Skip to main content

The A1 Mystery of Avon Lake

Dewey Decibel podcast investigates a cold case in its Halloween episode

October 25, 2017

Dewey Decibel podcast presents its Halloween episode, "The A1 Mystery of Avon Lake." — Dewey Decibel podcast presents its Halloween episode, "The A1 Mystery of Avon Lake."

Who’s behind the 55 cleaned, emptied, and delabeled A1 Sauce bottles that mysteriously appeared at Avon Lake (Ohio) Public Library between January and August? Could Dewey Decibel podcast’s investigation turn up any new leads or suspects? We sure hope so.

In Episode 19—our special Halloween episode—Dewey goes on the road to bring you a story from Avon Lake, a town nestled along Lake Erie with a population of about 23,000. Lurking below the idyllic setting is a condiment caper that’s been baffling the community for months.

Dewey Decibel correspondent Terra Dankowski—inspired by a photograph that appeared in the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram—rode 14 hours on a bus so that she could analyze the facts of the steak sauce case up close. She interviewed 11 former and current staff members of Avon Lake Public Library to better understand the motive, means, and profile of the bottle bandit. She snapped photos of the scene, the A1 Sauce bottles, the two copycats—and is opening up her case file to you.

Did Dewey Decibel suss out the saucy truth? Listen to the episode to hear what we found, and click through the slideshow to examine the photographic evidence.

Whodunit? Think you know? Leave us a comment below, on Twitter, or on iTunes. If you have feedback for this or future episodes, email the Dewey Decibel team at deweydecibel@ala.org.

The front entrance of the Avon Lake (Ohio) Public Library. Lurking below this idyllic setting is a condiment caper that has been baffling the community for months. Photo: Terra Dankowski/American Libraries — The front entrance of the Avon Lake (Ohio) Public Library. Lurking below this idyllic setting is a condiment caper that has been baffling the community for months. Photo: Terra Dankowski/American Libraries

After arriving at Avon Lake Public Library, Dewey Decibel correspondent Terra Dankowski took quick inventory of the evidence before diving into her investigation. Photo: Terra Dankowski/American Libraries — After arriving at Avon Lake Public Library, Dewey Decibel correspondent Terra Dankowski took quick inventory of the evidence before diving into her investigation. Photo: Terra Dankowski/American Libraries

Dan Cotton, page supervisor at Avon Lake Public Library, kept copious notes during the A1 Mystery. He took Dewey Decibel on a tour of library locations where the first few bottles were found. Photo: Terra Dankowski/American Libraries — Dan Cotton, page supervisor at Avon Lake Public Library, kept copious notes during the A1 Mystery. He took Dewey Decibel on a tour of library locations where the first few bottles were found. Photo: Terra Dankowski/American Libraries

Dan Cotton, page supervisor at Avon Lake Public Library, shows off two pages from his case file. Photo: Terra Dankowski/American Libraries — Dan Cotton, page supervisor at Avon Lake Public Library, shows off two pages from his case file. Photo: Terra Dankowski/American Libraries

Avon Lake Public Library created this floor plan graphic indicating where A1 Sauce bottles were found in the library. A total of 55 bottles were retrieved between January and August, plus two suspected copycat bottles. Image: Courtesy of Avon Lake Public Library

Dan Cotton, page supervisor at Avon Lake Public Library, found the first A1 Sauce bottle on January 11. Here he demonstrates how the first bottle was stashed behind a pile of newspapers. Photo: Terra Dankowski/American Libraries — Dan Cotton, page supervisor at Avon Lake Public Library, found the first A1 Sauce bottle on January 11. Here he demonstrates how the first bottle was stashed behind a pile of newspapers. Photo: Terra Dankowski/American Libraries

A few of the emptied, cleaned, and delabeled A1 Sauce bottles that were found in the stacks were flagged with Post-it notes indicating which library employee found the bottle, and when and where the bottle was found. Photo: Terra Dankowski/American Libraries — A few of the emptied, cleaned, and delabeled A1 Sauce bottles that were found in the stacks were flagged with Post-it notes indicating which library employee found the bottle, and when and where the bottle was found. Photo: Terra Dankowski/American Libraries

Avon Lake Public Library has held onto most of its A1 Sauce bottle collection. Many library employees that we interviewed stressed how clean the bottles were and what a time commitment this project must have been. Photo: Courtesy of Avon Lake Public Library

Jill Ralston, former public relations and marketing coordinator with Avon Lake Public Library, is credited with sparking local and national media interest in this story. "It all started with a Facebook post," she said. Photo: Terra Dankowski/American Libraries — Jill Ralston, former public relations and marketing coordinator with Avon Lake Public Library, is credited with sparking local and national media interest in this story. “It all started with a Facebook post,” she said. Photo: Terra Dankowski/American Libraries

