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)
Historical Dayton
Salem Ave History and Landmarks Still Standing
Salem Ave is a major thoroughfare in northwest Dayton with a fascinating history (this article covers Longfellow School, the Miller Building, and more), a more recent history of disinvestment and struggle, and exciting plans for the future. The Gem City Market aims to bring … [Read more...] about Salem Ave History and Landmarks Still Standing
Wayne Ave Mansions to Funeral Homes
We recently published our first Opinion piece by city planner Jon White about making Wayne Ave more pedestrian friendly. Wayne is a great street with a distinguished history, so we're also going to take a closer look at some of its prominent buildings and businesses of … [Read more...] about Wayne Ave Mansions to Funeral Homes
Then and Now: 124 East Third Street in the Fire Blocks
This is the first in a series of articles about the Fire Blocks which will cover the area's history as well as the plans to bring the buildings back to productive use. The redevelopment of the Fire Blocks in downtown Dayton is finally starting to ramp up with a new … [Read more...] about Then and Now: 124 East Third Street in the Fire Blocks
The Gem City Elevator Works Building
Dayton's Webster Station neighborhood can boast a number of new construction projects in the last few years, and it also has many former industrial buildings that have been converted to new uses. Delco's first two factory buildings are among the most prominent, but a … [Read more...] about The Gem City Elevator Works Building
The Hoover Block and the Wright Brothers’ Printing Business
The historic West Third Street business district in Wright-Dunbar has a BBQ restaurant and a few small independent retail businesses catering primarily to neighborhood residents. But the best-known attractions in the area are the sites connected to the men who gave the … [Read more...] about The Hoover Block and the Wright Brothers’ Printing Business
From Stockert Saloon to St. Anne the Tart: A St. Anne’s Hill Commercial Building
St. Anne's Hill is a well-preserved historic neighborhood on the near east side of Dayton, which was initially platted in 1845. Its homes, most of which were constructed from the 1860s to the 1890s, include "high style" Second Empire, Romanesque, and Victorian Eclectic … [Read more...] about From Stockert Saloon to St. Anne the Tart: A St. Anne’s Hill Commercial Building
Downtown Dayton’s YMCA Buildings: History and What’s Left
Today you can go for a workout at the downtown Dayton YMCA, a building which has stood since 1929. But this was far from the first place in Dayton that the YMCA called home, as it previously occupied four other locations, some of which still survive today while others have … [Read more...] about Downtown Dayton’s YMCA Buildings: History and What’s Left
The Swaynie House and Building Substitution
In my book Lost Dayton I chronicle not only sites that have been demolished, but also historic landmarks that are still with us, albeit transformed into something completely different from their original use. But in just about all of those cases, today's historic … [Read more...] about The Swaynie House and Building Substitution
A First Ice-Making Plant and an Alligator in the Great Miami
When the above structure was built in 1892, it was the first ice-making plant "in this section of the country." Located at the corner of Harries and Spratt Streets, the Dayton Ice Manufacturing and Cold Storage Co. was likely the reason that Spratt would soon be renamed Ice … [Read more...] about A First Ice-Making Plant and an Alligator in the Great Miami