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Re: Eugene the petrified man

Eugene was not petrified. He passed thru Sabina, OH and was found dead the next day. The local funeral home did embalm him, hoping to be able to locate the next of kin. Eugene had no identification, only a piece of paper with a Cincinnati address found to be a vacant lot. The name of the closest home owner to the address was named Eugene. So he was just called Eugene. Because no kin could be located the undertaker could not bury him (remember this was in 1928)because an autopsy could not be performed without permission of next of kin. Thus a death certificate could not be issued. He was placed in a small building behind the funeral home hoping he would be identified. He never was.

He is a legend though. Local pranksters would move him outside of his building. The locals would just call the undertaker and he would put him back. News of Eugene caused Greyhound busses traveling by to stop and let passengers veiw the famous "Eugene". Eugene received a new suit every year, a hair cut and nail trim too. Courtisy of the undertaker.

Many tales have been told about Eugenes travels, but he only left Sabina, OH one time. Several Ohio State University students, took Eugene intending to place him in the Student Union on campus. The boys got scared and left him on the bench in front instead. When Eugene was discovered local police were called. They (knowing about Eugene) called the undertaker who picked him up and took him back to his building in Sabina.

Many women were taken to see Eugene on many "First Dates" by their later to be husbands. He did cause lots of curiosity.

Eugene was buried in 1968. With a full service funeral and laid to rest in the local cemetary with a headstone reading simply "Eugene"

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Re: Eugene the petrified man