The Hoedag

Ohio’s Most Jaw-Dropping Lake Monster

Before Bigfoot, before Nessie… a terrifying creature lurked in Ohio’s backyard. Locals called it the Hoedag: a hulking, backwards-walking beast that snapped oars in two and snatched pies from windowsills. Its neck was lined with quills, its mismatched legs forced it to lurch strangely through the reeds, and its glowing eyes froze the blood of witnesses.

This isn’t a rumor that died in hushed whispers. Local papers—The Evening Leader, The Lima News, and more—reported on it for nearly three decades. Headline after headline warned of “the Hoedag’s return,” like a known threat drifting through the waters of Grand Lake.

In the Dead of Night (1923–1926)

The Pie Thefts Begin (1923)

Troubles began around 1923 at the Hunters, Traders & Trappers clubhouse on the south shore. Pies went missing—no footprints, no scraps, nothing.

First Newspaper Mentions (1926)

By 1926, The Evening Leader confirmed what the locals feared:

“The hoedag is out again,” said Fred Longsworth, otherwise known as Midge...
— May 14, 1926

Out again. It had already haunted them once, and no one felt safe leaving a fresh pie unguarded. Was it a mutant? A lurking prehistoric throwback? No one knew. They locked their doors and hoped it would vanish.

Emerging from the Shadows (Late 1920s–1930)

By the late 1920s, enough sightings had piled up that people openly discussed a half-snake, half-mammal monstrosity creeping around the lake. Fred 'Midge' Longsworth spoke of it from firsthand experience. In 1930, the Hoedag made a public showing during the Halloween parade—some said it was just a costume, but others weren’t so convinced, especially when pies kept vanishing afterward.

Newspaper sketches from that era described a creature with:

• Uneven legs, forcing a backward shuffle
• A long neck bristling with spines
• A horse-like head, or maybe a calf-like torso
• Glowing red and green lights at the tip of its tail
• An appetite for stolen pastries

Neighbors reported hearing low hissing sounds near the water at night, and children dared each other to stand by the shore alone. None lasted long.

“The Hoedag has 36 young ones right now, down at the Feeder,” Midge Longsworth once said. “And it’s hungry.”

Striking Fear in Winter (1934–1935)

The Hoedag didn’t vanish in cold weather. In February 1934, Longsworth claimed it had been spotted at the Combs Ice Pond in New Bremen. He bought armloads of pies, hoping to lure it out. Some called him mad—until January 1935, when a boater claimed a fifteen-foot monstrosity lunged at him, splintering his oar. The papers quietly asked: “Is this the Hoedag?”

Fear spread. Families barricaded doors, and the slightest ripple on the lake sounded menacing.

Captures, Eggs, and More (1936–1938)

By 1936, the Hoedag’s legend was unstoppable. Reports surfaced that it had been “captured” with help from the Ohio National Guard. No photographs were found, but eyewitnesses swore they saw something huge hauled through town. Then it reappeared, as if the capture had failed—or never happened.

In 1938, Longsworth told the press he’d gone to Cabool, Missouri, and retrieved Hoedag eggs. He insisted they required submersion in the deepest part of Grand Lake until their bark-like outer shell dissolved. While many scoffed, the newspapers kept printing his claims. And folks kept reading.

Legacy & Lingerings (1951–1957)

Fred 'Midge' Longsworth died in July 1951. His obituary praised the remarkable originality and depth of his eyewitness accounts, noting especially his vivid descriptions of the Hoedag’s glowing red-and-green tail lights, backward gait, and distinctive dinosaur-like shape. Longsworth’s detailed observations remain central to Hoedag research.

In 1957, a strange “dragon” float surfaced in Van Wert, renewing speculation: had the Hoedag moved on? For a moment, the old fears stirred. Then, silence. But the memory lingered.

A Living Nightmare—or a Very Real History?

This isn’t third-hand gossip. Articles in The Evening Leader, The Lima News, Van Wert Times Bulletin, and The Daily Advocate documented sightings, hunts, and stolen pies for over thirty years. Locals spoke the Hoedag’s name with a mix of excitement and dread, never quite sure what might emerge from the lake if they weren't careful.

