughter, Helen. 

The South Broadway address of Dibble’s business is currently the address for the DECADE gift shop.  Here’s a link to a photo of the place:  https://www.google.com/maps/uv?pb=!1s0x876c7f1e4ab3a975%3A0xd3029b2be09d8e96!3m1!7e115!4shttps%3A%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipNErQE212zYeIuZH6Lv6xnHWTWIluWYak0_zEI%3Dw160-h160-k-no!5sdecade%2056%20south%20broadway%20denver%20co%20-%20Google%20Search!15sCgIgAQ&imagekey=!1e10!2sAF1QipNErQE212zYeIuZH6Lv6xnHWTWIluWYak0_zEI&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjR75WZhZ7yAhVS3p4KHc8bCWMQoiowEnoECE8QAw .

I’m not sure if the building which houses DECADE is the same one that housed Dibble’s enterprise.  It is interesting to note, though, that the inner halves of the two second floor windows appear to be the same distance apart as the second-floor windows of Dibble’s building.  Also, the front door of the DECADE is to the left of center, as is the main entrance for the Dibble business. 

Note the sign to the right of Dibble’s establishment advertising the Queen City Dye Works.    “Queen City” Is a shortening of “Queen City of the Plains,” a name given to Denver after it witnessed a period of robust growth and sophistication following the 1893 depression.

At some point during the Dibbles’ residence in Denver, Bert partnered with a Dr. Moorefield to open a business providing sulphur steam baths.  Reportedly, a steam cabinet designed by Bert proved quite successful. 

In 1913, the Dibbles moved back to Binghamton, where Bert established the Dibble Bathetorium.   In 1916, their son Charles was born.  Three years later Bert enlarged the Bathetorium significantly, with his new facility boasting 18 rooms.  Volume III of the Broome County Family and Personal History, dated 1924, describes Bert’s business as “one of the finest bath establishments in the State….enjoying the reputation of being a complete place of its kind.” While operating this business, Bert kept his hand in as an undertaker, operating the Dibble Funeral Home at a separate address, and assisted in this by Mrs. Mary (Satterlee) Burroughs, a former nurse and licensed undertaker.   

Bert died in 1937 and is buried at the Kattelville Cemetery in Broome County, New York.   Julia died in 1960 and is buried at the Chenango Valley Cemetery in Binghamton.  Daughter Helen was buried next to her in 1985.     

REFERENCES:

• “Binghamton and Broome County, New York: a history” Volume III. Broome County, Family and Personal History,” Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., 1924 (www.Ancestry.com)
• ”Cities of the World – Denver” at http://www.city-data.com/world-cities/Denver-History.html
• Robert Dibble of Mass Bay Colony & Wm White of the Mayflower Family Tree (www.ancestry.com)
• New York State Marriage Index, 1881 – 1967 ( www.ancestry.com )
• 1905 New York State Census ( www.ancestry.com )
• 1909 & 1910 Denver City Directories ( www.ancestry.com )
• 1910 Census ( www.ancestry.com )
• 1915 New York State Census ( www.ancestry.com )