There are many stories that are told around Cincinnati that are difficult to believe. Some of these tales are well known and just accepted as fact, while others are questioned every time they are brought up in conversation. If you’re a Cincinnati local, perhaps you’ve heard of the story of Fredric J. Baur. Dr. Baur was a successful employee of P&G and was best known for one thing: inventing the Pringles can. This must have been a significant moment in Dr. Baur’s life, because it stayed with him, quite literally, all the way to his final resting place in a Cincinnati cemetery.
You may or may not know that the Pringles brand was once owned by Procter & Gamble, a large and well-known Cincinnati-based company.
Flickr/TheDeliciousLife These popular chips are now owned by Kellogg’s, but P&G and its employees had a lot to do with their success. Everyone knows these curved chips and the bright red can that you have to tip over to get them out of. But what you may not know is that this can was invented by Fredric J. Baur, a Cincinnati resident and P&G employee. He held the patent to this newly designed chip can, which perfectly holds these curved chips. He knew bags just wouldn’t work with such a unique chip.
Dr. Baur was, as he should’ve been, very proud of his invention.
Flickr/Mike Mozart He also played a role in the creation of frying oils and freeze-dried ice cream, among many other things.
But he is now known not just for his patent on the iconic Pringles can, but also his odd request that was found in his will.
Find A Grave/Virginia Dr. Baur included in his will that he wished to have some of his ashes buried inside his very own invention. To comply with his wishes, his children carried out this peculiar, yet endearing, request.
Dr. Baur is now buried in a Cincinnati cemetery and his gravesite is marked just like the others.
Find A Grave/Kyle Crouch But what you can’t tell is that he was indeed partly buried in a Pringles can when he passed away in 2008 at the age of 89.
It’s very clear that Fredric Baur was a smart and innovative man, and it’s also apparent that he had a great sense of humor.
Find A Grave/Virginia His last request now brings a smile and a topic of conversation to the city of Cincinnati, and this is likely a story you will think about everytime you pop open one of those iconic Pringles cans.
Cincinnati is and was home to many creative and brilliant people, including Fred Baur. He now rests with his most famous invention in a Cincinnati cemetery and is the source of this legendary story that is likely to stick around the Queen City as long as the delicious chips that are found in the can he invented. Did you know this conversation-starting story that’s based in a Cincinnati cemetery? What other tales of the Queen City do you tell? Let us know in the comments!
Flickr/TheDeliciousLife
These popular chips are now owned by Kellogg’s, but P&G and its employees had a lot to do with their success. Everyone knows these curved chips and the bright red can that you have to tip over to get them out of. But what you may not know is that this can was invented by Fredric J. Baur, a Cincinnati resident and P&G employee. He held the patent to this newly designed chip can, which perfectly holds these curved chips. He knew bags just wouldn’t work with such a unique chip.
Flickr/Mike Mozart
He also played a role in the creation of frying oils and freeze-dried ice cream, among many other things.
Find A Grave/Virginia
Dr. Baur included in his will that he wished to have some of his ashes buried inside his very own invention. To comply with his wishes, his children carried out this peculiar, yet endearing, request.
Find A Grave/Kyle Crouch
But what you can’t tell is that he was indeed partly buried in a Pringles can when he passed away in 2008 at the age of 89.
His last request now brings a smile and a topic of conversation to the city of Cincinnati, and this is likely a story you will think about everytime you pop open one of those iconic Pringles cans.
Out of respect for his family, we will not share the exact location of Dr. Baur’s grave, however, you can read more about his life here.
And if you think this is the only weird thing a Cincinnatian has done, then check out our previous article here that will prove you wrong.
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