In Episode 3 of The Home, we explore the hidden history of funeral homes as America’s first ambulance providers. Before 911, families in rural Missouri called Holman-Howe Funeral Home for help in emergencies. From combination cars that served as both hearses and ambulances, to the landmark Highway Safety Act of 1966 that ended the era, this episode traces the evolution of emergency care through the Howe family’s eyes.
Featuring firsthand stories, rare details, and the legacy of Dorsey and Bethel Howe, this documentary captures how a community survived before modern EMS.
Chapters:
0:00 Delivering babies in an ambulance
0:25 Dorsey and Bethel Howe’s legacy
1:06 Forgotten chapter: ambulance service
3:02 The “combination car”
4:31 The 1966 White Paper and Highway Safety Act
5:15 Funeral homes exit the ambulance business
6:22 Lasting stories and memories
Subscribe for more episodes and download the Lebanon Now app for alerts and exclusive extras.
Thank You Holman Howe Funeral Home In Lebanon Missouri!
Featuring firsthand stories, rare details, and the legacy of Dorsey and Bethel Howe, this documentary captures how a community survived before modern EMS.
Chapters:
0:00 Delivering babies in an ambulance
0:25 Dorsey and Bethel Howe’s legacy
1:06 Forgotten chapter: ambulance service
3:02 The “combination car”
4:31 The 1966 White Paper and Highway Safety Act
5:15 Funeral homes exit the ambulance business
6:22 Lasting stories and memories
Subscribe for more episodes and download the Lebanon Now app for alerts and exclusive extras.
Thank You Holman Howe Funeral Home In Lebanon Missouri!