A follower directed me to the small, bizarre “hand stone” that sits in Fleetwood Cemetery along Arch and Laurel Streets. The writing on the stone has worn away in the 140 years since it was inscribed. However, with a little digging I was able to crack the mystery of J. Monroe Kelchner’s hand grave. According to those who grew up in Fleetwood, touching the hand would result in Monroe coming back and taking your hand, too. Suspiciously, some kids broke their arm within a year of touching the grave stone. Whether or not it was Monroe’s spirit seeking vengeance or the consequence of being an active kid is anyone’s guess.

James Monroe Kelchner was born in Richmond Township in 1865, but it seems like he preferred to be called by middle name “Monroe”. By the age of 14 he was living in Fleetwood with his parents and 8 siblings, working in a brick yard. On June 10th, 1884 it was reported in the Reading Times that 19-year-old “Monroe Kelchner, son of Samuel Kelchner, had his left hand caught by the revolving knives of a feed cutter, which was being operated by horse power, and his hand was so severely cut that it was necessary to amputate it.” A month later on July 15 it was further reported that Kelchner’s entire arm had been amputated, likely due to infection of the wound.

Clearly he had a sense of humor about the terrible situation, because he had the appendage formally buried in Fleetwood Cemetery with its own headstone. I have played with the brightness and contrast of a photo I took of the stone to try and decipher what it says – the comparison below shows what I believe is inscribed.

“My Hand, departed June 6, 1884”, the name M. J. Kelchner can still be seen quite clearly at the bottom. After his accident Kelchner pursued an education at the Kutztown Normal School and later Albright, where he also taught and was considered a professor. He moved to Allentown in the 1920s were he worked in furniture sales and later insurance. He never married and eventually made his way back to Berks County – and working labor jobs despite only having one arm.

Monroe Kelchner lived 62 years after his accident. He died on August 23rd, 1946 at the Reading Hospital. At the time of his death he was employed on the farm of Isaac Eberly along route 10/Morgantown Road, where he was a farm worker at age 81. His death certificate indicated he had an accidental fall which led to heart failure a few days later. He was buried next to his hand at Fleetwood Cemetery.