Many areas in Dayton were radically transformed by urban renewal. In my book Lost Dayton, I talk about the former Haymarket neighborhood between Oregon and St. Anne's Hill. Then there is the multi-block area downtown that was leveled for the Convention Center, hotel, and … [Read more...] about The Last Old Buildings on the West Side of Downtown
Churches
History of a Dayton Church Tucked Away
Last year we reported on a development by the University of Dayton and Premier Health that planned to demolish the historic South Park Methodist Church at Brown and Stonemill. But after some back and forth between developers and advocates for saving the church, the plan was … [Read more...] about History of a Dayton Church Tucked Away
1924: A Good Year for Churches in Dayton
We recently wrote about the history of South Park United Methodist church at Brown and Stonemill, which opened in 1926. An article in the Dayton Daily News on Feb. 3, 1924 mentioned this church alongside 8 others that would begin construction that same year. The 9 … [Read more...] about 1924: A Good Year for Churches in Dayton
History of South Park United Methodist Church
The former church at the corner of Brown and Stonemill was built in 1926, but its congregation dates back even further. Our previous article on the history of 1906 Brown Street, we wrote that that structure was originally a church known as Patterson Memorial Presbyterian, … [Read more...] about History of South Park United Methodist Church
History of 1906 Brown St. (Patterson Memorial church, General Furniture, tend & flourish)
At first glance, the building at 1906 Brown Street looks like a fairly ordinary brick storefront. But there's more than meets the eye to this historic structure. The oldest section of the building sits behind the portion currently fronting Brown Street and was originally … [Read more...] about History of 1906 Brown St. (Patterson Memorial church, General Furniture, tend & flourish)
History of Early Dayton Catholic Churches: Emmanuel, St. Mary’s and More
The first Catholic church in Dayton was Emmanuel on Franklin Street, built in 1837. At first it primarily served German parishioners, but Dayton's rapid growth and subsequent increase in its Catholic population led to the parish becoming overcrowded, so it was divided … [Read more...] about History of Early Dayton Catholic Churches: Emmanuel, St. Mary’s and More
History of the First Black Church in Dayton
The first neighborhood in Dayton that was identifiably black was located along Seely's Ditch just to the east of today's Oregon District. First occupied around 1827, the area known as "Africa" was populated largely by men who worked on the Miami-Erie Canal. It was here … [Read more...] about History of the First Black Church in Dayton