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Dayton Vistas

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

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Historic Preservation in Dayton, Ohio

Dayton has lost a staggering portion of its historic built environment through a variety of circumstances from large-scale urban renewal to "demolition by neglect."

Nevertheless, a number of exciting adaptive reuse and restoration projects in recent years, from historic homes to the massive Dayton Arcade, are helping to revive many previously vacant and endangered properties.

To see all of the articles we've published that relate to the preservation of historic Dayton buildings, click the links below.

Masonic Temple (Dayton Masonic Center) History

April 30, 2025 By Andrew Walsh Leave a Comment

dayton masonic temple

I recently wrote about the former Oddfellows Hall downtown, but there's another fraternal organization in the area with a much larger membership, the Freemasons. And compared to Oddfellows temple that is unrecognizable from what it once was, Dayton's Masonic Temple (now … [Read more...] about Masonic Temple (Dayton Masonic Center) History

Filed Under: Historical Dayton Tagged With: Architecture, Clubs and Societies, Freemasons, Grafton Hill, John W Stoddard, Masonic Temple, Preservation

The Historic Roundhouse at the Fairgrounds and the OnMain Development

March 19, 2025 By Andrew Walsh 4 Comments

Original article posted March 9, 2018 The recently announced preliminary development plan for the former Montgomery County Fairgrounds site has excited many due to its walkable design, sustainability, and potential to connect to adjacent areas. Granted, the plans are still … [Read more...] about The Historic Roundhouse at the Fairgrounds and the OnMain Development

Filed Under: Historical Dayton Tagged With: Fairgrounds, Midtown, Premier Health, Preservation, Swaynie House, University of Dayton

Fidelity Building and Paru Tower: History and What’s Happening Now?

March 17, 2025 By Andrew Walsh Leave a Comment

Original article posted 11/27/2024 It's been over five years since I wrote an article about what major downtown site could be next after the Dayton Arcade redevelopment had officially gotten underway. Today, of course, the Arcade's first phase has been a success and … [Read more...] about Fidelity Building and Paru Tower: History and What’s Happening Now?

Filed Under: New Developments Tagged With: 34 North Main, Coon Restoration, Downtown, Fidelity Building, KeyBank, Mayfair Hospitality, Paru Tower, Preservation, Third National Bank

Wright Company Factory History

February 24, 2025 By Andrew Walsh Leave a Comment

I've written a couple of articles and recorded a video about the Wright Brothers including where in Dayton they lived and where they had their print and bike shops. Sadly there are very few locations that still stand in their original location. But there is another … [Read more...] about Wright Company Factory History

Filed Under: Historical Dayton Tagged With: Edgemont, Industrial Buildings, Preservation, Speedwell Motor Car Co, West Dayton, Wright Brothers, Wright Company Factory

Where Was the Wright Brothers Bike Shop in Dayton?

November 6, 2024 By Andrew Walsh 1 Comment

Wright Brothers Bike Shop 1127 W Third

My last article covered where the Wright Brothers lived in Dayton. This one will highlight the places in town where they worked to turn their revolutionary ideas into the invention of powered flight. Because the brothers made and repaired bicycles before focusing on … [Read more...] about Where Was the Wright Brothers Bike Shop in Dayton?

Filed Under: Dayton Culture Tagged With: Aviation, Aviation Trail, Bicycles, Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historic Park, Gem City Ice Cream Building, Orville Wright, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Preservation, Wilbur Wright, Wright Brothers, Wright-Dunbar

The Wright Brothers’ House in Dayton: A History

October 17, 2024 By Andrew Walsh Leave a Comment

wright brothers house 7 hawthorn

Dayton has a rich history of innovation spanning key inventions in a wide variety of industries, but the most famous is of course the Wright Brothers and their quest to achieve powered flight. Wilbur and Orville lived and worked in a few different places around the Gem … [Read more...] about The Wright Brothers’ House in Dayton: A History

Filed Under: Historical Dayton Tagged With: Hawthorn Hill, Milton Wright, Oakwood, Preservation, West Dayton, Wright Brothers, Wright-Dunbar

The Oldest Commercial Buildings Downtown (Which Survived Flood and Flames)

October 16, 2024 By Andrew Walsh Leave a Comment

east third from st clair

The Fire Blocks in downtown Dayton has seen a major transformation in recent years spearheaded by The Windsor Companies, as several buildings on Third Street, including the Elks Building, Huffman Block Building, and Dickey Building, have been redeveloped into apartments, and … [Read more...] about The Oldest Commercial Buildings Downtown (Which Survived Flood and Flames)

Filed Under: Historical Dayton Tagged With: Architecture, Dayton Turngemeinde, Downtown, Fire Blocks District, German, Irvin Jewell and Vinson Co, Kimmel Seed & Hardware Co, Lowe Brothers Paint Co, Mendelsohn Society of Dayton, Preservation

Dayton’s Fire House #13 at Third and Euclid

September 16, 2024 By Andrew Walsh 1 Comment

A Dayton Vistas reader recently wrote in to share that the building at 1500 W Third Street (the SW corner of 3rd and Euclid) was listed for sale for $55,000. The listing indicated that a complete rehab is needed, but that it "will be a beautiful building once back to its … [Read more...] about Dayton’s Fire House #13 at Third and Euclid

Filed Under: New Developments Tagged With: Fire Houses, Preservation, United Brethren Church, West Dayton

3rd and Irwin and Intact Urban Intersections in Dayton

September 13, 2024 By Andrew Walsh 1 Comment

3rd-irwin-urban-intersection-today

At first glance this appears to be a rather unremarkable photo: a 1950s neighborhood street scene which turns out to be located at East Third and Irwin Streets. But given the fate of most neighborhood business districts like this in Dayton, it is surprising that all of … [Read more...] about 3rd and Irwin and Intact Urban Intersections in Dayton

Filed Under: Historical Dayton Tagged With: Bakery, Commercial Building, Drug Stores, East Dayton, Neighborhood Business Districts, Preservation, Radio, Restaurants, WW Mac Co

The Point in Old North Dayton: History and Future

August 28, 2024 By Andrew Walsh 1 Comment

Most of Dayton's 19th century neighborhoods feature one or two historically prominent commercial streets. To the east and west of downtown, it's primarily Third and Fifth, through neighborhoods like the Oregon District, St. Anne's Hill/Huffman, and Wright Dunbar. To the … [Read more...] about The Point in Old North Dayton: History and Future

Filed Under: New Developments Tagged With: Amber Rose, Charlie's Deli, Demolition, Elinor Sluzas, European Immigrants, German, Neighborhood Business Districts, Old North Dayton, Preservation

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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, a writer and academic librarian. I research Dayton history, architecture, preservation, and urban redevelopment.

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