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A Look at the Past, Present, and Future of the Gem City

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Features

NCR: A Then and Now History in Dayton

February 1, 2026 By Andrew Walsh 1 Comment

national cash register aerial during its heyday

The National Cash Register Company (NCR) was one of the most influential corporations based in Dayton, shaping the city’s economy, landscape, and national reputation for innovation. From its transformation of James Ritty’s cash register into a global business under John H. … [Read more...] about NCR: A Then and Now History in Dayton

Filed Under: Historical Dayton Tagged With: Features, Hills and Dales, Industrial Buildings, James Ritty, John H Patterson, National Cash Register, Old River Park, University of Dayton

The Deneau Tower: History and Redevelopment

April 4, 2025 By Andrew Walsh Leave a Comment

deneau tower views

The Deneau Tower is a major fixture in Dayton's skyline and also holds a special significance in the story of downtown's progress during the suburban exodus of the mid-20th century. It was built in 1969, and because of its era the building has not been admired in quite … [Read more...] about The Deneau Tower: History and Redevelopment

Filed Under: New Developments Tagged With: Architecture, Downtown Dayton, Features, Grant-Deneau Tower, Modernism, Paul Deneau, Urban Renewal, Windsor Companies

James H McGee Boulevard History: Road Widenings, 35 West, and Neighborhoods

January 11, 2024 By Andrew Walsh 2 Comments

In my last article on the Bowers Building on West Third Street, I mentioned how James H McGee Boulevard was originally created as a widening of what had been Western Ave. As it turns out, that is an interesting story in its own right which I'll dig into today. James H. … [Read more...] about James H McGee Boulevard History: Road Widenings, 35 West, and Neighborhoods

Filed Under: Historical Dayton Tagged With: Features, Highways, James H McGee, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Salem Mall, Sanborn Maps, Urban Planning, US-35, West Dayton

Courthouse Square’s Resilience: Challenges and Possibilities for Tomorrow

September 27, 2023 By Andrew Walsh 2 Comments

In my last article, I retraced the history of Dayton's Courthouse Square. Now I'll take us from its opening in 1974 to the present day, as well as reflect on possibilities for the future. The Square: From the 1970s to Today Courthouse Square has had a rocky 50 years of … [Read more...] about Courthouse Square’s Resilience: Challenges and Possibilities for Tomorrow

Filed Under: New Developments Tagged With: Cincinnati, Courthouse Square, Dayton Arcade, Downtown Dayton, Features, Keybank Tower, Levitt Pavilion, Mead, Retail, Rike's, RTA

Oregon District Buildings to See New Investment, One Is Razed: Some History

June 28, 2023 By Andrew Walsh 1 Comment

A major developer in Downtown Dayton's renaissance recently acquired several buildings in and near the Oregon District. Woodard Development, which has completed major projects throughout downtown and Webster Station including both adaptive reuse and new construction, will … [Read more...] about Oregon District Buildings to See New Investment, One Is Razed: Some History

Filed Under: New Developments Tagged With: City of Dayton, Commercial Buildings, Features, Jason Woodard, Lily's Dayton, Oregon District, Preservation, Woodard

Proposed Brown Street Development Would Raze Historic Church

June 15, 2021 By Andrew Walsh 5 Comments

south park united methodist church

Update: In July 2021 the project partners announced they would preserve the old church and incorporate it into the new medical building (as reported by the Dayton Daily News). The new rendering is below. Original Article: The University of Dayton played a major role in … [Read more...] about Proposed Brown Street Development Would Raze Historic Church

Filed Under: New Developments Tagged With: Brown Street, Features, NCR, Premier Health, Preservation, Preservation Dayton, University of Dayton, University Park

Historic Building Rehab, Larger Project In Progress on Xenia Ave

May 19, 2021 By Andrew Walsh 3 Comments

wellmeier hardware store xenia ave 1982

For Steven Dillhoff, the Xenia Avenue corridor holds a special significance. His mother grew up on Xenia Ave and his father a couple blocks away on Church Street, and they told him stories about how vibrant and bustling the neighborhood once was. "Everything you needed … [Read more...] about Historic Building Rehab, Larger Project In Progress on Xenia Ave

Filed Under: New Developments Tagged With: Commercial Buildings, Features, Twin Towers, Xenia Avenue

Selecting Dayton’s Most Endangered Buildings

March 29, 2021 By Andrew Walsh Leave a Comment

Preservation Dayton, a longstanding organization which already has a track record of success for local historic preservation, is stepping up its efforts with a new initiative, the Endangered Properties Fund. Each year, a committee selects a list of the city's ten most … [Read more...] about Selecting Dayton’s Most Endangered Buildings

Filed Under: Historical Dayton Tagged With: Banking, Features, Jacob D. Moskowitz, Leslie Smith, Preservation, Riverdale, Riverdale Theater, Santa Clara, Suburbs

Virtual Downtown Tour Shows Arcade, Other Development Progress

October 30, 2020 By Andrew Walsh 3 Comments

manhattan avant garde building steam plant

Like nearly all in-person events during the COVID-19 pandemic, the fifth annual Downtown Development Tour hosted by the Downtown Dayton Partnership was forced to pivot for its 2020 iteration. Instead of a bus tour, the event went virtual. Audience members, primarily real … [Read more...] about Virtual Downtown Tour Shows Arcade, Other Development Progress

Filed Under: New Developments Tagged With: Avant Garde Building, Dayton Arcade, Dayton Motor Car Building, Features, Jason Woodard, Manhattan Building, Oregon East, Steam Plant Building, Steam Plants, Weyland Ventures, Windsor Companies, Woodard

The Arcade is a Go; What Pending Downtown Development Could Be Next?

June 5, 2019 By Andrew Walsh 11 Comments

Dayton Daily News Redevelopment Site

The Dayton Arcade redevelopment is now officially underway, and it's been called a "catalytic" project for the downtown core with the potential to "spur further economic growth" in nearby areas. So what could be the next domino to fall? This article will take a look at some … [Read more...] about The Arcade is a Go; What Pending Downtown Development Could Be Next?

Filed Under: New Developments Tagged With: 34 North Main, Centre City Building, Coon Restoration, Dayton Arcade, Dayton Grand Hotel, Doubletree Hotel, Features, Fidelity Building, Grant-Deneau Tower, Hotels, Levitt Pavilion, Paru Tower, Reynolds and Reynolds

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History of Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School in Dayton (Notre Dame Academy)

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