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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.

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 Buildings, 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, Commercial Buildings, Demolition, Elinor Sluzas, European Immigrants, German, Neighborhood Business Districts, Old North Dayton, Preservation

The Deeds Barn and Reconstruction as Preservation with Dan Barton

August 2, 2024 By Andrew Walsh Leave a Comment

deeds barn original site 319 central ave

In my last article about the history of the Deeds Barn, the site of the invention of the electric self-starter, I traced its somewhat convoluted path over the decades: a replica was built in Carillon Park in 1949 but the original barn remained in Grafton Hill until 1962 when … [Read more...] about The Deeds Barn and Reconstruction as Preservation with Dan Barton

Filed Under: New Developments Tagged With: Carillon Park, Deeds Barn, Grafton Hill, Kettering-Moraine Museum, Preservation, Wright Brothers

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

July 25, 2024 By Andrew Walsh 4 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 the Conover Building

June 26, 2024 By Andrew Walsh Leave a Comment

Image credit The Conover Building can be found at the SE corner of Third and Main Streets right in the middle of downtown. An eclectic Renaissance Revival style structure, it was designed by architect Frank Mills Andrews, who gave himself an office under an art glass … [Read more...] about History of the Conover Building

Filed Under: Historical Dayton Tagged With: Architecture, Conover Building, Downtown Dayton, Frank Mills Andrews, Obadiah Conover, Preservation, RTA

The Diner on St. Clair: a History and an Uncertain Future

April 3, 2024 By Andrew Walsh 4 Comments

Downtown Dayton is in the midst of a renaissance, and it's easy to become passionate about the redevelopment of architectural gems like the Arcade or sites with major historical significance like the Delco buildings near the ballpark. But sometimes it's the smaller, more … [Read more...] about The Diner on St. Clair: a History and an Uncertain Future

Filed Under: New Developments Tagged With: Canton, Dayton Power and Light, Diners, Downtown Dayton, O'Mahony Diner Company, Preservation

The History of Dayton’s Old Post Office Buildings

February 9, 2024 By Andrew Walsh Leave a Comment

Dayton's Old Post Office is a beautiful building that still stands downtown, although it hasn't served as a post office since the urban renewal era. We can thank a dedicated preservation effort in the 1970s for why it is still here instead of having been turned into … [Read more...] about The History of Dayton’s Old Post Office Buildings

Filed Under: Historical Dayton Tagged With: Architecture, Fidelity Building, Lorenz and Williams, Post Office, Preservation

K-12 Tejas Gallery Aims to Rehab Historic Carriage House

January 24, 2024 By Andrew Walsh

According to a Dayton Regional Priority Development and Advocacy Committee (PDAC) funding request, the K-12 Tejas Gallery is looking to purchase and rehab a building adjacent to its current home. A Dayton Business Journal article stated that the group "looks to purchase … [Read more...] about K-12 Tejas Gallery Aims to Rehab Historic Carriage House

Filed Under: New Developments Tagged With: Alfred Iddings, Alfred Iddings House, Carriage Houses, Downtown Dayton, Fire, Fred Cappel, Furniture Stores, K-12 Tejas Gallery, Preservation, Preservation Dayton, Woodard Development

“Ice House” Building Downtown to Be Demolished

October 20, 2023 By Andrew Walsh Leave a Comment

An industrial building complex dating to the 1920s near the edge of downtown is set to be demolished to support the future expansion of Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School's campus. The school calls it a "reimagining" of its campus meant to center around Emmanuel … [Read more...] about “Ice House” Building Downtown to Be Demolished

Filed Under: New Developments Tagged With: Chaminade-Julienne, Dayton Frozen Solutions, Emmanuel Church, Industrial Buildings, Preservation, Terminal Cold Storage, Union Station

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