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 eastern … [Read more...] about Appalachian Migration to Dayton, Ohio: Where Families Lived and Worked
Delco
Dayton Triangles: History of the Team and the First NFL Game
Today, Dayton is a great sports town for college basketball, minor league baseball, and much more. But despite the many passionate fans in the Gem City, establishing a team in one of the major professional leagues isn't a realistic possibility. But Dayton will always … [Read more...] about Dayton Triangles: History of the Team and the First NFL Game
Canal at 2nd Street Then and Now
I've previously written a history of the Miami and Erie canal in Dayton that included a then and now photo of an 1899 celebration that included two elephants bathing in the canal. In that post I used a visible business and map to determine where that location is … [Read more...] about Canal at 2nd Street Then and Now
History of Frigidaire (and GM) in Dayton: Downtown, Moraine, and More
Among Dayton's major industrial powers of the late 19th and early 20th century, there are many interconnections. Delco, for one, has strong ties to NCR due to its formation by Edward Deeds and Charles Kettering who tinkered in their spare time while working at the cash … [Read more...] about History of Frigidaire (and GM) in Dayton: Downtown, Moraine, and More
The Stone Barn at Holt and Easton (Dayton View History)
A Dayton Vistas reader wrote in to ask about the history of a stone barn on the property at 441 Holt Street. It's referred to by some locals as the "old barn" and it was also noted that there was a school on the property in the past. This article will dig into what we could … [Read more...] about The Stone Barn at Holt and Easton (Dayton View History)
History of The Delco (Mendelson) Building: Early Delco in Dayton
With the recent news that Sandy Mendelson has sold the massive building that has long housed his liquidation outlet, we're going to take a look at the history of the structure since no news reports appear to have mentioned it. Crawford Hoying, who along with Woodard have … [Read more...] about History of The Delco (Mendelson) Building: Early Delco in Dayton
The Swaynie House and Building Substitution
In my book Lost Dayton I chronicle not only sites that have been demolished, but also historic landmarks that are still with us, albeit transformed into something completely different from their original use. But in just about all of those cases, today's historic … [Read more...] about The Swaynie House and Building Substitution
Webster Station’s Industrial Buildings Beyond Delco
Webster Station is a former industrial area that's quickly turning into Dayton's hottest neighborhood with a variety of apartment and condo living options, as well as bars, restaurants, and a soon-to-open hotel. Many old warehouses and other early commercial structures … [Read more...] about Webster Station’s Industrial Buildings Beyond Delco
Then and Now: Aerial of Third and Jefferson, Fire Blocks
With the Fire Blocks development undergoing some major changes and hopefully starting real construction soon, let's travel back in time and take a look at the area from a high vantage point. Some buildings will look familiar, but others are long gone. The Beckel Hotel … [Read more...] about Then and Now: Aerial of Third and Jefferson, Fire Blocks
Panoramic Cooper Park and Old Library
Today Dayton has an amazing state of the art downtown library that opened in August 2017, replacing* the previous uninspiring structure constructed in 1962. But before that, a French Gothic Romanesque library building dating back to 1888 served Daytonians, and it too was … [Read more...] about Panoramic Cooper Park and Old Library