Dan Cotton, page supervisor at Avon Lake Public Library, found the very first bottle on January 11. Cotton has kept extensive notes on the case. Photo: Courtesy of Avon Lake Public Library

Shea Alltmont started as public relations and marketing coordinator in August, but she was already acquainted with the mystery thanks to local media. In June, she baked cookies for library staffers and her friend Jill Ralston in the shape of A1 Sauce bottles. Photo: Courtesy of Avon Lake Public Library

Mary Crehore served as director of Avon Lake Public Library when much of the game was afoot. Crehore retired in June after being with the library for 15 years. Photo: Courtesy of Avon Lake Public Library

Librarian Nadge Herceg found her bottle in the Book Discussion section of Avon Lake Public Library. Photo: Courtesy of Avon Lake Public Library

Circulation Manager Dianne Russell initially suspected the empty A1 Sauce bottles at Avon Lake Public Library were part of a geocaching game. Photo: Courtesy of Avon Lake Public Library

William Rutger joined Avon Lake Public Library as director in July. Though he wasn't around for most of the mystery, he had heard about the story before joining the ranks. Rutger even sent a (full) A1 Sauce bottle, along with a thank-you note, to the board of trustees after his interview. Photo: Courtesy of Avon Lake Public Library — William Rutger joined Avon Lake Public Library as director in July. Though he wasn’t around for most of the mystery, he had heard about the story before joining the ranks. Rutger even sent a (full) A1 Sauce bottle, along with a thank-you note, to the board of trustees after his interview. Photo: Courtesy of Avon Lake Public Library

Avon Lake Public Library page Colleetta DeChant found bottle #15 in the Magazines section. Photo: Courtesy of Avon Lake Public Library — Avon Lake Public Library page Colleetta DeChant found bottle #15 in the magazines section. Photo: Courtesy of Avon Lake Public Library

Vicki George, circulation specialist at Avon Lake Public Library, found one of two suspected copycat bottles. The A1 Sauce bottle that she found was full and still had its label. Attached to her bottle was an envelope containing a handwritten poem. Photo: Courtesy of Avon Lake Public Library — Vicki George, circulation specialist at Avon Lake Public Library, found one of two suspected copycat bottles on March 23. The A1 Sauce bottle that she found was full and still had its label. Attached to her bottle was an envelope containing a handwritten poem. Photo: Courtesy of Avon Lake Public Library

A photograph of the handwritten poem that Vicki George found on March 23. The poem is suspected to have been written by a copycat because it didn't fit the pattern of the other bottles. Photo: Courtesy of Avon Lake Public Library — A photograph of the handwritten poem that Vicki George found on March 23. The poem is suspected to have been written by a copycat because it didn’t fit the pattern of the other bottles. Photo: Courtesy of Avon Lake Public Library

One of these things is not like the others. Avon Lake Public Library staffers found a Crown Collection Steak Sauce bottle, which they deemed a second copycat. Photo: Terra Dankowski/American Libraries — One of these things is not like the others. Avon Lake Public Library staffers found a Crown Collection Steak Sauce bottle, which they deemed a second copycat. Photo: Terra Dankowski/American Libraries

The copycat bottle that Vicki George found on March 23 was located in the Mysteries section. Dan Cotton agreed that the bottle's location made the copycat find a little "obvious." Photo: Courtesy of Avon Lake Public Library — The copycat bottle that Vicki George found on March 23 was located in the Mysteries section. Dan Cotton agreed that the bottle’s location made the copycat find a little “obvious.” Photo: Courtesy of Avon Lake Public Library

A1-themed cookies that Shea Alltmont baked for Avon Lake Public Library staffers in June. Alltmont reassured Dewey Decibel that A1 Sauce was not actually used in the recipe. Photo: Courtesy of Avon Lake Public Library — A1-themed cookies that Shea Alltmont baked for Avon Lake Public Library staffers in June. Alltmont reassured Dewey Decibel that A1 Sauce was not actually used in the recipe. Photo: Courtesy of Avon Lake Public Library

Shea Alltmont, who runs a small business called Tiny Kitchen Bakery, provided Dewey Decibel with the recipe for her A1-themed cookies. Image: Shea Alltmont — Shea Alltmont, who runs a small business called Tiny Kitchen Bakery, provided Dewey Decibel with the recipe for her A1-themed cookies. Image: Shea Alltmont

Jill Ralston, former public relations and marketing coordinator for Avon Lake Public Library, created this display of A1 Sauce-themed memorabilia and the A1 Sauce bottles staffers had found in the stacks. The display generated a lot of community interest. Photo: Courtesy of Avon Lake Public Library

