“Stoneman Willie” as he is known in Pennsylvania, was accidentally mummified when an undertaker tried to preserve the body in 1895. It is a 128-year-old mummy, one of the oldest in the US, which is on display at a local funeral home in the small town Reading.

But that is soon to change as the funeral home prepares a proper farewell and burial for the unknown man, as the mummy seems to have finally been identified.

“Stoneman Willie” died on November 19, 1895. He was a petty thief who died of kidney failure in a local jail and was accidentally mummified by an undertaker who was experimenting with new embalming techniques.

Because he gave authorities a false name upon his arrest, Stoneman Willie’s true identity remained hidden and local officials were unable to locate his relatives.

Auman’s Funeral Home, which had initially tried to embalm him while searching for his next of kin, eventually petitioned the state to allow it to keep the body instead of burying it, saying it wanted to watch the experimental embalming process.

Over 100 years later and with the help of technology and a thorough search of historical documents, the funeral home believes it has identified Stoneman Willie. But before revealing his name, the city of Reading is expected to honor the memory of the man who has been part of the popular tradition and popular identity of the city for many generations.

On Sunday, local residents took to the streets to celebrate the 275th anniversary of Reading’s charter with a colorful parade that included a motorcycle hearse carrying Willie’s coffin.

All this week, Willie will be at Auman’s Funeral Home for the public to say goodbye. On Saturday 7 October, he will make his final journey through the streets of Reading and will be buried in a local cemetery. There his name will be revealed and will finally be written on his tombstone.