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 vary significantly. Some have wide general appeal while others focus in on a theme of more niche interest, like a single person or company. Some of his books were published with a large traditional publisher while others are self-published.

But no matter the details, all of Dalton’s works showcase extensive research and an abundance of historic images, which makes sense for an author who works as the Visual Resources Manager for Dayton History.

In 2020, Dalton published a new book which focuses on a part of town that has a fascinating history but has been ignored or neglected all too often in recent decades.

The Land Across the River: The First 150 Years of the West Side of Dayton chronicles West Dayton from its earliest days to the middle of the 20th century.

The “earliest days” is no exaggeration: the story begins all the way back in 1799, before Dayton was even incorporated as a city, when William King crossed the Great Miami to the west, “cut his way through unbroken forests,” and soon after established a farm.

Although Dalton’s story concludes with the death of Orville Wright in 1948, one can easily link it to the present day thanks to many references to (and images of) key landmarks, quite a few of which still stand.

This book differs in structure from Dalton’s other works. It has no defined chapters and instead follows a a continuous, mostly chronological narrative.

Other notable themes covered (in addition to the Wright Brothers who and worked in West Dayton) include churches, the Great Flood of 1913, the West Side Colony of Jacob Moskowitz, the Classic and Palace Theaters, Roosevelt High School, and much more.

Many redevelopment and new construction projects are currently in the works in West Dayton, from new apartments and a food hall on the West Third Street to a potential new 50,000 square foot commercial building on vacant land on McCall Street in the Miami Chapel Neighborhood.

This long-overdue interest in a formerly neglected area makes Dalton’s history all the more timely.

The book is available on Amazon and at the Carillon Park gift shop. (And if there are other local bookstores that are carrying it, let me know in the comments!)

Learn more about The Land Across the River

historic image courtesy of Dayton Metro Library