NyadFactCheck

In search of the truth about Diana Nyad

 

 

Anne Priller Benoit Grills

 

 

1923 - Herman Hunt (future manager) attempts suicide

 

1926 - Picnicker Drowns near her home

 

1928, Aug - Anne Benoit of Westfield/Chicopee at Wrigley Race

 

1928, Nov - Harold Benoit transfers real estate to Anna

 

1928, Dec - Contract with Herman Hunt

 

1929, Mar - Benefit Swim In Fort Lauderdale

 

1929, Aug-Oct - Anne Benoit of Holyoke at Canadian National Exposition (CNE)

 

1930, Jan - On program with alligator

 

 

1930, Jul - Swims Manhattan

 

 

 

1930, Aug - Swims Canadian National Exhibition (CNE)

 

1930, Sep - Accident

 

1931, Mar - Cigarette ad

 

1931, Mar-May - In Florida

 

1931, Aug - CNE

advertisement in Canadian Statesman

 

1931, Oct - Stabbing by Herman Hunt/Hunt’s death

 

 

1932 - Harold Benoit sues for divorce, then dies

 

1934 - At Chicago World’s Fair

 

1937 - Marries Kenneth Grills

 

1944 - Grills

 

1960s - Anne Grills in San Bernardino managing Platt Building

 

1989 - Death of Anne Priller Benoit Grills

 

2005 - Death of Kenneth Grills

 

 


 

I’m indebted to Laurel of holyokemass.com for unearthing many of the gems on this page.

Images from the City of Toronto Archives:

 

CNE, 23 Aug 1929 (Fonds 1266, Item 17590)

 

CNE, 7 Sep 1929 (Fonds 1266, Item 17896)

 

CNE swimmers Benoit, Riley, Armstrong, Tower, Norelius 7 Sep 1929 (Fonds 1266, Item 17900)

 

CNE, 22 Aug 1930 (Fonds 1266, Item 21630)

 

CNE, 22 Aug 1930—no Benoit, but it’ too good a photo to pass up (Fonds 1266, Item 21633)

 

CNE, 27 Aug 1930 (Fonds 1266, Item 21715)

 

CNE, 29 Aug 1930 (Fonds 1266, Item 21769)

 

CNE, 6 Sep 1930, Benoit far right (Fonds 1266, Item 21901)

 

CNE, 6 Sep 1930 (Fonds 1266, Item 21902)

 

CNE, 6 Sep 1930 (Fonds 1266, Item 21903)

 

 


Newspaper photos:

 

From “Holyoke Expected Mrs Benoit To Win,” Boston Globe, 26 August 1929.)

 

 

From “Fair Mermaids Entered For $50,000 Swim,” The Barrie Examiner, 30 August 1928.