Dayton’s 220th Anniversary

Happy 220th Anniversary Dayton!

If the 50th anniversary gift is gold, I suppose we could make the 220th anniversary gift some Dayton Firsts:

First day:

“April 1, 1796. Landed at Dayton, after a passage of ten days, William Gahagan and myself having come with Thompson’s and McClure’s families in a large pirogue.”

– Benjamin Van Cleve, in his journal.

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Hometown Eats – Part 4

Looking for a place to eat dinner this weekend? Check out these local restaurants!

  • Thai 9 – Thai & Sushi
    – 11 Brown Street, Dayton
    – Business Casual Dress Code – Jeans and tshirt accepted, no tank tops.
  • El Meson – Hispanic Food/Tapas
    – 903 East Dixie Drive
    – Gluten Free and Vegetarian Friendly
  • Carver’s Steak & Chops
    – 1535 Miamisburg Centerville Road
    – Happy Hour 5-7 Weekdays
  • Boston’s Bistro & Pub
    – 7500 North Main Street, Dayton
    – Say hi to Dave the owner for us!

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    Owner David Boston with Millionaire Matchmaker’s Justin Bird.

  • Barnsider Restaurant
    – 5202 North Main Street
    – Great Service!
  • Crazy Mango Bar & Bistro
    – 81 Magnolia Lane, The Greene
    – Eat outside for a great atmosphere!

Esther Price – Dayton’s Sweetheart

Christmas in Dayton isn’t complete until a box of Esther Price candy has passed through your hands.

Although the business got its start in 1926, Esther Price’s roots as a candy maker go back to a 7th grade Home Economics class. After partnering with her classmate to make fudge the first time, Esther kept her share to give to her mother, but decided instead to eat that share and make more when she got home. A love affair with candy was born.

Esther started making candy for income while she worked at Rike’s, selling candy to her coworkers to supplement her income. After leaving the job to stay at home with a growing family, Esther started making candy to help make ends meet while her husband Ralph worked at the National Biscuit Company.

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Hometown Eats – Part 3

Hungry? Check out these local restaurants!

  • Hawthorn Grill – Comfort Food
    – 1222 E Stroop Rd, Kettering
    – Stop in for some “Comfort on a Plate”
  • Olive, An Urban Dive – Paleo, Vegan, Gluten free, and multi-allergy friendly.
    – 416 W Third Street, Dayton
    – The website recommends calling ahead for reservations
  • Jay’s Seafood
    – 225 E. Sixth Street, Dayton
    – The seafood is always fresh!
  • Coco’s Bistro
    – 250 Warren Street, Dayton
    – Reservations are not required, but recommended.
  • Fusian –Sushi
    – 1200 Brown Street Ste 125, Dayton
    – Make your own sushi!
  • Amber Rose – Eastern European Cuisine
    – 1400 Valley Street, Dayton
    – Try the cabbage rolls!

Dayton Inventions – Part 3

  • Stepladder – John Balsley, 1862.
  • Ice Cream Cone Dispenser – Alexander McLaren, 1919.
  • Electric Furnace for cars – Charles L. Lee, 1923.
  • Air Conditioner (window/wall units) – Robert R. Candor, 1943.
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Local Street Names – Part 4

Curious about the names of streets around Dayton? Here’s a few namesakes:

  • Eaker Street: Mary Belle Eaker, a local philanthropist who gave her home to the YMCA.
  • Gummer Avenue: named for Henry R. Gummer, a co-founder of the Gem City Stove Company.
  • Gunckel: named after Lewis B. Gunckel, a politician, congressman, and attorney.
  • Harries Street: J. W. Harries, a local brewer.
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Dayton Inventions – Part 2

It’s that time again! Dayton is known for the airplane and the cash register, but there are so many more inventions that came from our great city:

  • Electric Cash Register – John H. Patterson, 1906.
  • Custer Invalid Chair – Levitt Luzern Custer, battery-powered in 1919, gasoline-powered in 1939.
  • Night Photography – Brigadier General George Goddard, 1926.
  • Freon Refrigerant – Thomas Midgley Jr., 1928.
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CareFlight

CareFlight’s history in Dayton has personal meaning to Dayton Unknown.

In 2003, after a serious car accident, I(Sara) was transported via CareFlight to Miami Valley Hospital. Although I don’t remember the flight or many of the details of that night, I was able to formally meet the pilot, Wade, and the CareFlight Nurse, Cathy at the 20th anniversary celebration of Careflight in September of 2003, just one month after our first encounter.

SKMCareFlight

Sara with CareFlight Nurse, Cathy and Pilot Wyatt.

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Fun Facts about Dayton – Part 3

Here’s some more fun facts about Dayton we’ve learned during our research:

  •  The Private Fair statue on Main Street just south of Monument Avenue in downtown was almost a statue of the Goddess of Liberty, but ex-Civil War soldiers protested, and requested the goddess instead be a statue of a soldier. Private George Washington Fair of Dayton was the model for the statue, which was erected in 1884 – the original location at the intersection of Main and Monument.
  • The statue of President McKinley in Cooper Park (behind the Dayton Library on Third Street and St. Clair) was built from funds raised and donated by local schoolchildren.
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