After 128 years, a mummified man will finally receive a proper burial.
On November 19, 1895, the unnamed guy, an alcoholic, passed away in a local jail from kidney failure. According to Auman’s Funeral Home, a mortician testing out new embalming procedures accidently Pennsylvania, mummified him.
The gaunt man lies in a coffin, dressed in a suit and bow tie, with a red sash around his chest. His skin has a leathery aspect, but his hair and teeth are still there.
Stoneman Willie’s identity remained unknown for an extended period, and local officials couldn’t locate family members because the man had used a false name when he was jailed for pickpocketing.
The funeral home had requested permission from the state to detain the body rather than bury it in order to observe the trial embalming procedure.
However, Auman’s Funeral Home has now identified Stoneman Willie through historical records, and they will publicly reveal his name when they bury his body this week. Except for his Irish ancestry, people knew very little about him until now.
The man, who has been a cherished part of Reading folklore for many generations, will receive a citywide tribute before his funeral.
Locals flocked to the streets on Sunday to commemorate Reading’s 275th birthday with a vibrant parade that featured a motorcycle hearse transporting Willie’s coffin.
