The Daily Standard
Story Archive
CELINA - Grand Lake's history is filled with more than fond memories and summer fun. It also has its share of murder, mystery and mayhem.
Members of the Lake Improvement Association got a glimpse into the lake's darker history Saturday morning during their regular meeting, with five spooky stories presented by former visitor center executive director Donna Grube and Mercer County Commissioner Brian Miller.
Locals located the body of John R. Dilly floating on the waters of what was then known as Lake Mercer on March 30, 1900. The body was identified by a local druggist. At the time of his death, Dilly was a retired lumber man from Beaverdam in Allen County, Grube said.
"He had injuries from a blunt instrument to the head, and was undoubtedly murdered. The body was then thrown into the lake," she said. "According to the Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, Dilly was known for always carrying a large sum of cash. But there was no money found on his body, prompting the headlines, 'Murdered for Monday.'"
A large reward was offered to catch the suspected murders, and on April 11, 1900, two men and four women were arrested in connection with his death at the Lakeside Saloon and Body House.
"That's a brothel. If you don't know what that is, Google it. I'm not going to say it. It was located at the foot of Main Street in Celina. According to the 'History of Mercer County,' published in 1959, the building sat on what was then park area between the nickel plate and the shelter house at the water's edge. The names of the suspects were Millie Quigg, Clyde McGraw, Georgia Edwards, Charles Martin, Alice Sowers and Nellie Black. However, no one was ever convicted."
There were widespread rumors at the time, Grube said, that the suspects were protected.
An attempt to blow up the bulkhead at Grand Lake's east end took place at about 12:30 a.m. Aug. 22, 1904. It failed only because the culprit was not sufficiently well versed in placing dynamite, according to the story shared by Miller.
"The explosion tattered the gates, but not enough to release the water. At the time, many people wanted to return the lake to farmland," he said. "Newspaper reports at the time surmised that the dynamiters were aiming to do just that after the state passed legislation to reinforce the banks and retain the lake."
Other accounts from the time stated that locals were upset about flooded farmland during spring high water periods, he said. It was believed that the dynamiters targeted that particular area so that Grand Lake's waters would flow down the feeder canal, down the channel into the canal to the St. Marys River.
"The plot likely failed because they placed the dynamite on top of the stone walls. If they would have placed the dynamite between the gate post, it might have worked," he said. "If they would have tunneled, of course, into the east bank and sparked the dynamite there, it was stated that 'St. Marys would have been wiped from the map.'"
Shockwaves traveled 9 miles through the water and rattled Celina, but no one felt it 1 mile away in St. Marys, Miller said. Though it destroyed a two-story house that was located just 50 yards away, the family inside survived.
"There are conflicting reports. Some people say the perpetrators were never caught. This is very interesting. But, the 1959 'History of Mercer County' states that Riley Colton was arrested and sentenced to prison. Several others were suspected but never tried," he said. "Here's the plot to it. In 1918, Riley Colton shot himself through the eye with a 22-caliber rifle in his room at the county home. If there were others involved in the plot, their identities died with him."
In 1843, just as the lake was about complete, local land owners complained that when they'd sold their land to the state for the lake, they were not paid, Grube said.
"Farms were being submerged and they hadn't received their compensation for that land. They were also concerned about standing water causing disease," she said. "A small group petitioned the state to compensate the landowners and drain the extra water. They were told by the board of Public Works in Piqua, Ohio to, 'Help yourselves if you can.' Not good. When the group then threatened to cut into the west bank and drain the water themselves, they were told, 'If you do that, the Piqua Guard would be with you and route you on that day.'"
Consequently, a large, organized group of over 150 residents went to the west embankment with shovels, dug into the embankment and let the water out of the lake, she said.
"They worked for a day and a half cutting into the embankment, about 6 feet below the water level. Water rushed from that opening into Beaver Creek and surrounding lowlands. It took about six weeks for that water to subside," she said. "The act of revolt resulted in 34 arrests, including those of county commissioners, sheriff, judges, clerks, auditor, treasurer, recorder, surveyors, farmers, merchants and private citizens."
A Mercer County grand jury later refused to indict anyone. The state eventually paid about $17,000- or $650,000 in 2026- to repair the lake and paid the farmers for the land.
When unidentified bodies are found today, law enforcement uses forensics like DNA to identify identities. Back in the day, however, a different tactic was used, Miller said.
"According the 1959, 'History of Mercer County,' an (internee) known only as 'Brown' was shot through the eye at a rooming house adjoining the CH&D Railroad in Celina," he said.
"Authorities couldn't establish his identity, so interestingly enough, his body was placed in the window of a Main Street mortuary for several days so passerby could look at him in the hope that someone would recognize him. Could you imagine that today?"
Nobody recognized the man and he was never identified. Unfortunately, Miller said, "History of Mercer County" does not give a date for the incident.
"Main Street isn't what it used to be," he added.
The state of Ohio started the construction of the Grand Lake Reservoir, which was to serve as a water supply for the Miami and Erie Canal, in 1837 by bringing 1,700 German and Irish immigrant workers to dig out the lake, Grube said. They were paid 30 cents and an ounce and a half of whiskey a day to combat Malaria.
"But a Wright State publication that references other sources, details grizzly conditions for those workers," she said. "It references an '(Cincinnati) Enquirer'article that around 1,700 immigrants worked 12 hour- and longer days, sun up to sun down. The laborers were housed in boarding shanties that were built in various places along the line. The document states, according to local legend, possibly hundreds of workers died from disease, accident and exhaustion during the grueling construction, and they were buried next to the lake."
Grube continued that while sources are needed to verify the legend, the mystery remains, along with unanswered questions.
"One, how many people did die during the construction of Grand Lake? Two, how many of them were buried along the shoreline? And three, was that really a stump that you hit last year?" Grube joked.
The Lake Improvement Association will meet next at the Celina Moose at 10 a.m. Nov. 7 for a discussion on the lake's astronomy with President of the Lima Astronomical Society Nate Casazza.
