North Main and Forest is a major intersection for the Riverdale neighborhood of Dayton. Development reached this part of Main Street around the middle of the 19th century, and Forest Ave was originally known as Tates Mill Road and likely dates to the early 1800s as a … [Read more...] about Riverdale’s Architectural Gems: Flatiron and Fire Station #14
Historical Dayton
History of The Delco (Mendelson) Building: Early Delco in Dayton
With the recent news that Sandy Mendelson has sold the massive building that has long housed his liquidation outlet, we're going to take a look at the history of the structure since no news reports appear to have mentioned it. Crawford Hoying, who along with Woodard have … [Read more...] about History of The Delco (Mendelson) Building: Early Delco in Dayton
Dayton’s Lost Dominic’s Restaurant: 1957-2007
One of Dayton's more popular longstanding restaurants was Dominic's, which for decades occupied a spot on South Main Street across from the Fairgrounds. The restaurant had just celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2007, however, when it was sold to Miami Valley Hospital and … [Read more...] about Dayton’s Lost Dominic’s Restaurant: 1957-2007
History of Early Dayton Catholic Churches: Emmanuel, St. Mary’s and More
The first Catholic church in Dayton was Emmanuel on Franklin Street, built in 1837. At first it primarily served German parishioners, but Dayton's rapid growth and subsequent increase in its Catholic population led to the parish becoming overcrowded, so it was divided … [Read more...] about History of Early Dayton Catholic Churches: Emmanuel, St. Mary’s and More
John Williams Stoddard, Business Pioneer of Dayton
In our last article, we looked at the history of 15 Bainbridge Street aka the Dayton Motor Car Building. The founder of that automobile firm was John W. Stoddard, who made his first mark by building up a major farm implement company. This article will take a closer look at … [Read more...] about John Williams Stoddard, Business Pioneer of Dayton
History of the First Black Church in Dayton
The first neighborhood in Dayton that was identifiably black was located along Seely's Ditch just to the east of today's Oregon District. First occupied around 1827, the area known as "Africa" was populated largely by men who worked on the Miami-Erie Canal. It was here … [Read more...] about History of the First Black Church in Dayton
Dayton’s Baseball History: Ducks, Marcos and More
Much of the recent interest in Dayton sports history has related to the Dayton Triangles football team, and rightly so given the upcoming 100th anniversary of the first ever NFL game which was played right here at Triangle Park. But Dayton also has a strong legacy as a … [Read more...] about Dayton’s Baseball History: Ducks, Marcos and More
History of the Downtown YWCA Building
The first phase of a major renovation was recently completed at the YWCA Building at the corner of Third and Wilkinson downtown. And although it was in dire need of an upgrade, the building has a long and proud history dating back to 1913. The organization actually … [Read more...] about History of the Downtown YWCA Building
Dayton Arcade: A Historical Timeline (New Photos)
This article is part of my larger Dayton Arcade History Guide, which covers the full story of the complex, its buildings, decline, and redevelopment. Last week, Daytonians nervously awaited good news on the Arcade project as the development team and city faced a critical … [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)