One of the sites in Lost Dayton, Ohio, the Dayton Motor Car Company Historic District, has been in the news a couple of times recently, for very different reasons. The good news is that a property in the area, 15 McDonough St (right), was recently awarded $1.8 million … [Read more...] about Dayton Motor Car Company District: Good and Bad News
Then and Now: Aerial of Third and Jefferson, Fire Blocks
With the Fire Blocks development undergoing some major changes and hopefully starting real construction soon, let's travel back in time and take a look at the area from a high vantage point. Some buildings will look familiar, but others are long gone. The Beckel Hotel … [Read more...] about Then and Now: Aerial of Third and Jefferson, Fire Blocks
What’s Going On With? Dayton Arcade Redevelopment
This article is part of my larger Dayton Arcade History Guide, which covers the full story of the complex, its buildings, decline, and redevelopment. The Dayton Arcade project continues to receive good news, but some Daytonians will remain skeptical until the day they set … [Read more...] about What’s Going On With? Dayton Arcade Redevelopment
James Ritty: How a Dayton Saloon Owner Invented the Cash Register
The invention of the cash register began not with a major corporation, but with a Dayton saloonkeeper confronting a very practical problem. In 1879, James Ritty created the first mechanical cash register as a way to prevent employee theft, a simple idea that would ultimately … [Read more...] about James Ritty: How a Dayton Saloon Owner Invented the Cash Register
Downtown Dayton Restaurants: 2007 vs. 2018
Downtown Dayton is enjoying a major resurgence, and just about everyone is in agreement that there's much more to do today than in decades. But it's an interesting experiment to compare the actual number of amenities at two points in time. Thanks to an article from 2007 … [Read more...] about Downtown Dayton Restaurants: 2007 vs. 2018
More Dayton Demolitions: East Side as Seen via Streetview
We've already looked at before and after shots of demolitions that have taken place in the Streetview era (2007-2018), focusing on some downtown buildings, Old North Dayton's former commercial center, and few others scattered throughout various Dayton neighborhoods. But … [Read more...] about More Dayton Demolitions: East Side as Seen via Streetview
What’s Going On With? Balsley Building
Dayton has seen a surge in redevelopment projects in recent years, but a few that were announced with much fanfare haven’t been able to get off the ground years later. This What's Going On With series will chronicle those first announcements as well as later updates in order … [Read more...] about What’s Going On With? Balsley Building
Uncovering Old Buildings Downtown: DPS, Reynolds & Reynolds
Dayton can't magically bring back any of its old buildings that have been demolished, but it can uncover the few that survive hidden under more modern coverings or cladding systems. One such example that was in the news recently is the Price Stores building (below), a … [Read more...] about Uncovering Old Buildings Downtown: DPS, Reynolds & Reynolds
What Dayton Has Gained: New Construction 2007-2017
Last time we looked at some of what Dayton has lost in the past decade. But this week we'll take a more optimistic tone and highlight some of the many projects of new construction that have sprung up in those same years on vacant lots and surface parking. Although the … [Read more...] about What Dayton Has Gained: New Construction 2007-2017
The Gem City Polo Club and the First Roller Polo League
Early Dayton sports teams have seen a resurgence of interest in recent years, especially football's Dayton Triangles who hosted the very first NFL game right here in the Gem City on October 3, 1920 at Triangle Park. There are plenty of other examples of early Dayton teams … [Read more...] about The Gem City Polo Club and the First Roller Polo League