Monday, December 9, 2013

The Mystery Of "Old Mike"...!

This Monday let's look at the mystery of "Old Mike" from Arkansas. This, by the way, is a true story!

Actually this story is both sad and touching, with a bit of good intentions mixed in! However, often the best intentions don't get things done!

Old Mike

In the early 1900s, down in Nevada County, the man who would come to be known as “Old Mike” was a familiar face in and around the city of Prescott. A traveling salesman, he would swing by each month to sell stationery to homes and local businesses. He occasionally stayed overnight, but he always left the following day on the afternoon train.

One day, residents found Mike lying motionless under a tree. He had apparently passed away the night before. Knowing him only by his first name—and after a postmortem search failed to turn up any identification—the townspeople did the only sensible thing they could think of. They embalmed him and put his corpse on display outside of the local funeral home.

That’s where Mike sat for the next six decades. He was originally placed there in hopes that someone would identify him or claim the body, but no one ever came forward. Eventually, in 1975, the state attorney general’s office requested that he be buried, and Mike was finally laid to rest later that May. His true identity will likely forever remain a mystery.

The intentions of doing something to find out who "Old Mike" really was were good, but leaving him on display for so long seems like a bit of a stretch to me. Besides, it did not have the desired effect so it actually was a bad ending, if you ask me! It's sad that Mike's family, if he had one, never knew what happened to him. I am happy that the townsfolk adopted him and showed him a little respect in the end!

The kitchen is our place for coffee this morning. Wanna share my oatmeal?

10 comments:

Recycled Cottage & Garden said...

Poor Mike!

Oatmeal sounds good with brown sugar and butter. Yumm!

Mamahen said...


Poor guy...I am glad he was laid to rest at last. Cin n sugar in my oatmeal plz :))

HermitJim said...

Hey Lady Hawthorne...
Oatmeal does have a way of sticking to the ribs!

I like mine with brown sugar and butter as well!

Thanks for coming over today!



Hey Mamahen...
There is that at least! Seems like it was about time!

Cinnamon is a good choice as well!

Thanks for the visit this morning!

Chickenmom said...

They could have contacted the companies Mike bought his supplies from.
I'll bring raisins - gotta have raisins with oatmeal!

Sixbears said...

They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Enjoying a coffee. Mid 60s here in Fl this morning so I've been for a walk with the dog already.

Thinking about maybe bacon and eggs.

linda m said...

That is sad. It is also morbid to leave a body on display for such a long time. I give the town credit for trying to find his next of kin though. Very cold here with a couple of inches of the white stuff I had to shovel. A big bowl of oatmeal will hit the spot right about now.

JO said...

Sad story for sure. But like Chickenmom said why didn't they contact the company? But to leave him out there for that long how sad.

Oat meal sounds good in this cold weather with a nice hot cup of coffee. It was 34 here now it's 38 whoppee

Dizzy-Dick said...

I am sure "old Mike" didn't mind standing out there on display. But, until after we die, we will not be sure what really happens.

Barney, The Old Fat Man said...

I like to mix some hot chocolate powder into my oatmeal for breakfast.

HermitJim said...

Hey Phyllis...
I wondered about that myself. Seems like that would have been a logical choice!

Raisins are good!

Thanks for coming by today!



Hey Sixbears...
Bacon and eggs always makes a good breakfast, that's for sure!

Thanks for dropping by today!



Hey Linda M...
Does seem a little excessive to me as well!

Glad we don't have to deal with the snow!

Thanks for coming over today!



Hey Jo...
I guess that they just did a lot of things differently back in those days!

Thanks, sweetie, for coming over today!



Hey Dizzy...
Right you are about that! Another great mystery waiting to be solved!

Thanks for stopping by today!



Hey Barney...
Ya know, that sounds like a good idea! I'll have to try it.

Thanks for coming over, Barney!