- On February 25, 1879, Susan Koerner Wright, mother to Wilbur and Orville, gave birth to twins. Unfortunately, Ida and Otis were not long for this earth. Otis lived for 13 days, and Ida lived 18 days. They were buried at the Old Greencastle Cemetery. In the year 2000, an excavation of the twins’ grave searched for remains, but only found some wood fragments that could have been from a casket. Soil was collected from that part of the grave, roughly enough to fill a three pound coffee can, and buried at the Wright Family plot in Woodland. The marker from the twins’ grave was moved and placed next to the family monument.
- Dayton’s first known murder occurred on November 20, 1806. John Aiken beat his wife, Rachel, to death. He was arrested and held at McCollum’s Tavern. John was dead before he could appear in court. It was possibly suicide, but records do not exist to confirm what happened
The fun facts below came from the book Ohio Legends Volume 1, written by our late friend Jeff Wilson
- Eliam Barney and Ebenezer Thresher founded the Barney and Smith Car Company in 1849. Their factory in Dayton produced the finest railroad freight and passenger cars in the country. When Barney started the company, Dayton didn’t have any railroads! The first railroad cars had to be delivered by canal boat and horse drawn wagons
- The Wright Brothers made their own printing press from buggy parts and a discarded tombstone.
- Buckeye Bigfoot – the most recent sighting of Ohio’s Bigfoot was in 2012 in Xenia. It was described as a “shaggy beast with glowing eyes” and matched a 1995 sighting in Youngstown.
- Dayton’s leading newspapers refused to report the story of Wilbur and Orville’s first flying machine because they thought it was a hoax.
1936 “Treasure Hunt” for Dayton History Facts
- Presiding Judge: Hon Francis Dunley
- Associate Judges: Isaac Spinning, Benjamin Archer, John Ewing
- Officers:
- George Newcom, Sheriff
- Benjamin Van Cleve, clerk
- James Miller, coroner
The court opened July 27, 1803, but there were no cases, so court adjourned that evening. Most of the male population of Dayton had turned out for the opening, and it was met with great excitement. The judges and lawyers slept in one room of the tavern overnight and left together the next morning to open court in Xenia. The next session of court was not held until November 22, 1803, and it was held until a tree behind the tavern. Sheriff Newcom was needed to control the crown gathering to listen to testimony from witnesses and jury deliberation.
2. Dayton was almost called Venice. Before Dayton was settled in 1796, Maj Benjamin Stites, John Stites Gano, and William Goforth had made plans for a settlement to be named Venice. It was located at the mouth of the “Tiber”, as they called Mad River at the time. They had agreed to purchase the land from John Cleves Symmers for 83 cents an acre and a contract was signed. Unfortunately for the men, Symmes had some issues with the government and the Native Americans in the area and the troubles forced them to abandon the plan for Venice.
3. The first town election was held on the first Monday in May 1805. The select council of the town was comprised of the seven trustees, with the president also serving as the mayor.
4. The first county election was held in 1802. Jerome Holt, County Sheriff, gave notice to Daytonians to convene at Newcom’s on April 1, then elect by ballot a chairman, a town clerk, three or more trustees, two or more overseers of the poor, three fence viewers, two appraisers of houses, a lister of taxable property, a sufficient number of supervisors of roads, and one or more constables.
100 Years of Esther Price Candies
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.
Continue reading
Have You Seen this Bench?
Local Author and Artist Jeff Wilson
Now there are over 300 drawings, facts, and stories about Ohio’s rich history. Many were contributed by friends, family, and readers. Jeff verifies the facts and creates the drawings for those contributions. Three books, titled Ohio Legends 1, Ohio Legends 2, and Ohio Legends 3 have been printed with these fascinating stories and facts.
We had the honor of meeting Jeff in 2019, when all three of us were published in Wright Library’s zine glide, which is an art and literary zine made up of poetry, short stories, essays, and art focusing on the Miami Valley. glide was published as both a hard copy and a digital copy. There were so many entries that an additional online zine, glide on was made available as well. We are sad to share that Jeff passed way in September of 2024, but he will always be an Ohio Legend to us.
