A series of self-guided walking tours in the 10 historically-zoned district areas in Dayton are now available courtesy of Preservation Dayton, Inc. The walking tours highlight architectural and historical features of each area.
“Each tour highlights the unique architectural heritage of the area and the citizens who helped Dayton thrive through the centuries,” said Monica Snow, the organization’s president. “The leisurely designed walks allow ample time to pause and appreciate the architecture, the streetscape, and the amenities of each area.”
The Daniel G. Fitch House, a Greek Revival home on South Williams Street in the Wright-Dunbar Historic District, was built around 1856 and is one of Dayton’s oldest homes. Photo courtesy of Andy Snow.
Made possible by a $3,500 grant from the City of Dayton, 12 volunteers devoted more than 400 hours to create the web-based tours. PDI developed the first printed tour guides in 1994 with a grant from the Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District.
This Victorian Italianate home on Linden Avenue in the Huffman Historic District was built for Charles P. Huffman, founder of the Huffy Bicycle Company. Photo courtesy of Andy Snow.
Easy downloadable audio and print formats with photos and Google maps are provided online at https://www.preservationdayton.com/walking_tours.html. Free tours are available for the following historic neighborhoods: Dayton View, Five Oaks Squirrel Forest, Grafton Hill, Huffman, McPherson Town, Paul Laurence Dunbar, South Park, St. Anne’s Hill, West Third Street and Wright-Dunbar Village.
Russell H. Bates, a partner in D.L. Bates and Brothers, a manufacturing company, built this home on Grand Avenue in the Dayton View Historic District around 1900. At the time this Free Classic Queen Anne cost $10,048.21. Photo courtesy of Andy Snow.
Originally founded in 1983 as the Dayton Area Coalition of Historic Neighborhoods, Preservation Dayton is a non-profit corporation that promotes the restoration, renovation, and rehabilitation of historic structures and settings as economically viable activities and enhancements to the public welfare.
This Colonial Revival house on Belmonte Park in the Grafton Hill Historic District was built in 1931 for Judge T.A. Ferreding. The stone wall came from an early 1800s barn on the family homestead, the site of the former Salem Mall. Photo courtesy of Andy Snow.
Contributions to PDI’s Endangered Property Fund can be made online at preservationdayton.com/endangered or by check made payable to Preservation Dayton, Inc. Fund #8630 and mailed to Preservation Dayton, P.O. Box 3614 Dayton, OH 45401.
Due to the pandemic President Biden has opened a special enrollment period for the Healthcare Marketplace through Aug. 15 to help people take advantage of insurance provided through the Affordable Care Act. Normally enrollment takes place in November, but this extended period was enacted to help those that lost their jobs and thus their insurance due to Covid 19. Don’t have insurance? You can be enrolled by the beginning of next month. If you are currently getting your insurance through the Marketplace- take the time to submit a new application. Current enrollees will be able to change to any available plan in their area without restriction to the same level of coverage as their current plan.
Speaking with HRS ERASE navigator Ron Irvine, ” the new COVID-19 stimulus plan signed into law last month has added provisions that can save you money. He estimates the average person he has helped saves $50-$100 per month under the new regulations.
Tender Mercy
Leesa Happapurro is a local Dayton artist whom I personally love with all my heart. Not only is she a talented artist, she is good people. Originally from Detroit, Haapapuro has made Dayton her home. Her work has been described as whimsical, ethereal, and magical—and there is true magic in her ability to engage the community. Last year, at the start of the pandemic, Haapapuro participated in the Dayton Artists United show at the Orphanage Gallery, demonstrating the making of colorful, complicated, fragile looking paper flowers for her Garden of Hope exhibition. This year, she is launching a new exhibit with the Dayton Metro Library, called BRIDGES, which runs from May 1 to June 30, 2021 and explores ideas of unity and the things that connect us. 
Bidders will find treasures and bargains galore at Kettering-Centerville Kiwanis Club’s “Come & Get It” Online Charity Auction this month. Check out the offerings at ketcenkiwanis.org.
Other items on offer include gift baskets from Trader Joe’s, Dorothy Lane Market, Learning Express and more.
“About a year or so before I came up with 
Access to one of the most storied private estates in the city: Pinecroft at Crosley Estate, home of celebrated Cincinnatian Powel Crosley, Jr.
