In a recent article I showed a Then and Now of South Main and Franklin where a 1920s auto building has been transformed into a medical facility.
On the other side of Franklin at the SW corner of the intersection, unfortunately, we have a different story with a great block of buildings have since been demolished and turned into a vacant lot.
The building on the right is the most interesting of the three with its corner turret, while the others represent the exact type of Italianate-style commercial block that has become all but extinct in Dayton’s central business district.
From Pharmacy to Genuine Auto Parts
As of 1957 when the old image was taken, the building was occupied by Genuine Auto Parts, which had been there since at least the late 1930s.
Before that it was Eslinger Pharmacy in the 1920s and 30s run by Mrs. Katherine Eslinger.
There was an interesting mix of tenants in the other buildings: 405-07 S Main St. was a restaurant in the 1930s; 407 housed the Dayton Kelvinator Co; and 409 was the location of the Dayton Finger Wave Shop.
The site is really interesting due to changes in the street grid and the fact that the Miami and Erie Canal used to run right by it. You can also see below where Warren St. used to intersect with Main.
A Radically Changed Area Just South of the Central Business District
Genuine Auto Parts was still going strong as of the 1980s, but eventually the the block became vacant and was left to fall into disrepair. It was demolished for structural concerns in 2016.
As is evident in the map above, this is an area with massive losses in terms of the former built environment. Today we see the massive footprint of US-35 which cuts off this area from Dayton’s midtown and South Park neighborhoods; a few suburban-style gas stations and fast food restaurants; and several empty lots as well like this corner.
One encouraging project was Woodard Development purchasing and rehabbing the former UBS building nearby and turning it into their headquarters rather than contributing to the sense of desolation.
That building now represents a rare survivor from the days when this stretch of southern downtown was a thriving neighborhood.
In addition, the building that sits directly across Franklin from this corner is also a survivor with a connection to the auto industry, but it is unrecognizable today from its original form.
It’s fascinating to see how this area has transformed over the decades. The mix of businesses, from auto parts to pharmacies, paints a vivid picture of the past. It’s unfortunate that such a historic block was demolished, leaving behind a vacant lot. The building that remains is a testament to the vibrant community that once thrived here. What steps could be taken to preserve the remaining historical structures in the area?