Join Kat and Jethro on this episode of Box of Oddities as they unearth two astonishing stories from the past. Prepare to dive headfirst into the enigmatic world of Wilmer McLean, a Civil War-era grocer whose life took an uncanny turn and a mind-boggling Victorian craze that only the elite could indulge in.First, we uncover the paradoxical life of Wilmer McLean, a grocer during the Civil War era whose fate was astonishing and strangely ironic. You won't believe the bizarre series of events that followed this ordinary grocer's life from the first day of the war to the last.Then, we transport you to the opulent era of Victorian England, where the rich indulged in a peculiar craze that left the rest of society in awe. Discover the strange obsession that swept through the elite, an extravagant fascination that only the privileged few could afford to partake. Prepare to be captivated by the bizarre pastime that dumbfounded even the most curious minds.Get ready to explore the forgotten corners of history, where the extraordinary meets the absurd, in this episode of Box of Oddities! If it's weird, we talk about it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices