The old Montgomery County courthouse is one of Dayton's (and Ohio's) finest architectural treasures. Fortunately you can find it still standing right near the center of downtown. The foundation for the courthouse was laid in 1847 and the job took three years to complete. … [Read more...] about History of Dayton’s Old Courthouse
Historical Dayton
History of Old and New Brown Street, Split Up by a Freeway
Out of all of Dayton's main urban streets, Brown Street has perhaps the most interesting history. Many other prominent city streets remain the way they were originally laid out, while others (or large parts of them) were wiped off the map completely during urban renewal … [Read more...] about History of Old and New Brown Street, Split Up by a Freeway
Dayton View Library Branch Building to Be Saved
Dayton's ambitious library expansion initiative, aided by a $187 million bond measure passed in 2012, has upgraded existing library facilities and built impressive new ones. But one secondary effect is that other longstanding neighborhood branches, some with long … [Read more...] about Dayton View Library Branch Building to Be Saved
History of the Electra C. Doren Library in Old North Dayton
Electra Collins Doren was a library pioneer, and her legacy lives on through her eponymous branch library on Troy Street, the oldest in the system that's still in operation. The Electra C. Doren (also known as the E. C. Doren Branch) opened in 1928. It was not, however, … [Read more...] about History of the Electra C. Doren Library in Old North Dayton
History of the Art Frame Gallery at 1652 Brown St.
There are a couple of main pockets of old buildings remaining on Brown Street near the campus of the University of Dayton. One is north of Stewart near Woodland and Fairground Ave, while the other is near Irving Ave across from the Patterson Homestead. In the middle of … [Read more...] about History of the Art Frame Gallery at 1652 Brown St.
Then and Now: Third St. Looking Towards Ludlow
This post is a follow-up on our latest article which covered the history of Dayton's City Hall. We wrote that the current city hall building was formerly used as a YMCA before that organization moved to a new location in 1929. In 1940, the city of Dayton took it over for … [Read more...] about Then and Now: Third St. Looking Towards Ludlow
The Lost Patterson Elm Tree at NCR
NCR was well-known for its innovative factory buildings featuring abundant windows to allow in more light, and founder John H. Patterson also made huge investments in parks, landscaped boulevards, and other natural areas in Dayton. But did you know that NCR once had its … [Read more...] about The Lost Patterson Elm Tree at NCR
Dayton’s City Hall: History and Then and Now
Dayton's City Hall has been located in more than one building over the years, but only rarely did it occupy a structure actually built for municipal offices. In 1845, a second floor was added to the Central Market House downtown, which ran all the way from Main to … [Read more...] about Dayton’s City Hall: History and Then and Now
New Book on Dayton’s West Side History
When it comes to researching and writing books on Dayton history, there's no one more prolific than Curt Dalton. In a career spanning several decades he has published over 30 public history books focused on Dayton and Ohio. The format and subject matter of Dalton's works … [Read more...] about New Book on Dayton’s West Side History
History of MacGregor Golf in Dayton
It's no secret that Dayton was a manufacturing powerhouse in the early 1900s, but some may not know that the most dominant manufacturer of golf clubs for decades, MacGregor, operated right here in the Gem City. Golf was not the original business, however. (And a pivot to … [Read more...] about History of MacGregor Golf in Dayton