The Dayton Arcade has attracted the most attention among potential downtown projects lately, but a building whose rehab would have a more visible effect on Dayton’s skyline is found just across Main Street.
I’m talking about the Centre City Building, which has a fascinating history including a couple of Wright Brothers connections, as well as plenty of buzz about a potential redevelopment in more recent years.
First of all, the Centre City Building is its modern name, as it was originally called the United Brethren Building for the United Brethren Publishing House, which was founded in 1834 in Circleville, OH, before moving to Dayton soon after.
It quickly became a prominent publisher of religious and devotional books and periodicals. The press bought the land at the northeast corner of 4th and Main and first built a four-story building in 1853 (pictured below).
The Wright Brothers’ father Milton was a minister (and later bishop) for the Church of the United Brethren, and he moved his family to Dayton in 1869 because he was elected editor of the church newspaper and Dayton was the location of the publishing office.
At that time Wilbur was just 2 years old. (Milton later moved the family to Cedar Rapids, IA and Richmond, IN before settling back in Dayton for good.)
Near the end of the 19th century, United Brethren’s publishing agent William Funk developed a larger ambition–an office tower whose profits would provide good pensions for retired ministers and their families.
This led to a brand-new building at the same corner of 4th and Main constructed by the FA Requarth Company, which later became a lumber company that is still located in downtown Dayton near the ballpark on Monument Ave.
The United Brethren Building didn’t originally look like it does now as it was done in 3 separate phases.
First in 1904 (although some sources say 1897), a 14 story structure was constructed (left).
You can see the adjacent buildings on Main St. from the earlier image still there. Next, an addition was built in north a few years later.
This is where the second Wright Brothers connection comes in, as in 1910, Wilbur and Orville rented office space in room 1310 for the Wright Company Exhibition Department.
This was a time when the brothers thought that focusing on flying demonstrations would be better business than actually manufacturing airplanes.
That venture would be short lived, however, as a couple of the team members died in plane crashes and the Wrights quickly dissolved that part of their company.
The final phase of the building was completed in 1924 giving it the general look we know today. At the time it was said to the tallest reinforced concrete building in the world. It is the only example of a Chicago Commercial style skyscraper in Dayton.
Later the United Brethren Building became known for retail, and it was the longtime home of the Adler and Child’s department store.
United Brethren to Knott to Centre City Building
United Brethren eventually sold the building in 1952 to the Knott Hotel group from New York, at which point it was known as the Knott Building for a number of years.
In 1975, new owners Albert and Essie Vontz converted the top floor into a penthouse apartment where they lived for many years, long before downtown loft living was in vogue. That apartment is still there. In the mid 2000s tenants quickly fled and the building was soon left vacant.
The building has changed hands a few times and several mixed-use developments have been proposed. At one point it won $5 million in state historic tax credits but the sheer size and condition of the building makes any reuse a challenge.
That project recently faced a deadline to demonstrate sufficient progress or surrender that $5 million in tax credits.
Fortunately, the Levitt Pavilion concert space just across the street on Dave Hall Plaza has brought new vitality to this part of downtown, and with momentum building from the Arcade redevelopment, it may finally be time for this grand building to come back to life.
I go into more detail on the Centre City Building’s history in my book Lost Dayton, Ohio
Images courtesy of Dayton Metro Library
What is the condition of the penthouse and upper floors of the tower? It seems like there are windows open or broken, which would not be good as far as water damage is concerned.
There are indeed quite a few windows open, so it is not in very good shape. Here’s one recent shot of inside the penthouse: https://daytonvistas.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/2017-12-14-13.10.51.jpg. There have been several redevelopment pushes in just the last few years so I really wish someone could have at least stabilized the building somewhat so it doesn’t just keep deteriorating!
I love checking out historical buildings when I visit cities so I’ll add this to my checklist for when I’m near Dayton. This is an informative and interesting article that does a super job detailing the business’ evolution. I didn’t know about the Wright Brothers’ flying demonstrations. I realize now there’s a lot I don’t know about them. Any books you’d recommend on them?
Thank you! It’s definitely a good one to see. I’m hoping one of the redevelopment attempts has a little more success soon. For books, The Wright Brothers by David McCullough has been a very popular one in the last few years (it’s 2015). Wilbur and Orville by Fred Howard is good for a close look at their lives. I’m also a fan of The Wright Company: From Invention to Industry detailing their work after achieving powered flight, since that incredible achievement usually gets the most treatment.
Thanks for the great interview about the history of the Centre City Tower for WYSO. I found an article in the Dayton Daily News, Sunday, August 15, 1982 called “The High Life”, which is a very sweet interview with Esther (Essie) Vontz about the penthouse apartment, which includes pictures. That penthouse was originally a chapel for United Brethren and later a party room for office workers before Albert and Essie Vontz (Heidelberg Beer owners) moved from their suburban Oakwood home to the tower portion. The Vontz’s kept their 21st floor apartment a secret from the building’s tenants and the workers never knew someone lived in the building. A special elevator manned by a guard took visitors to the upper tower area. The 2oth floor was an apartment for their son, laundry room and sewing area, the 19th floor was a storage area, and the 18th floor was a play room with pool and ping pong tables. Interestingly enough, although the Vontz’s loved living downtown, they had no desire to convert any of the building into apartments for others. At the time they lived on top of the Centre City in the 80’s, the paper estimated only 800 people were living downtown, as opposed to the 1950’s when over 10,000 residents called the downtown area home.
Excellent find on that article; that’s all fascinating! I enjoyed doing the interview, and thanks for sharing these additional details here.
This is my most favorite building downtown. I have dreamt about living in that penthouse. Can you just imagine watching sunrises and sunsets. Having a cocktail party up above it all? I would love to go up and see the interior. However, all those stairs! Thanks for this wonderful article. I look forward to your book. You know, we travel all over and look at what we think we don’t have and then someone comes along and reminds us what is right here, in front of us. Thank you!
In the 1910 census, a minister of the United Brethren was listed with his family on Monument Avenue: John Thomas, along with two young women age 18 and 20 who had young children age 6 mo and 1-1/2 yr. Their occupation was listed as servants to a private family. I was wondering if maybe this place was a refuge for single young women with children? One of them may have been my husband’s grandmother.