Company History

IIn 1839, Abijah Flagg relocated his funeral home and furniture store from Berlin to New Britain. In 1857, his son, William Flagg, sold the business to Joseph G. Thompson. In 1869, the business was again sold to Bryan Churchill Porter and it became B.C. Porter's, Inc.

B.C. Porter’s, Inc. rented a three-story building on Main Street in New Britain next to the railroad tracks, north of the intersection of West Main Street. The first floor of the building was the furniture store, the second floor was the B.C. Porter’s Funeral home and the third floor was the Porter family residence.

In 1885, the company moved to its newly constructed location at 222 Main St. on the green in the center of town. The funeral home and the furniture both operated out of the same location at the Main St. location.

B.C. Porter’s, Inc. was soon after moved again to the 19 Court St. location in New Britain. Bryan Churchill Porter passed away in 1891 and his sons, Frank and Eugene, took control of the company and it became B.C.Porter & Sons.

In 1859, the furniture store and funeral home became two separate corporations under the direction of Maxwell S.Porter who was the grandson of the founder. Eliot H. Porter II who was the great-grandson of the founder presided over the funeral home until 1984 when his son, Christopher H. Porter became the president of the funeral home.

In 1980, Porters Funeral Service, Inc. relocated the funeral home to a new building they had constructed at 111 Chamberlain Highway in Berlin.

In February of 2019, Christopher and Peggy Porter, owners of Porter’s Funeral Home, transferred the ownership of the funeral home to Peter, Nancy and Craig Hansen. The new owners will continue to operate the funeral home at the current location at 111 Chamberlain Highway in Berlin. The funeral home will take on a new name of Erickson-Hansen Funeral Home of Berlin, but will continue to be known as Porter's Funeral Home.

The Hansen Family, owners of Erickson-Hansen Funeral Home in New Britain have provided a high level of professional care to families over three generations. They look forward to extending this high level of care and service at the 111 Chamberlain Highway for generations to come.