The section of the Miami and Erie canal connecting Dayton and Cincinnati opened in 1829 and the railroads started to arrive in the 1850s. But before then you could still travel between the Gem and Queen cities. The details are described by Dayton biographer Charlotte … [Read more...] about A Trip from Dayton to Cincinnati (in 1818)
McCrory’s: The Dayton Arcade Building That’s Already Been Redeveloped
Update: Since this article was written in 2018, the McCrory's Building is fully renovated and occupied and is being used by the Hub while the ground floor houses the UD-run coffee shop Startup Grounds. Read on for the history of this interesting building. With all the … [Read more...] about McCrory’s: The Dayton Arcade Building That’s Already Been Redeveloped
Schnitzel, Pierogi, and Ghosts? The Amber Rose in Old North Dayton
Old North Dayton was traditionally the most densely concentrated neighborhood of Eastern European immigrants in Dayton, and it was a self-sufficient, walkable area with schools, churches, shopping, and entertainment all in close proximity. The intersection of Troy and … [Read more...] about Schnitzel, Pierogi, and Ghosts? The Amber Rose in Old North Dayton
Dayton Arcade Redevelopment: Will It Happen? (With Pics)
Also see my Dayton Arcade History Guide, which covers the full story of the complex, its buildings, decline, and redevelopment. No development project has gotten Daytonians more excited recently than the proposed restoration of the Dayton Arcade. The seven building … [Read more...] about Dayton Arcade Redevelopment: Will It Happen? (With Pics)
From Hardware to Texas Beef & Cattle: The History of the Gunkel Building
Today this building's main tenant is the Texas Beef and Cattle Company, and in the early 1900s the place was known for hamburger. But not the kind you're probably thinking. Hamburger’s Hardware Store, named for owner Frank Hamburger, was a longtime fixture on the northwest … [Read more...] about From Hardware to Texas Beef & Cattle: The History of the Gunkel Building
Top 10 Oregon District Spots Not On Fifth St.
For many people, the Oregon District is synonymous with that stretch of bars, restaurants, and shops on East Fifth St. running from Patterson Boulevard to Wayne Ave. Residents, of course, know that there's much more. But in addition to the neighborhood's beautiful homes … [Read more...] about Top 10 Oregon District Spots Not On Fifth St.
The Fate of the Ecki Building
Most debates over historic preservation versus demolition in Dayton center around its larger and most important structures: the downtown Arcade with its iconic rotunda, the Centre City Building, and the like. But sometimes, battles over less significant buildings that aren't … [Read more...] about The Fate of the Ecki Building
Construction Roundup: Downtown Dayton
Take a walk around downtown Dayton today and you’ll see a welcome sight: construction cranes! Yes, several projects are underway which promise to bring new jobs and amenities to the city core. And a couple are even big enough to affect Dayton's skyline. Let’s take a look at … [Read more...] about Construction Roundup: Downtown Dayton
A Short History of the Old Montgomery County Jail
The current Montgomery County Jail complex dates back to 1964, with multiple additions completed in 1993 and 2004. But in Dayton’s earlier days, its jail occupied several other locations around town, most notably next to the Old Courthouse for many years. Dayton's … [Read more...] about A Short History of the Old Montgomery County Jail
Panoramic Cooper Park and Old Library
Today Dayton has an amazing state of the art downtown library that opened in August 2017, replacing* the previous uninspiring structure constructed in 1962. But before that, a French Gothic Romanesque library building dating back to 1888 served Daytonians, and it too was … [Read more...] about Panoramic Cooper Park and Old Library