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

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Inventions

History of the Deeds Barn, Site of the Invention of the Electric Self-Starter

July 25, 2024 By Andrew Walsh 2 Comments

deeds barn original

We might not normally think of barns as hotbeds for innovation, but in Dayton we have one with major significance to the world of manufacturing. Built in 1904, the Deeds Barn was originally located at 319 Central Ave in Dayton View behind the house of Edward and Edith … [Read more...] about History of the Deeds Barn, Site of the Invention of the Electric Self-Starter

Filed Under: Historical Dayton Tagged With: Barns, Carillon Park, Charles Kettering, Dan Barton, Deeds Barn, Grafton Hill, Inventions, Kettering, National Park Service, Preservation, Preservation Dayton

History of Frigidaire (and GM) in Dayton: Downtown, Moraine, and More

May 3, 2024 By Andrew Walsh 2 Comments

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

Filed Under: Historical Dayton Tagged With: Automobiles, Delco, Frigidaire, Fuyao, Inventions, Manufacturing, Moraine

History of the Kuhns Building and the Office Mail Chute, a Dayton Invention?

January 31, 2024 By Andrew Walsh 3 Comments

The Kuhn's Building is one of Dayton's most beautiful 19th century structures downtown. It predated the Dayton Arcade by about two decades, but today it is connected to the complex and considered a part of it. The building is notable not just for its architecture … [Read more...] about History of the Kuhns Building and the Office Mail Chute, a Dayton Invention?

Filed Under: Historical Dayton Tagged With: Benjamin Kuhns, Curt Dalton, Dayton Arcade, Downtown, Elevator Operators, Inventions, Kuhns Building, Mail Chutes, Post Office, Thomas J Payne

James Ritty and the Invention of the Cash Register

June 20, 2018 By Andrew Walsh Leave a Comment

james ritty cash register

A little over a century ago, Dayton, Ohio was the U.S. city with the most patents per capita. Known as "the City of a Thousand Factories," Dayton churned out a staggering variety of products but also was a center for innovation. And the cash register was a critical … [Read more...] about James Ritty and the Invention of the Cash Register

Filed Under: Historical Dayton Tagged With: Callahan Power Plant, Cash Register, Inventions, James Ritty, John H Patterson, Lost Dayton, National Cash Register, NCR

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My book explores a diverse selection of retail, industrial, entertainment and residential sites from Dayton's disappearing legacy.
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About Dayton Vistas

I'm Andrew Walsh and I research Dayton history, architecture, preservation, and urban redevelopment. In addition to my writing, I give talks and walking tours.

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