The Founder of the Society of Mary, Father Leo Meyer, came from Alsace to Cincinnati to serve as a missionary in 1949. He found the area in the midst of a cholera epidemic and volunteered to help. The next year he was sent by the Bishop to Dayton to serve at Emmanuel Church, where he met John Stuart.
Stuart owned 125 acres of farmland in the Southeastern section of Dayton. Stuart had come from Scotland and wanted to return, and Father Meyer wanted to establish a colony of Marianists. The two negotiated and made a deal. Stuart would give the land to Father Meyer and allow him to pay back when he could, and Father Meyer would give him his St Joseph Medal as collateral. It took twenty years to pay the debt and get back the medal.
Mary Stuart, infant daughter of John, was buried in St Henry Catholic Cemetery, on Main Street near Ashley and Frank Streets. When St Henry was sold and the bodies exhumed, Father Meyer moved Mary and her monument to the UD Campus in order to fulfill his promise to John Stuart that he would always care for the child’s grave. When the Marianist cemetery was established in the present location, Mary’s grave was moved along with the rest. Stewart Street is named for the Stuart family, but the name was misspelled.
K12 Gallery and Tejas
One avenue of community engagement is introducing the healing power of arts to low-income students, youth on probation, adults with disabilities, and survivors of domestic violence. K12 Gallery & TEJAS continues to organize public art projects to further reach the community.
For information on art classes at K12 & TEJAS, please visit their website at: https://k12tejasgallery.org
Coming Soon: Murder in Victorian Dayton, the Tragic Story of Bessie Little
Sara’s next book will have a publication date! Murder in Victorian Dayton, the Tragic Story of Bessie Little will be available March 4, 2025. You can order directly from Sara’s Website, Amazon, or buy on March 29 2025 at the Paranormal Gathering at The Windamere in Middletown. Sara will be selling her books and speaking at the event.
Have You Seen this Bench?
Local Author Tim Smith
Some of Tim Smith’s titles include:
- One Lonely Christmas Eve
- Memories Die Last
- Cupid Says Happy New Year
- Who Gets the Friends
- The Sweet Distraction
You can buy his books on Amazon.
Upcoming Events for Sara’s Books
- Fairborn Halloween Festival
October 11th – 13th
Friday 4pm-11pm
Saturday 10am-11pm
Sunday 12pm-6pm - Centerville Washington History Speaker Series
October 16th, 7 pm.
Washington Township RecPlex West
895 Miamisburg Centerville Road
Dayton, 45459 - Behind Urban Legends
October 19th, 12pm
Dayton Metro Library, Downtown Branch
215 E 3rd St,
Dayton, OH 45402 - Behind Urban Legends
October 28th, 6pm
Dayton Metro Library, Northmont Branch
700 W National Rd
Englewood, OH 45322
Local Author Stephen Grismer
He was a 12-year member of the hostage negotiation team and the vice president of the Dayton Fraternal Order of Police. Grismer is a 1984 graduate of the University of Dayton with a degree concentration in journalism and a minor in criminal justice. In 2008 he helped produce the successful police exhibit at Carillon Historical Park, “Patrolling the Streets of Dayton.”
When the exhibit closed at Carillon, many people wished to keep the history of the Dayton Police Department alive. As one of the original architects of this Dayton Police History Exhibit, Stephen formed a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of Dayton police history. Dayton Police History Foundation, Inc. was chartered by the State of Ohio on January 1, 2010.
In addition to all of his service and contributions to the community, Stephen has written the following books:
- The Dean, Dillinger, and Dayton, Ohio
- Drenched Uniforms and Battered Badges: How Dayton Police Emerged from the 1913 Flood
Along with authors Judith Monseur and Dennis Murphy, Stephen Grismer also wrote:
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Mabel Creager Barnes & Dwight L. Barnes
Comparing the ages of local schools is a difficult task because the creation of early schools was an informal and often undocumented process. Schools were often one-room buildings established by ministers on church grounds.
The first school in the West Carrollton area was established in 1802 in Alexandersville, which is roughly where Woody’s Market on Dixie Drive stood. Dayton had a school district established by 1831. Miami Township is likely next given its proximity to the Great Miami River and the fact that settlements normally began near bodies of water. Area settlements began at Riverside and moved inland. The oldest settlements would have had the earliest schools. Van Buren Township School District was established June 24, 1841, when the township separated from Dayton.
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I-75 Construction Delayed Again
The construction taking place now is the first time this section of I-75 has been rebuilt down to the base since its construction in the 1950s. Decades of construction and reconstruction will need to be removed before constructing the new road to ensure quality and longevity.
The remaining work, which depends on the weather for progress, poses many challenges. Many important tasks cannot be performed during winter months, which adds to complications to adhering to the schedule.
Completion of the work was planned for Summer 2027, but with the complications and additional work required, the date will have to be reassessed as the project continues.
For more details about i-75 construction and delays, visit the ODOT website here: ODOT – Montgomery County: Construction Update
Nancy Cartwright Donates to Rosewood Arts Center
In a statement, Cartwright commented, “I am thrilled and deeply honored to contribute to this incredible art facility. I truly believe that the expansion and survival of our culture depend on our unwavering support for both art and artists. The Rosewood Arts Center stands as a beacon for bringing hope and inspiring greatness in others.”
Cartwright will also have a permanent association with Rosewood as it introduces “The Nancy Cartwright Painting and Drawing Studio.”
Dayton Unknown 