COVID-19 Protocols
The Walk of Fame Class of 2020 offers a first-class mix of individuals with outstanding achievements in the categories of Arts, Culture, Education, Invention, Science, Military, Community Service, Significant Personal Achievement, Entertainment, Media and Philanthropy. The Class of 2020 will be inducted this year due to the pandemic restrictions last year. 
Hallie Quinn Brown (1850 – 1949) an educator, author, elocutionist, historian, civil rights reformer and women’s rights advocate during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The daughter of former slaves, Brown attended Wilberforce University graduating in 1873. She became a teacher and later became a dean at Allen University and the Tuskegee Institute. After attending the Boston School of Oratory, she became an accomplished speaker, travelling nationally and internationally to speak on topics of African-American Folklore and Song to Civil Rights and the Temperance Movement. For ten years Brown served as professor of elocution at Wilberforce University and was a leader in fundraising for the college. She helped to establish the National Association of Colored Women where she served as president for four years and as honorary president for the remainder of her life. Brown also served as president of the Ohio State Federation of Women’s Clubs for seven years. The Hallie Q. Brown Community Center in St. Paul, MN is named for her as is the library at Central State University. Ms. Brown is buried at Massie’s Creek Cemetery in Cedarville, Ohio. 
William Hale Charch (1898 – 1958) inventor and scientist who gave us one of the most innovative food storage creations of the twentieth century: moisture proof cellophane. The cellophane Charch invented was a translucent natural plastic film made to protect and preserve food from air, moisture and bacteria, thereby revolutionizing food storage, safety and cleanliness. Working for the DuPont Corporation, Charch tested more than 2,000 formulas before devising a workable process to manufacture the new product. By 1927, DuPont was selling more than $3.7 million worth of cellophane. During World War II, cellophane was classified as an “essential material” used for the packaging of G.I. rations. Charch then spent the remainder of his career at DuPont contributing to the development of Teflon, Orlon, Dacron and Lycra. William Hale Charch was born in Dayton, graduated from Stivers High School, earned a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry at Miami University and a Doctorate’s degree in Organic Chemistry from Ohio State University. Mr. Charch is buried in Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum in Dayton, Ohio. 
Mike DeWine (1947 –
John Legend (1978 –
William H. Pitsenbarger (1944 – 1966) Airman First Class, USAF. Born and raised in Piqua, Ohio, Pitsenbarger tried to enlist in the U.S. Army as a Green Beret during his junior year of high school but his parents refused to give their permission. After he graduated from high school, he joined the Air Force and in 1962 found himself on a train bound for Air Force basic training. Airman Pitsenbarger volunteered for Pararescue and was trained and assigned to the Rescue Squadron based at Hamilton AFB, California. He served a temporary duty in Vietnam and then volunteered to return. Pitsenbarger received orders in 1965 to report to the 38
Wright State University’s acclaimed Motion Pictures program will present its annual Big Lens Film Festival Thursday, April 22nd at 8pm at Dayton’s Dixie Twin Drive-In.
This year’s films are the culmination of up to two years of preparation and production – all of it made more challenging by an abrupt halt to production, and then the added requirements of following industry standards for COVID-safe conditions for filming, editing and preparing these premieres. The chance to see these films on a very large screen at Dixie Twin will be a joyful culmination to these filmmakers’ four years as students in the Tom Hanks Center for Motion Pictures.
For years, the Culture Works Campaign for the Arts at LexisNexis has included a hugely popular wine tasting event fundraiser. Held at the Dorothy Lane Market Culinary Center in Centerville, this fun event brought together friends and co-workers to socialize and sample some of the excellent offerings from the DLM wine cellar and Culinary Center while also raising funds for the arts community. Sadly, this event was cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19.
You will pick up your prepared meals and wine (packaged for two) at the Dorothy Lane Culinary Center the day before or the day of the event. Plate and warm your prepared meals, pour your wine, and connect to the Zoom meeting at 6:30pm on Thursday, April 22 to hear DLM Chef Carrie Walters discuss the preparation of the food you are enjoying and Wine Manager George Punter share information and history about the two wine selections he has provided. We will also share a few short arts performances for you to enjoy between the conversations.