Then and Now: Third St. Looking Towards Ludlow

This post is a follow-up on our latest article which covered the history of Dayton’s City Hall.

We wrote that the current city hall building was formerly used as a YMCA before that organization moved to a new location in 1929. In 1940, the city of Dayton took it over for its main municipal offices.

Today we share a 1958 image of the city hall building from the west, a view of the building that is no longer possible due to later construction.

In this shot, you can see a sign for Adkins’ Coffee Pot, and it’s clear that there has already been some clearance of older structures for parking. In the distance on the right of the image you can see the side of the old court house, as well as the tower and clock of the since demolished Callahan Building.

In the current view you can see the parking garage immediately to the left of City Hall.

The 12-story Courthouse Plaza SW building is visible just across Ludlow. The old courthouse is still there too but is mostly obscured by trees.

Historic photo courtesy of Dayton History Books Online/Dayton Metro Library