Dayton’s Edgemont neighborhood dates back to 1853. It grew rapidly during the latter half of the 19th century and became home to a diverse group of residents including Germans, Italians, and African-Americans.
Many flocked to this “industrial suburb” to seek employment in one of its factories, and St. Elizabeth Hospital was another neighborhood anchor. After World War II, Edgemont’s population became predominantly African-American.
In the 1957 photograph below, the Sunshine Grill cafeteria is visible on the corner (701 Cincinnati St), with the massive Sunshine Biscuit Company looming behind it.
The Sunshine Biscuit Company got its start as the Green & Green Company in 1897 before moving to Edgemont in 1907. It expanded in 1926 at which point it was the largest biscuit bakery in the state of Ohio. Green & Green merged with the Loose-Wiles Biscuit Company soon after, and in the 1940s it took on the Sunshine name. One of its claims to fame is the invention of the Cheez-It right here in Dayton in 1921.
Another view of the Sunshine Grill:
During the later half of the 20th century, much of Edgemont’s industry departed leaving empty structures and vacant lots. The restaurant is no more, and the surrounding neighborhood has been bisected by freeways and reduced to a shell of its former self:
The Sunshine Biscuit Company operated here until the 1970s. Its factory has been voted one of Dayton’s worst eyesores, but a local photographer has captured its remaining beauty:
A short trip down the same side street (109 Westboro Street), we find another prominent surviving industrial building, a massive 1910 warehouse that is a former Kroger bakery and milk packaging plant:
This map from 1955 depicts the Sunshine Biscuit Company, the corner restaurant (circled) as well as the Kroger warehouse (note that Pontiac Av is now Westboro).
Even in recent years, jobs have continued to leave Edgemont, such as major community anchor Standard Register (now Taylor Communications) moving 600 employees to downtown from Edgemont (and getting $1 million in city/county incentives to do so).
But some other companies are arriving to fill in some of the gaps, like Google’s nonprofit addiction treatment and recovery service Verily which is constructing and rehabbing buildings along Cincinnati and Hopeland Streets.
Sources:
Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps
“Who We Are: Edgemont, Carillon.” Montgomery County Historical Society.
I have a lot more information on the sunshine biscuit company if you’re interested
Hi Steve, sure, always interested in learning more about these historic companies. Thanks!
Steve and Andrew:
My name is Eleanor Green Winters and it was my grandfather (Joseph Waring Green) who owned and patented Cheez-its. 100 years ago. My father (John Weston Green born in 1900) worked from the ground up in the Green & Green Cracker Company until it was sold to Loose-Wiles. I have a few stories about the company that I remember and would be happy to share with you, if you are interested.
Do you know if they do tours there
I have the original blue prints for Sunshine Biscuit Warehouse, found in my late grandfather’s basement if anyone is interested
Hi Andrew – I am taking over ownership of 109 Westboro. If you’d ever like a tour, please let me know! I’m attempting to work with Citywide and Dayton Dev Coalition to help shock a little life into this forgotten part of Dayton.
Greetings, Aja,
My name is Karen and I am the Information Services Librarian with an Africana Archives Emphasis in Special Collections of Dayton Metro Library.
My mother’s family, the Peters, resided in Edgemont … That is WONDERFUL that you are taking ownership of 109 Westboro and I hope you have joyful success in bringing “a little life into this forgotten part of Dayton”!