By Joyce L. Alig, President, Mercer County Historical Society
“Post Cards of Grand Lake Saint Marys,” will be the Feature Exhibit on Sunday November 11, at the Mercer County Historical Museum. Also featured that day will be old photographs, posters, and Memorabilia of Grand Lake Saint Marys, hosted by local Collectors.
You ask why am I announcing a November event in the middle of the summer in July? I have one good reason. I need your help. Everywhere I go, in Celina or Saint Marys, or Montezuma, or around the Lake, I see old photographs of this Lake posted in the restaurants, and other businesses. You Lake Residents know stories of history related to this Lake.
The people who know about the Landings, Restaurants, Marinas, and Parks around the Lake, are not always local citizens. Many of our Summer time Lake Visitors come from Lima or Dayton or Springfield, or other Ohio or Indiana communities. People who live around the Lake, whether just in the summertime, or all year around, have old photographs and post cards, etc. of Grand Lake Saint Marys.
May I ask you readers if you will help the Historical Society by loaning old photos, etc., for this November 11 Exhibit? September would be a good time to contact me about this exhibit. That will give you time to check out your own collections of Memories from this Lake.
Look at the Post Card Photograph of Grubbs’ Cottages, with the names “Dora-Lin” posted at the front door. You can date this photograph by the age of the automobile in front of the Cottage. The front of the cottage reminds me of some of the older cottages along West Bank Road, at Celina. I looked in the old Directories, and found Russell Grubb, living at Montezuma, in 1916. Later, I found Lawrence and Melvenah Grubbs, living at 303 Jay Street, Celina, in 1953; Lawrence worked at Mersmans Company. That’s it. I know no history of Grubbs’ Cottages. Who can write me or email me, about information for the Grubbs’ Cottages?
The Mission of the Mercer County Historical Society is to preserve Mercer County’s history and to educate the public about that history. Please help the Historical Society to preserve the history of Grand Lake Saint Marys, by sharing your photographs and your knowledge with us.
[The Mercer County Historical Society President Joyce Alig, may be contacted at 3054 Burk-St. Henry Road, Saint Henry, OH 45883, or histalig@bright.net or 419-678-2614.]