Avon Lake Public Library gave one of its A1 Sauce bottles to Dewey Decibel for "further analysis." Here, American Libraries Managing Editor Sanhita SinhaRoy lends her eye to the investigation. Photo: Terra Dankowski/American Libraries — Avon Lake Public Library gave one of its A1 Sauce bottles to Dewey Decibel for “further analysis.” Here, American Libraries Managing Editor Sanhita SinhaRoy lends her eye to the investigation. Photo: Terra Dankowski/American Libraries

The "A1 Mystery of Avon Lake" made quite an impression on Dewey Decibel correspondent Terra Dankowski. When she got back to American Library Association headquarters in Chicago, she constructed this board of suspects and evidence. Photo: Terra Dankowski/American Libraries — The “A1 Mystery of Avon Lake” made quite an impression on Dewey Decibel correspondent Terra Dankowski. When she got back to American Library Association headquarters in Chicago, she constructed this board of suspects and evidence. Photo: Terra Dankowski/American Libraries

Tagged Under

RELATED ARTICLES:

Dewey Decibel Podcast Halloween Episode: Night of the Living Dewey Decibel

Dewey Decibel Podcast: Halloween Episode

Ghosts, magic, zombies, and more...in the library!

Dewey Decibel podcast presents its Halloween episode, “The Haunting of Peoria (Ill.) Public Library.”

The Haunting of Peoria Public Library

Dewey Decibel podcast goes ghost-hunting in its special Halloween episode

Latest Library Links

5h

Joe Árvai writes: “As artificial intelligence (AI) creeps further into people’s daily lives, so do worries about it. At the most alarmist are concerns about AI going rogue and terminating its human masters. But my own research as a psychologist who studies how people make decisions leads me to believe that all these risks are overshadowed by an even more corrupting, though largely invisible, threat. That is, AI is mere keystrokes away from making people even less disciplined and skilled when it comes to thoughtful decisions.”

The Conversation, Apr. 12
9h

Tess Prendergast writes: “As someone who teaches contemporary children’s literature, I have been following the surge of picture books about climate and environment topics for several years. While there has been some great scholarly research about such books, I have devised a simple framework for grouping these kinds of books. This four-tiered categorization may help you decided what to read, suggest, or display in various scenarios and for different audiences.”

ALSC Blog, Apr. 11
1d

Max Eddy writes: “It’s a nightmare scenario: You’ve protected all of your online accounts with two-factor authentication (2FA), but then your phone is broken, lost, or stolen, and you’re locked out of everything. Past You’s effort to protect Future You has made Present You’s life a living hell. 2FA is supposed to keep attackers and scammers out of your online accounts, but what if something happens to your second factor? With a little planning, you can reduce that risk and still keep your accounts safe.”

New York Times Wirecutter, Apr. 12
1d

Nik Altenberg writes: “About 100 librarians and their supporters rallied outside San Francisco Public Library’s Main Library on April 9 to demand the city hire security guards for every branch. Workers decried a lack of security at most of the city’s branches and said they are often forced to de-escalate volatile situations and step into the role of providing security themselves. The rally is the latest in a series of union actions [from 10 unions representing more than 25,000 city workers across city departments] seeking to draw attention to what they say is a pervasive understaffing crisis.”

KQED-TV (San Francisco), Apr. 9
2d

“Two years after Brooklyn Public Libraries’ (BPL) launch of Books Unbanned, an initiative to protect the freedom to read for young people, In Their Own Words: Youth Voices on Books Unbanned gives new insight into the impact of censorship on teen and young adults across the US and how restrictions and other barriers to access build upon and reinforce each other. The new report, published April 11 by BPL and Seattle Public Library, analyzes 855 stories shared by young people who signed up for a free Books Unbanned ecard from April 2022 through December 2023.”

Seattle Public Library, Apr. 11
2d

Samantha Guss, Sojourna Cunningham, and Jennifer Stout write: “Recruitment and retention are both critical to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in academic libraries, and failing to improve retention has and will continue to derail these initiatives. Research that addresses retention tends to focus on proposed strategies, such as stay interviews (structured interviews aimed at strengthening employee and employer relationships) and mentorship programs. But there is no agreed-upon definition of retention that would allow us to assess these strategies. We should recognize that involuntary staying can be just as negative an outcome for the individual and the organization as leaving, setting the stage for legacy toxicity.”

In The Library With The Lead Pipe, Apr. 10
3d

Jackie Edwards writes: “As spring rolls around, seasonal allergies can flare up among library workers, resulting in symptoms like sneezing; runny or stuffy nose; itchy eyes, ears, and nose; coughing; and asthma. Not only are these symptoms detrimental to well-being and productivity, but they can also mean you’re less able to provide excellent customer service to library users. Fortunately, by purifying the air, preventing mold, and keeping your work area clean, you can improve indoor air quality and combat allergies in your library.”

Library Worklife, Apr.

View more Latest Library Links