LIMA, OH (WLIO) – It’s not something you see every day, but on Friday, dozens of hearses were turning heads around Lima and Allen County as "Hearsemania" weekend officially kicked off.
Hearse enthusiasts from across the nation have gathered in Lima for the event, choosing the city as their destination because of its connection to the S&S Superior Coach Company, a major name in the funeral vehicle industry. In 1925, Superior introduced its first line of hearse and ambulance bodies. This year marks the 100th anniversary of that milestone.
The weekend festivities will continue with the History and Heritage Car Show.
Friday was a day of exploration and fun for participants, who visited several local points of interest. They also had the opportunity to speak with former Superior Coach employees and take a group photo in front of the company’s former plant on East Kibby Street. What began years ago as a Halloween gathering for hearse owners has evolved into a traveling history lesson, focusing on the unique stories and landmarks of each host city.
“Hearsemania is actually about local history,” said John Ehmer, Hearsemania 2025 coordinator. “That’s what we’re doing when we go to a certain area. We like to investigate what’s cool and interesting, especially in the historical theme. And a lot of our people, in keeping with the theme of the professional hearses, like to tour cemeteries.”
The weekend festivities will continue with the History and Heritage Car Show on Saturday and Sunday at the S&S Superior Coach location at 2550 Central Point Parkway. The show is free and open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Anyone who owns a hearse and can bring it to the site is welcome to participate in the car show.
There will also be a processional on Sunday morning, starting at 9:15 a.m. from the Howard Johnson hotel on Roschman Avenue and traveling to Superior Coach.
