Original article posted March 9, 2018 The recently announced preliminary development plan for the former Montgomery County Fairgrounds site has excited many due to its walkable design, sustainability, and potential to connect to adjacent areas. Granted, the … [Read More...] about The Historic Roundhouse at the Fairgrounds
Main Content
The Decline of Downtown Retail post-1950: Suburbanization, Urban Renewal, and More
Recently I reflected on the golden age of retail in downtown Dayton, tracing the history of Rike's, Elder-Beerman, and other popular downtown … [Read More...]
The Federation Block and Redevelopment on Xenia Ave
A recent article describes a current project to "renovate and restore" the Twin Towers neighborhood, focusing on the 500 block of Xenia Ave which … [Read More...]
Where Was the Wright Brothers Bike Shop in Dayton?
My last article covered where the Wright Brothers lived in Dayton. This one will highlight the places in town where they worked to turn their … [Read More...]
More Recent Posts
The Historic Roundhouse at the Fairgrounds
History of Talbott Tower (Talbott Building)
Dayton's tallest buildings were built in the 1970s and 80s, but the stories of the earlier "modern" office towers in the late 50s and 60s, when the city was steadily growing but also beginning to decentralize significantly, are interesting as well. The … [Read More...] about History of Talbott Tower (Talbott Building)
History of Rike’s, Elder-Beerman, and Downtown Dayton Department Stores
The Golden Age of Main Street Shopping The last few years have been a difficult time for many downtown small businesses. Retail stores especially face a combination of challenges ranging from lingering pandemic effects and economic struggles to … [Read More...] about History of Rike’s, Elder-Beerman, and Downtown Dayton Department Stores
Fidelity Building and Paru Tower: History and What’s Happening Now?
It's been over five years since I wrote an article about what major downtown site could be next after the Dayton Arcade redevelopment had officially gotten underway. Today, of course, the Arcade's first phase has been a success and the second phase is … [Read More...] about Fidelity Building and Paru Tower: History and What’s Happening Now?
The Gottschall House: Not the Gottschall House?
A while back I wrote a history of the Oscar M. Gottschall house at 20 Livingston Ave, just off of Huffman Ave. It's a beautiful home that is considered to be the greatest Gothic Revival structure in Dayton, and it was added to the National Register of … [Read More...] about The Gottschall House: Not the Gottschall House?
Where Was the Wright Brothers Bike Shop in Dayton?
My last article covered where the Wright Brothers lived in Dayton. This one will highlight the places in town where they worked to turn their revolutionary ideas into the invention of powered flight. Because the brothers made and repaired bicycles before … [Read More...] about Where Was the Wright Brothers Bike Shop in Dayton?
The Only Example of Gothic Commercial Architecture in Dayton
The Fire Blocks has been a hot topic in recent years due to the major redevelopment project spearheaded by The Windsor Companies that has brought apartments and a variety of restaurants and retail shops to a formerly sleepy stretch of East Third Street … [Read More...] about The Only Example of Gothic Commercial Architecture in Dayton
Commercial Space for Lease at 735 Wayne Ave
The building at 735 Wayne Ave (located in between Buckeye and Hickory Streets) has been undergoing renovations as it awaits new commercial tenants. The property listing states that the "flexible, open floorplan may be customized to suit single or multiple … [Read More...] about Commercial Space for Lease at 735 Wayne Ave
The Wright Brothers’ House in Dayton: A History
Dayton has a rich history of innovation spanning key inventions in a wide variety of industries, but the most famous is of course the Wright Brothers and their quest to achieve powered flight. Wilbur and Orville lived and worked in a few different places … [Read More...] about The Wright Brothers’ House in Dayton: A History
The Oldest Commercial Buildings Downtown (Which Survived Flood and Flames)
The Fire Blocks in downtown Dayton has seen a major transformation in recent years spearheaded by The Windsor Companies, as several buildings on Third Street, including the Elks Building, Huffman Block Building, and Dickey Building, have been redeveloped into … [Read More...] about The Oldest Commercial Buildings Downtown (Which Survived Flood and Flames)
Island Park History with Waste Free Dayton
Last week I enjoyed the opportunity to give a short history talk at a meeting of the group Waste Free Dayton. It was great to meet their co-directors Natalie Warrick and Brett Bogan and the members in attendance. We also talked about the park's connectivity to … [Read More...] about Island Park History with Waste Free Dayton
The Dayton Triangles and History of the First NFL Game
Today, Dayton is a great sports town for college basketball, minor league baseball, and much more. But despite the many passionate fans in the Gem City, establishing a team in one of the major professional leagues isn't a realistic possibility. But Dayton will … [Read More...] about The Dayton Triangles and History of the First NFL Game
The Historic Orleans House at Hickory and Morton in South Park
South Park is the best neighborhood in Dayton for corner stores. Nearly all have been converted to residential use, but many of them retain some beautiful architectural details. One of the best examples is the building at the NE corner of Hickory and … [Read More...] about The Historic Orleans House at Hickory and Morton in South Park
History of Euclid Ave UB (Mt. Enon Missionary Baptist) Church
I recently wrote about the former firehouse #13 at West Third and Euclid. That building sits across the street from the Mt. Enon Missionary Baptist Church, which was formerly the Euclid Avenue United Brethren Church. Milton Wright, father of Orville and … [Read More...] about History of Euclid Ave UB (Mt. Enon Missionary Baptist) Church