A Duel Ends in Murder
Long time friends Clifford “Tacks” Latimer and Charles Mackrodt had been enmeshed in an argument regarding Mackrodt’s dismissal from his job at the railway police force, where Latimer served as his superior.
The men met up at the southwest corner in front of the Commercial and Savings bank and walked across the intersection to the northwest corner, where they argued in front of the Steele Building. Witnesses overheard the men discussing a duel, and they agreed to walk to a nearby alley to engage. Apparently, Mackrodt changed his mind at the last moment and turned to walk away when Latirmer pulled out a revolver and shot Mackrodt three times in the back. One of the shots pierced his heart and caused instant death. The other two shots would have likely proved fatal as well.
Deputy Sheriff John Baugan witnessed the shooting and along with Sheriff Morris Sharp, ran to the scene and arrested Latimer, who still had the revolver in his hand. Latimer did not resist arrest. He was held in the county jail, charged with first degree murder. Latimer claimed he shot Mackrodt in self defense, but was ultimately convicted and sentenced to life in prison.
Come See Us at Sanctuary Dayton!
Come see us!
Upcoming Author Events for Sara
- Bellbrook Historical Society
September 15, 7pm
72 West Franklin Street, Bellbrook, OH 45305 - Sanctuary Dayton 2nd Anniversary Celebration
September 19, 6-10 pm
Oregon District - Star City Booksellers Book Club
September 23, 7pm
55 South Main Street, Miamisburg, OH 45342 - Huber Haunts
October 5, 11am-6pm
Rose Music Center Parking Lot
6800 Executive Boulevard, Huber Heights, Ohio 45424 - Dayton Ghosts & Legends Talk
October 7, 11:45am
Earl Heck Community Center
201 Main Street, Englewood, Ohio 45322 - Murder & Mayhem in Dayton and the Miami Valley Talk
October 9, 12pm
Vandalia Senior Center
21 South Tionda Street, Vandalia, Ohio 45377 - Behind Urban Legends
October 11, 6pm
Dayton Metro Library, E.C. Doren Branch
701 Troy Street, Dayton, Ohio 45404 - Fairborn Halloween Festival
October 17, 4pm-11pm
October 18, 11am-11pm
October 19, 12pm-6pm
12 North Central Avenue, Fairborn, Ohio 45324 - Halloween Happy Hour in Courthouse Square
October 23, 4:30pm-6:30pm
Courthouse Square
23 North Main Street, Dayton, OH 45402 - Paranormal Meeting
October 25, 2pm
Tipp City Public Library
11 East Main Street, Tipp City, Ohio 45371 - Dayton Ghosts & Legends Talk
October 28, 6pm
Charles I. Lathrem Senior Center
2900 Glengarry Drive, Kettering, Ohio 45420 - Dayton Ghosts & LegendsTalk
October 30, 6pm
Dayton Metro Library, Vandalia Branch
330 South Dixie Drive, Vandalia, Ohio 45377
Fall 2025 Events
499 Old Main Street, Miamisburg
September 18, 4-8pm
Beer Fest + Hot Diggity Dog Fest
The Greene
4452 Buckeye Lane, Beavercreek
September 20, 5-9pm
Vandalia Fall Festival
Vandalia Sports Complex
1111 Stonequarry Rd, Vandalia
October 11, 12-6pm
Caramel Apple Festival
Hobson Freedom Park
2910 Trebein Road, Fairborn
October 25, 12-7pm
August Events
Centennial Park
321 Union Boulevard, Englewood
August 9, 10:30-6
August 10, 11-5
Art on the Commons
Fraze Pavilion, Kettering
August 10, 11am to 5pm
Dayton Porch Fest at St. Anne’s Hill Historic District
1432 East 5th Street, Dayton
August 16, 12:15 to 6:45
Geeky Garage Sale
Englewood MetroPark
4361 National Road, Vandalia
August 16, 10-2
Taco & Nacho Fest
Austin Landing
10400 Innovation Drive, Miamisburg
August 23, 3-10pm
Dayton Unknown 