The Fire Blocks district of Downtown Dayton has seen a lot of revitalization in the last few years. But a couple of interesting commercial buildings remain vacant, and will hopefully see some new life soon. The small commercial building pictured above is the structure at … [Read more...] about Vacant Building on East Third in the Fire Blocks Waiting for Its Next Chapter
Appalachian Migration to Dayton, Ohio: Where Families Lived and Worked
Over the past several years, as I’ve researched Dayton’s industrial history and the neighborhoods that once surrounded its factories, one theme has come up repeatedly: Appalachian migration. Between the late 1930s and 1960s, tens of thousands of people from eastern Kentucky … [Read more...] about Appalachian Migration to Dayton, Ohio: Where Families Lived and Worked
Senior Resource Connection Closing, Leaving Behind Interesting Midcentury Building
Senior Resource Connection (SRC) is closing its doors. The nonprofit, which provided Meals on Wheels, in-home care, and support services to more than 10,000 older adults and people with disabilities across nine counties, announced in May 2026 that it will permanently … [Read more...] about Senior Resource Connection Closing, Leaving Behind Interesting Midcentury Building
New Salon Opens at the Dayton Arcade in Downtown Dayton
A new business opened its doors in the North Arcade retail spaces this First Friday: Tiffany's on Third, a salon offering a variety of quick high-end beauty services. Described as a boutique dry bar, the business is owned by Tiffany Goins, a longtime beauty industry … [Read more...] about New Salon Opens at the Dayton Arcade in Downtown Dayton
The Lost Underground Restaurants on Courthouse Square
On Courthouse Square in the center downtown Dayton, there is a very unusual space that is easy to miss. A staircase descends below street level into a sunken courtyard lined with vacant storefronts and red awnings. Unless you already know to look for it, you could walk … [Read more...] about The Lost Underground Restaurants on Courthouse Square
Why Historic Buildings Had Grand Entrances (And Why We Stopped Building Them)
The Grand Entrances of Ludlow Street in Downtown Dayton Ludlow Street in Downtown Dayton doesn't have the tallest buildings in the city, but it's one of the best places to see a particular architectural feature that has mostly disappeared from American downtowns: the … [Read more...] about Why Historic Buildings Had Grand Entrances (And Why We Stopped Building Them)
The Lost Dayton Summer Resort and Mead Estate that Became Triangle Park
Recently I found an image of an old farmhouse house in Dayton (above), which I learned after some digging actually connects two different Dayton stories I've written and talked about in recent months. One was the home of Daniel Eldridge Mead on West First Street, which … [Read more...] about The Lost Dayton Summer Resort and Mead Estate that Became Triangle Park
Dayton’s Oldest Parking Garage: History of the First Street Garage
I recently covered the recent reopening of Rabbit Hole Books after being closed for two months. Today, we will dig more deeply into the history of the parking garage where it is located, and whose condition has led to the ongoing disputes between the bookstore and the … [Read more...] about Dayton’s Oldest Parking Garage: History of the First Street Garage
A Rare Second Empire Mansion in Dayton: History of the Isaac Pollack House
The Second Empire style Isaac Pollack house was built in 1876, but not at its present location at 208 West Monument Ave across from the Downtown YMCA. Instead, it was originally located a few blocks away at 319 West Third Street. Originally, it stood next to an … [Read more...] about A Rare Second Empire Mansion in Dayton: History of the Isaac Pollack House
Rabbit Hole Books Reopens in Downtown Dayton After Two-Month Closure
Rabbit Hole Books reopened on Thursday, April 23, after more than two months of closure following a fire in the garage building where the bookstore is located on West First Street in downtown Dayton. The closure became a major local story and featured disputes between the … [Read more...] about Rabbit Hole Books Reopens in Downtown Dayton After Two-Month Closure