The United Brethren Publishing House was a prominent publisher of religious books and periodicals operating in what's today the Centre City (Mainline) Building. Nearby at Fifth and Ludlow Streets, you can still find two buildings that were once the home of another major … [Read more...] about History of the Christian Publishing Association (Graphic Arts Building, Hamiel Building)
Industrial Buildings
Benjamin Kuhns, Farmers Friend Manufacturing, and the Wheelhouse
The Dayton Arcade opened in 1904, but one part of what we call the Arcade today was built a couple decades earlier. That's the Kuhns Building, and like the Arcade itself it also represented a Dayton industrialist investing profits into enhancing downtown's commercial … [Read more...] about Benjamin Kuhns, Farmers Friend Manufacturing, and the Wheelhouse
The Hewitt Soap Company: Rise, Fall, and the Future Hewitt District on Linden Ave
Hewitt Soap is another example of a Dayton industrial company that may not be a household name, but was once a dominant force in its industry and a major presence in the neighborhood surrounding it. And like many others, its decline and eventual closure brought significant … [Read more...] about The Hewitt Soap Company: Rise, Fall, and the Future Hewitt District on Linden Ave
Centre City Building (The Mainline) Redevelopment Overview
With the Dayton Arcade’s major construction largely complete, attention is shifting just across Main Street to another huge structure that has sat vacant for years. Few buildings have generated as much long-running curiosity, or frustration, as the Centre City Building, … [Read more...] about Centre City Building (The Mainline) Redevelopment Overview
NCR: A Then and Now History in Dayton
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
America’s Packard Museum: Where Dayton’s Automotive History Still Lives
Dayton, Ohio has no shortage of museums due to its history as a major center of American innovation and industry. But while visitors often gravitate to the best-known attractions like the Air Force Museum, Carillon Historical Park, and Wright Brothers sites, the city is also … [Read more...] about America’s Packard Museum: Where Dayton’s Automotive History Still Lives
Belle of Dayton: A Distillery with a Prohibition-Era Connection
Located at the edge of Dayton's Oregon District, the Belle of Dayton distillery has a fascinating history not only for its location, which has housed a wide range of tenants over the years, but also for the story of the Belle of Dayton brand which takes us all the way back … [Read more...] about Belle of Dayton: A Distillery with a Prohibition-Era Connection
Barney and Smith Car Company: History of Dayton’s Early Industrial Power
Long before the Wright Brothers transformed flight and NCR became an industrial giant, another name defined Dayton's manufacturing might: Barney & Smith. From a modest railcar works founded in the mid-1800s, the company grew into one of the largest employers in Dayton … [Read more...] about Barney and Smith Car Company: History of Dayton’s Early Industrial Power
Award-Winning Architecture at the Corner of Keowee and Webster
When you think of award-winning architecture in Dayton, it's unlikely you'd picture the intersection of Keowee and Webster Streets. But among the auto service shops and empty land that occupy the majority of the area, we find one really interesting building. The light … [Read more...] about Award-Winning Architecture at the Corner of Keowee and Webster
Midtown Survivors at Washington and Longworth
Overall there is not a whole lot that remains intact in the "Midtown" area of Dayton located immediately south of the Central Business District. The immense footprint of US-35 hollowed out much of the neighborhood and the commercial buildings on Main, Warren and other … [Read more...] about Midtown Survivors at Washington and Longworth