In a message dated 9/13/2000 2:11:04 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

<< coffin door >>

Neva hoid of it.

Fabulous (as in fabled) Rosson House in Phoenix had what was described (in
the 1970's by semi-oldtimers who saw it there, uncovered for the first time
since 1920) as a coffin niche at the curved plaster wall in the main stair
from bedroom to parlor floor.  I'd never heard of such a thing (my parents'
1952 house in LA didn't have such exotica), and it didn't make a whole lot of
sense to me then, but it's interesting that you've got a coffin door.  What
do your local geezers say?

What about our literary friends-- any citations for coffin doors (or niches)?

Ralph