Joe Smallbone, Eccentric

Joe Smallbone (1911-1985) was an eccentric who lived in Fenton, Michigan. He reportedly never bathed, and was always covered in soot because of the wood-burning stove in his house. He was a hoarder and visitors to his house would have to navigate a narrow path through the stuff. However, he was also a self-taught electronics genius, and everyone in town would bring him their radios and TVs to fix.

Joe Smallbone

There was only one photo ever taken of Smallbone, at the 50th reunion of his high school class. Someone cleaned him up to attend it.

Despite his oddness, the townsfolk accepted him as their local strange character. And his legend lives on today with a song and video about him created by musician Bonnie Whitehurst.

More info from the Tri-County Times: ‘A legend in his own time’ and Fenton grad’s video on Joe Smallbone going viral?

Who We Are
Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over forty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. Contact Us

Posted By: Alex - Sun Oct 18, 2015
Category: Eccentrics

Comments

And he didn't even have good bacteria spray either! :sick:

Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 10/18/15 at 10:14 AM

Everybody loves a nut!

Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 10/18/15 at 10:15 AM

I worked with a similar eccentric for about 3 months. He was of the correct opinion that if you do not wash your cloths they will not shrink and will last longer. I do not know if he bathed or not. Fortunately we were out-doors in winter so any smell was contained in his parka.

Posted by BMN on 10/18/15 at 11:12 AM

I must give Ms. Whitehurst credit. After six minutes I feel that I've known Joe Smallbones for years.

Posted by KDP on 10/19/15 at 10:03 AM

When i was. A young boy after jo

Posted by timothy. lee markel on 01/05/16 at 07:53 AM

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