Ask around today, and you’ll still find those who swear the Hoedag was real—and might be again. Step onto a lonely dock at midnight, stare into the black water, and try not to imagine two tiny lights blinking, circling, hungry. Is it just your nerves?

So the next time you hear a strange splash near your boat, or your freshly baked pie goes missing, remember: the Hoedag haunted these waters once. And what’s been seen can’t be unseen.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

International Institute for Hoedag Research Announces Groundbreaking Discovery: Historically Accurate Illustrations and Animations of The Hoedag

Celina, OH—The International Institute for Hoedag Research (**HQ: Celina, Ohio; field offices in St. Marys, Ohio, and Cabool, Missouri,** www.thehoedag.com), announces a landmark historical research breakthrough. Leveraging decades of meticulous archival investigation, rigorous analysis of firsthand accounts published in newspapers dating back to 1929, and advanced artificial intelligence technology, the research team has produced groundbreaking, historically accurate illustrations and animations of The Hoedag.

Rediscovering a Local Legend

Since its first reports in newspapers such as The Evening Leader and The Lima News nearly a century ago, The Hoedag has fascinated Mercer and Auglaize County residents. Early eyewitness accounts consistently described a creature with a calf-like body, reptilian features, a horse-like head, uneven leg lengths causing a distinctive forward slope, dense shaggy fur interspersed with porcupine-like quills, luminous red and green bulbs on its tail, and unusual circular footprints suggesting suction-cup feet.

For years, researchers faced significant challenges due to the scarcity of clear visuals. Only a single historical illustration, discovered in a local newspaper archive, existed—valuable but limited in clarity and detail.

The original historic newspaper illustration of The Hoedag. Although crucial to the research, its limited detail required advanced AI enhancement.

Meticulous Research, Historic Breakthrough

Dedicated to ensuring historical accuracy, the International Institute for Hoedag Research meticulously analyzed nearly 100 years of archival material, firsthand eyewitness accounts, sketches, and oral histories from 1929 through 1951. This exhaustive analysis revealed precise consistencies in seemingly contradictory reports, such as The Hoedag’s backward movement, glowing tail bulbs, and unique anatomical features.

AI-generated rendering of the Hoedag, based on historical accounts.

AI-generated rendering of the Hoedag, based on historical accounts.

“The level of precision and detail we achieved was only possible through painstaking cross-verification of every documented feature,” the research team emphasized. “From scales and fur patterns to the distinctive positioning of the tail bulbs, every aspect was carefully confirmed through historical evidence.”

Cutting-Edge AI Elevates Historical Precision

The research team harnessed state-of-the-art artificial intelligence technologies—including advanced photogrammetry and deep-learning algorithms—to resolve longstanding historical ambiguities. This technology enabled researchers to enhance the original illustration and integrate documented firsthand details into remarkably accurate and realistic visualizations of The Hoedag.

Another AI-generated rendering, showing different details.

“Artificial intelligence has significantly amplified our traditional research methods,” noted the research team. “It allowed us to elevate historical accounts into something genuinely groundbreaking and visually compelling.”

A Clear Vision of The Hoedag Emerges

The final images and animations, achieved through rigorous research and advanced AI, showcase:

• Horse-like head, accurately depicted with subtle whiskers and naturalistic features documented by eyewitnesses.
• Dense shaggy fur and porcupine-like quills, transitioning seamlessly into detailed reptilian scales.
• Uneven leg lengths, creating The Hoedag’s characteristic forward-sloped stance.
• Distinctive suction-cup feet, clarifying decades-old mysteries regarding its circular tracks.
• Two historically documented tail bulbs, accurately rendered with one steadily glowing red and another intermittently flickering green.

Setting a New Benchmark in Historical Research

This landmark project represents a significant advancement in historical research, clearly demonstrating how meticulous archival investigation paired with advanced technology can uncover and vividly illustrate this treasured local history. For more information and to explore these groundbreaking visualizations, visit www.thehoedag.com

About the International Institute for Hoedag Research

Headquartered in Celina, Ohio, with field offices in St. Marys, Ohio, and Cabool, Missouri, the International Institute for Hoedag Research specializes in comprehensive research on The Hoedag, combining rigorous historical methodology with innovative technologies. Visit www.thehoedag.com for additional information.

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