Remembering the Great Dayton Flood of 1913

All this excitement about Ballpark Village, being proposed for the waterfront at the juncture of the Great Miami and Mad Rivers, reminded me of Dayton's pivotal historic event. The Great Flood of 1913 nearly destroyed our city 94 years ago and was the most devastating in the area where Mandalay and Bear Creek plan to build the $230 million entertainment/residential/retail development. I was reading an interesting, if somewhat melodramatic, account of the flood as it affected the DELCO plant (now Mendelsohn's Outlet) which still stands in Webster Station. It amazed me how resilient this city really is. Instead of whining about how bad things were (sound familiar?), Dayton rolled up its sleeves and rebuilt the city. It also created two nationally recognized innovations -- the Miami Conservancy District and the City Manager form of government. It also reenforced my previous idea that we need to be selling or "branding" ourselves as a center of innovation and have an exploratorium of inventions and creative ideas that have been--and still are--a hallmark of this town. Finally, it made me wonder if there are any memorials to the men and women who survived the 1913 flood and used it as an opportunity to make Dayton even better. There used to be one on Valley Street, close to Children's Medical Center; but I believe that's been taken down for a construction project in the area. As we approach the 100th anniversary of the flood, what would be more fitting than building a memorial to those who went through the flood--maybe on Deeds Point--maybe in Ballpark Village. What say you?

Flood Memorial Park

UPDATE: When I Googled for a picture of the old Flood Memorial Park (above), I ran across a relatively recent Dale Huffman article saying that the new Flood Memorial will be dedicated in May. The site is on Valley Street, close to the Keowee Street bridge, and will act as part of the gateway to Old North Dayton.

Requarth Lumber and Ballpark Village

There’s been a lot of talk around town lately about historic preservation. Tonight, there will be an important meeting at Carillon Historical Park on the preservation of NCR’s Building 26, the historic location where Joe Desch and his team of engineers developed and built the “Bombe” which deciphered the German and Japanese codes during World War II. The old Women’s Christian Association (WCA) building in the Wright-Dunbar Village, home to many single African American women in the early twentieth century who could not get assistance elsewhere because of segregation, is being considered by the Landmarks Commission for possible demolition. Another historic building whose future is in question is the Requarth Lumber building at the corner of Sears Street and Monument Avenue.

This building has been Requarth’s home since 1895 and was the location where the Wright Brothers bought their lumber for their flyers and hangars. It survived the Great Dayton Flood of 1913 as it did the Great Depression of the 1930s and a devastating fire in 1972. But will it survive the proposed waterfront development called Ballpark Village?

Building 26 Update: The Tour & Meeting

I didn't think I was going to make it; but I did! I was attending an event at the Marriott when I saw the crowd in front of Building 26. I rushed across the street and was able to get in on the last tour of the building's interior. Folks, I'm not an expert in architecture, but what I saw blew me away. The brick work from the original building is still intact and it's beautiful. Rick Perales led the tour and pointed out where Joe Desch's office was and did an artful description of what happened where.

The meeting at Carillon was just as impressive. I estimate there were at least 300 people there . . . standing room only. The meeting was well organized; the tone was civil; but the preservationist argument was convincing and passionate. There was a good connection, I thought, with the integrity of the building, the world changing history of the place, the connection with UD, the future of UD, and the image UD can continue to enhance by preserving and reusing this building as a gateway to the university and the city.

OK, those who were there (and those who would've liked to be there), let's hear your thoughts on this evening's events. Will UD be convinced?

WCA Building in Wright-Dunbar Village Makes National Preservation News

Dayton again has made the national news concerning fights for saving historically significant buildings. Check out the National Trust Magazine concerning the WCA building in Wright-Dunbar Village and Building 26. Does anyone have an update on either of these battles?

Hawthorn Hill May Soon Open for Tours

Tucked within the rolling hills of Oakwood, south of Downtown Dayton, is the stately home of Orville Wright. There are no signs pointing the way, but Hawthorn Hill is located on Harmon Avenue to the west of Far Hills. Here, Orville lived from 1914 until his death in 1948. NCR bought the mansion shortly after his death and used it as living quarters for visiting executives and celebrities. The historic site is a part of Aviation Trail, but rarely has it been open to the public; however in August 2006, things started to change. NCR deeded the home to the Wright Family Foundation, and plans are now in the works to incorporate the home within the boundaries of Dayton’s national park. Home tours open to the public could start as early as the summer of 2007.

            

Building 26 Controversy Makes the NY Times

Thank you Grassroots Dayton for finding this article on the Building 26 controversy in the NYT. I have more optimism that something good will come of this. Becoming a national item of interest might turn the tide on this issue. Check out http://www.grassrootsdayton.org/node/199

Dayton's National Park 2007 Calendar of Events

Nothing to do in Dayton that's free and/or interesting, you say? Check out Dayton Aviation Heritage NHP's Calendar of Events for 2007!

Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center at West Third and South Williams Streets

Dayton Canoe Club goes Historic

If you've ever driven down Riverside Drive just north of Downtown Dayton, you have likely noticed a neat looking building on the river - the Dayton Canoe Club.  This club has a very rich history, having been founded in 1912 and continuing to this day to be very active.  Kudos to those that have pushed for this Dayton landmark to get on the National Register of Historic Places.  Are you somebody involved with the club?  If so, please let us know more info in the comment section below...

Link: Local landmarks get historic backing.
By Ben Sutherly
Dayton Daily News

Proposals to place two Miami Valley landmarks on the National Register of Historic Places cleared a significant hurdle on Friday. The Dayton Canoe Club, 1020 Riverside Drive, and the Jamestown Opera House, 19 N. Limestone St., received the backing of the state Historic Site Preservation Advisory Board...