In the late 1920s and early thirties, the North Channel along the shores of Manitoulin Island was the play ground for many of the rich and famous. Many boated and spent time at their secluded cottages and island homes on the Manitoulin. One of the lesser known millionaires of the thirties was Daniel Dodge, son of John Dodge co-founder of the American Dodge Motor Company. Danny, as he was known to his family and friends, owned a luxury lodge overlooking the North Shore of Manitoulin Island.
While spending time at his secluded resort in 1938, he fell in love with a local resident of the Island by the name of Lorraine McDonald.After a period of courtship they decided to get married and announced their plans to the families. The families were opposed to such the union based on class structure. To marry outside your class could be disastrous, as was the case for Danny Dodge.
Eventually the wedding went ahead and the young couple spent their honeymoon at Danny’s estate.
While exploring his estate one day, Danny discovered a box of dynamite in the carriage house. It was probably left over from the construction of the large lodge. Being somewhat reckless, Danny lit one of the sticks and threw it out the carriage house door.
The resulting explosion brought Lorraine and the caretaker of the property and his wife out to the carriage house to investigate.
Danny was lighting a second stick of dynamite just as the trio arrived at the carriage house door. Danny now unable to throw the dynamite through the carriage house door without injuring the three onlookers. Finding this way blocked he attempted to toss the stick out one of the open windows. The stick hit the window frame and bounced back into the carriage house setting off a huge explosion.
All were injured but none more serious than Danny. Flying glass and wood had inflicted many wounds on the trio at the carriage house door, but Danny lay unconscious on the floor, bleeding to death.
In an effort to save Danny’s life and find help for themselves, Lorraine, the caretaker and his wife carried Danny down to the boat dock and aboard his speed boat. They would attempt to cross the North channel to the hospital in the small town of Little Current.
With the Caretakers wife seated beside her and the two men in the back seat, Lorraine headed the boat out into 4 ft waves on what was one of the stormiest days of that summer.
At some point along the rough and difficult journey around the Island, Danny regained consciousness and stood up only to be washed over board in the rough water of Honora Bay. Lorraine’s attempt to rescue Danny from the cold Lake Huron waters was in vain as he slipped beneath the waves and was not seen again.
Did Danny really fall from the boat, was he pushed or maybe thrown overboard? These were some of the questions and speculation brought on by the lawyers and family members of the Dodge family. It was thought that Danny’s death 13 days into his marriage was an attempt, by Lorraine, to gain his wealth through murder.
Lorraine went to trial over Danny’s estate where no foul play could be proved. The judgment found in favour of Lorraine, awarding her the luxurious lodge and a large inheritance.
Some still believe foul play had a hand in Danny’s death and today it remains a mystery.
Bruce’s note: Anna and I recently visited Manitoulin Island. What a glorious place. We were told about the Danny Dodge death by a number of residents and we are very pleased that Dave Hurcomb submitted the story.