In my book Lost Dayton, Ohio I cover Dayton's Union Station, a beautiful brick structure including a seven-story clock tower which was once a hub of activity downtown. But this was far from the only site important to Dayton's rail history, which goes back much … [Read more...] about Early Train History in Dayton: Union Station and More
Historical Dayton
Dayton Arcade: A Historical Timeline (New Photos)
Last week, Daytonians nervously awaited good news on the Arcade project as the development team and city faced a critical deadline. If the financial closing wasn’t completed by April 25th, vital tax credits would be lost and according to Mayor Nan Whaley “this won’t … [Read more...] about Dayton Arcade: A Historical Timeline (New Photos)
Dayton’s Lost Palace and Classic Theaters (Rare Photos)
In our last article about Wright-Dunbar, we showed the buildings that once housed the Pekin and Midget Theaters on West Third Street. But the premier entertainment district on the West Side of Dayton was found just a few blocks south. The business district on West Fifth … [Read more...] about Dayton’s Lost Palace and Classic Theaters (Rare Photos)
History of West Third Street Buildings in Wright-Dunbar
Our last article looked into the history of the West Third Business District in Wright-Dunbar, including some old maps of the area. Today we'll take it a step further by digging into the stories of many of the individual commercial buildings. 1000 Block The Hoover Block, … [Read more...] about History of West Third Street Buildings in Wright-Dunbar
History of the Edwin Smith House (Dayton Bicycle Club)
The structure that currently houses the Dayton Bicycle Club was originally a private residence, one of the few mid 19th Century homes that survived decades of development and urban renewal. Those trends replaced most early downtown residences, including some of the most … [Read more...] about History of the Edwin Smith House (Dayton Bicycle Club)
History of the West Third Street Business District in Wright-Dunbar
Columnist Jon White recently wrote about the potential of the Wright Dunbar Business District, so we thought it would be a good time to take a historical tour through the area and learn a little more about it. This first article will look at a general history of the corridor … [Read more...] about History of the West Third Street Business District in Wright-Dunbar
Dayton View as Early Dayton Suburb (Newspaper Ads)
Tracing the history of suburban migration in Dayton is an interesting process. Today we see advertisements for the latest home communities in far-flung areas around Springboro, Beavercreek, Huber Heights, and the like, but a century ago many of the premier Dayton … [Read more...] about Dayton View as Early Dayton Suburb (Newspaper Ads)
The Dayton Arcade’s Grand Opening of 1904
Pre-development work is well underway at the Dayton Arcade, including restoration of the iconic rotunda. The development team hopes to finally close on remaining financing this month. Once real construction begins on the various residential, office, and retail spaces, … [Read more...] about The Dayton Arcade’s Grand Opening of 1904
Dayton’s Oldest Remaining Firehouse: The Company #7
Xenia Ave in the Twin Towers neighborhood of Dayton is a once-bustling commercial strip that today suffers from a quite a bit of vacancy and neglect. But despite the challenges, several area organizations remain positive forces and some great historic buildings still stand, … [Read more...] about Dayton’s Oldest Remaining Firehouse: The Company #7
History of the Victoria Theatre (Turner Opera House, Victory Theatre)
Much of my research chronicles Dayton landmarks that have been lost over the years, but there are also many buildings that were threatened with demolition and seemed soon to be lost before a dedicated preservation effort eventually won out. One of the more interesting … [Read more...] about History of the Victoria Theatre (Turner Opera House, Victory Theatre)