The Allen County Regional Transit Authority was installing new fuel tanks at its Central Street maintenance building when workers discovered a wooden coffin containing human remains. The authorities were notified, as was the Lima Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
The coffin appeared to be from the 1800s and may have contained the remains of Private Elijah Stites, an American Revolutionary War Minuteman. In 1954, the DAR installed a plaque at the site, indicating that Stites may have been buried there, which was Lima’s first known cemetery.
“They were very surprised to come across that; you always know in the back of your mind that this was once a cemetery. They say there’s still at least one person buried here, but you wouldn’t expect them to find anything when you’re just digging up to install a new fuel pump. It was sort of exciting. It was a very neat atmosphere. Teresa Brown, RTA finance manager, described the experience as “seeing a piece of history unfold in front of you.”
The Allen County coroner took custody of the remains and turned them over to a local funeral home for reinterment at a later date. Officials believe it may never be known whether the remains are those of Private Elijah Stites.
