The Davis Linden Building at 400 Linden Avenue is a prominent surviving industrial structure connected to Dayton's legacy as a manufacturing powerhouse. It's also a good example of a larger building that was able to be saved and reborn for a new age, unlike so many others … [Read more...] about Davis-Linden Building History (Davis Sewing Machine, Huffman Manufacturing, Huffy Corp)
Historical Dayton
1924: A Good Year for Churches in Dayton
We recently wrote about the history of South Park United Methodist church at Brown and Stonemill, which opened in 1926. An article in the Dayton Daily News on Feb. 3, 1924 mentioned this church alongside 8 others that would begin construction that same year. The 9 … [Read more...] about 1924: A Good Year for Churches in Dayton
History of South Park United Methodist Church
The former church at the corner of Brown and Stonemill was built in 1926, but its congregation dates back even further. Our previous article on the history of 1906 Brown Street, we wrote that that structure was originally a church known as Patterson Memorial Presbyterian, … [Read more...] about History of South Park United Methodist Church
History of 1906 Brown St. (Patterson Memorial church, General Furniture, tend & flourish)
At first glance, the building at 1906 Brown Street looks like a fairly ordinary brick storefront. But there's more than meets the eye to this historic structure. The oldest section of the building sits behind the portion currently fronting Brown Street and was originally … [Read more...] about History of 1906 Brown St. (Patterson Memorial church, General Furniture, tend & flourish)
History of Huffman Place / Huffman Elementary School
We recently looked at the history of the Third and Linden Market building in the Huffman neighborhood. Continuing our look at this area and traveling a few blocks south into the heart of the neighborhood, we arrive at this beautiful building at 100 Huffman Avenue. Built … [Read more...] about History of Huffman Place / Huffman Elementary School
History of the Third and Linden Market Building
Dayton lost a staggering amount of its historic architecture in the latter half of the 20th century, and one of the greatest casualties has been the “neighborhood business district,” once ubiquitous throughout town but today limited to only a couple of surviving examples. … [Read more...] about History of the Third and Linden Market Building
History of the University of Dayton (St. Mary’s Institute)
The land that would become the University of Dayton was originally farmland owned by John Stuart, who endured a tragedy in 1848 when daughter Mary Louisa succumbed to cholera. Afterward, Stuart and his wife wished to sell the property, known as Dewberry Farm, and move back … [Read more...] about History of the University of Dayton (St. Mary’s Institute)
An Annex and a Museum at the Old Main Library
Images of Dayton's lost downtown public library are relatively popular, but not many show the Library Annex pictured here on the right-hand side. The Annex was constructed on the east side of the main building in 1924. Three years later a second floor was added to … [Read more...] about An Annex and a Museum at the Old Main Library
The People Behind the Buildings: Who Were Kuhns, Reibold, Lindsey, Conover?
Downtown Dayton, despite all it has lost over the years, still maintains an enviable architectural legacy featuring a number of early office towers and other commercial structures built around the turn of the 20th century. Many of these were named for people, including … [Read more...] about The People Behind the Buildings: Who Were Kuhns, Reibold, Lindsey, Conover?
History of Sears and Roebuck in Downtown Dayton
In its heyday, downtown Dayton bustled with retail activity, from small shops to massive department stores with so many amenities that they almost served as mini cities of their own. I tell the story of Rike’s in my book Lost Dayton, but today’s article will be about … [Read more...] about History of Sears and Roebuck in Downtown Dayton