I always enjoy a good then and now view of the same corner, and it's even more interesting when we can compare three different scenes as the spot has changed over time. Today we will do that with the northwest corner of Second and Main Streets in Downtown … [Read More...] about Rike’s Department Store and a Then and Now Look at 2nd and Main
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Dayton’s Interurban Rail History: How the City Became Ohio’s Hub
I've written about Dayton's lost Union Station and early train history. Back around the turn of the century, however, this was only one element of an … [Read More...]
History and Demolition of the Ohmer Garage Building
Update: 7/20/26 Demolition of the Ohmer Garage Building is scheduled to begin today, Monday July 20, 2026. The Dayton Daily News reported that … [Read More...]
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Rike’s Department Store and a Then and Now Look at 2nd and Main
Two Lost Grand Entrances in Downtown Dayton
A little while back I wrote about the great collection of grand entrances one can still find on Ludlow Street, a key downtown corridor. In addition to their beauty and aesthetic value, these entrances also played a major role in communicating the identity … [Read More...] about Two Lost Grand Entrances in Downtown Dayton
Vacant Building on East Third in the Fire Blocks Waiting for Its Next Chapter
The Fire Blocks district of Downtown Dayton has seen a lot of revitalization in the last few years. But a couple of interesting commercial buildings remain vacant, and will hopefully see some new life soon. The small commercial building pictured above is … [Read More...] about Vacant Building on East Third in the Fire Blocks Waiting for Its Next Chapter
Appalachian Migration to Dayton, Ohio: Where Families Lived and Worked
Over the past several years, as I’ve researched Dayton’s industrial history and the neighborhoods that once surrounded its factories, one theme has come up repeatedly: Appalachian migration. Between the late 1930s and 1960s, tens of thousands of people from … [Read More...] about Appalachian Migration to Dayton, Ohio: Where Families Lived and Worked
The Lost Underground Restaurants on Courthouse Square
On Courthouse Square in the center downtown Dayton, there is a very unusual space that is easy to miss. A staircase descends below street level into a sunken courtyard lined with vacant storefronts and red awnings. Unless you already know to look for it, … [Read More...] about The Lost Underground Restaurants on Courthouse Square
Why Historic Buildings Had Grand Entrances (And Why We Stopped Building Them)
The Grand Entrances of Ludlow Street in Downtown Dayton Ludlow Street in Downtown Dayton doesn't have the tallest buildings in the city, but it's one of the best places to see a particular architectural feature that has mostly disappeared from American … [Read More...] about Why Historic Buildings Had Grand Entrances (And Why We Stopped Building Them)
The Lost Dayton Summer Resort and Mead Estate that Became Triangle Park
Recently I found an image of an old farmhouse house in Dayton (above), which I learned after some digging actually connects two different Dayton stories I've written and talked about in recent months. One was the home of Daniel Eldridge Mead on West First … [Read More...] about The Lost Dayton Summer Resort and Mead Estate that Became Triangle Park
Dayton’s Oldest Parking Garage: History of the First Street Garage
I recently covered the recent reopening of Rabbit Hole Books after being closed for two months. Today, we will dig more deeply into the history of the parking garage where it is located, and whose condition has led to the ongoing disputes between the … [Read More...] about Dayton’s Oldest Parking Garage: History of the First Street Garage
A Rare Second Empire Mansion in Dayton: History of the Isaac Pollack House
The Second Empire style Isaac Pollack house was built in 1876, but not at its present location at 208 West Monument Ave across from the Downtown YMCA. Instead, it was originally located a few blocks away at 319 West Third Street. Originally, it stood … [Read More...] about A Rare Second Empire Mansion in Dayton: History of the Isaac Pollack House
Rabbit Hole Books Reopens in Downtown Dayton After Two-Month Closure
Rabbit Hole Books reopened on Thursday, April 23, after more than two months of closure following a fire in the garage building where the bookstore is located on West First Street in downtown Dayton. The closure became a major local story and featured … [Read More...] about Rabbit Hole Books Reopens in Downtown Dayton After Two-Month Closure
New Townhomes for Flats at South Park and Martin Sheen in Dayton
A residential development in the South Park neighborhood that has already added apartment buildings to a busy corridor is now on its third phase which consists of smaller townhome units. The first phases of the Flats at South Park added two large apartment … [Read More...] about New Townhomes for Flats at South Park and Martin Sheen in Dayton
What’s Happening at the Dayton Fairgrounds and Nearby Housing, Office, and Commercial Projects
I recently released a new Dayton Vistas podcast episode and video focused on several major projects taking shape near the urban core, along with some of the history that helps explain why these areas matter today. This episode covers new housing, office, … [Read More...] about What’s Happening at the Dayton Fairgrounds and Nearby Housing, Office, and Commercial Projects
West Side Chevy Building: Will San Marco Adaptive Reuse Move Forward?
The potential redevelopment of the site around the former Zion Baptist Church has the potential to significantly enhance the gateway to the Wright-Dunbar neighborhood, a key connection between downtown and West Dayton. But there's another site in between … [Read More...] about West Side Chevy Building: Will San Marco Adaptive Reuse Move Forward?
$6M Cornerstone Project Advances on West Third Street in Wright-Dunbar
The commercial district on West Third Street in Wright-Dunbar has welcomed a number of new businesses in recent years. The West Social Tap & Table food hall which opened in 2022 at the corner of West Third and Williams has been the biggest. But another … [Read More...] about $6M Cornerstone Project Advances on West Third Street in Wright-Dunbar