I've written about Dayton's lost Union Station and early train history. Back around the turn of the century, however, this was only one element of an elaborate, interconnected transportation network. That included an extensive streetcar network for local travel (like … [Read more...] about Dayton’s Interurban Rail History: How the City Became Ohio’s Hub
Trains
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
Dayton’s Lost Union Station and Early Train History
In my book Lost Dayton, Ohio I cover Dayton's Union Station, a beautiful brick structure including a seven-story clock tower which was once a hub of activity downtown. This article will showcase that magnificent station that's been gone for many years, but it turns out … [Read more...] about Dayton’s Lost Union Station and Early Train History
Belmont Then and Now: Watervliet and Smithville History
The Belmont business district, largely centered on Watervliet Ave and Smithville Road, is an interesting part of Dayton. The commercial buildings are not among Dayton's most architecturally significant--the majority are rather nondescript one or two story structures built … [Read more...] about Belmont Then and Now: Watervliet and Smithville History
A Trip from Dayton to Cincinnati (in 1818)
The section of the Miami and Erie canal connecting Dayton and Cincinnati opened in 1829 and the railroads started to arrive in the 1850s. But before then you could still travel between the Gem and Queen cities. The details are described by Dayton biographer Charlotte … [Read more...] about A Trip from Dayton to Cincinnati (in 1818)