Located at the edge of Dayton’s Oregon District, the Belle of Dayton distillery has a fascinating history not only for its location, which has housed a wide range of tenants over the years, but also for the story of the Belle of Dayton brand which takes us all the way back to Dayton’s prohibition era.
The Origin of the Belle of Dayton Brand (and a Secret Speakeasy)
In early 2013, renovation work in the basement of Don’s Pawn Shop at 107 East Third Street turned up several buried liquor bottles. One of them stood out, as etched onto its glass were the words “Belle of Dayton.”
And this followed a story in the Dayton Daily News revealing that the basement of the building across the street at 124 East Third had contained a secret speakeasy during the Prohibition years.
This history, including the previously unknown whiskey brand name, was especially appealing to Murphy and Mike LaSelle who were in the process of opening a distillery.
Mike said that “I came up with a dozen or so names and then I saw that story. And I said, ‘This is our name!’ It almost gave us goosebumps. We want to tie it back to Dayton, to the days when distilleries dappled the riverbanks and liquor was handcrafted.”
In 2014, the Belle of Dayton distillery would open at 122 Van Buren Street, in a building that has plenty of history of its own, having served several different industries over the century that it has stood.
Let’s take a look at how the corner evolved over time and then get into the businesses that previously occupied the space.
History of 122 Van Buren Street
1918 Map of the Area
As of 1918, the building has not been constructed yet. At 122 Van Buren we see a 2-story home (which is the east half of the lot of the current building) that would soon be razed. Next to it on Wayne Ave are a series of 1 and 2 story commercial buildings containing a livery stable, picture framing, and a paint shop.
1950 Map
Just over three decades later, we see the current commercial-industrial structure at 122 and 124. The old livery stable on Wayne has been subdivided into 3 storefronts. And the block just south has already been removed for a filling station (which is the current location of Easterling Studios).
The image also gives us a decent amount of detail about the construction of the 1-story building that was being used by a wholesale flower business, including its 12-inch thick brick walls, fireproof construction (except for its exposed iron columns), and wire glass skylights, a popular safety glass of the time period that was reinforced with a wire mesh.
Current View
122 Van Buren’s Wide Variety of Tenants Over the Years
Soon after the first map above was created, the 2-story home would be demolished and replaced by a single-story commercial structure that was originally only a portion of the current building.
By the late 1920s, it was occupied by the Mack International Truck Motor Truck Corporation.
By 1933, the building had taken on a very different role as the home of F. S. Long & Sons Auction House. The company advertised auctions every Thursday which were the largest in the city. Newspaper ads instructed customers to “take the Fifth Street car to Wayne Avenue, one square south to 122 Van Buren Street,” which reminds us how closely Dayton’s streetcar system was tied to everyday commerce during this period.
Automotive uses returned later in the decade, when Carl Haunshell’s auto body shop operated from the building. This is also when the remaining portion of the structure was constructed.
After World War II, the building shifted again. In 1949, it housed Ohio Wholesale Florists, Inc., showing how adaptable light industrial spaces near downtown could accommodate a wide range of operations requiring open floor space and truck access. (The wire glass skylights from the map above also would have played a major role for the flower business.)
In 1976, the building’s owner at the time, Goldflies Moving and Storage Company, held an auction in the space, echoing back to its 1930s use.
Shortly thereafter, Ludlow Radiator Sales and Service leased the building, operating there through the late 1970s and into the 1980s.
By 1985, Finch Rental operated from 122 Van Buren Street, advertising equipment for “any occasion,” including tables, tents, (and) chairs as well as “mirror balls and bubble machines.”
In 1993, the building became home to Uniform Ways, a division of TSW Clothing, Inc., supplying uniforms for police, fire, hospitals, security, maintenance, and postal workers.
That same year, the property was offered for lease with an ad that emphasized its location featuring “60,000 cars every 24 hours,” a notable change from the easy streetcar access that had been the selling point decades earlier.
By 1995, the building was occupied by Kendall Printing and Copying Service.
Belle of Dayton Today: The Distillery and the Van Buren Room
Belle of Dayton operates as a small-batch distillery, producing pot-distilled spirits including vodka, gin, rum, and whiskey. Its custom hand-built 350 gallon copper pot still reflects its artisanal approach which harkens back to the early distilling traditions of the Miami Valley.
Since opening, Belle of Dayton has received national and international recognition, including a Double Gold medal for its Dayton Gin at the 2017 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
In 2018, Belle of Dayton expanded its presence with the opening of the Van Buren Room, an intimate craft cocktail space located inside the distillery building.
This was made possible by a 2016 change in Ohio law (House Bill 351), which allowed distilleries to serve their own spirits by the glass for on-site consumption, previously prohibited under state regulations.
Designed with an early 1900s aesthetic, the Van Buren Room features views into the distillery and focuses on classic cocktails made with Belle of Dayton spirits alongside rare and experimental releases, with additional offerings including local craft beer and a curated selection of gins and whiskeys.
The distillery also offers guided tours every Thursday evening, giving visitors an exclusive look at the production area and equipment, as well as a guided tasting experience.
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