We want to know! Where in the Dayton area is your favorite place to go see Christmas lights? Whether it’s just a small neighborhood, a big show, or a local place, let us know!
Upcoming Holiday Bazaars and Craft Shows
So many of our favorite events have been cancelled over the past year or two, but there are still so many events going on for the holidays!
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- Old Fashioned Holiday Bazaar
When:
Saturday, November 6
9am-3pm
Where:
Holy Trinity Church
Trinity Center
266 Bainbridge Street
Dayton, Ohio 45402
- Old Fashioned Holiday Bazaar
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- Bellbrook Handmade Arts and Craft Show
When:
Saturday, November 6
9am-4pm
Where:
Bellbrook High School
3737 Upper Bellbrook Road
Bellbrook, Ohio 45305
- Bellbrook Handmade Arts and Craft Show
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- Holiday Arts & Craft Show
When:
Saturday, November 13th
9am-4pm
Where:
Kettering Recreation Complex
2900 Glengarry Drive
Kettering, Ohio 45420
- Holiday Arts & Craft Show
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- Fairmont Athletic Boosters Craft Show
When:
November 20, 2021
9am-3pm
Where:
Fairmont High School
3301 Shroyer Road
Kettering, Ohio 45429
- Fairmont Athletic Boosters Craft Show
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- St. Helen Christmas Bazaar
When:
Saturday, December 4th
9am-3pm
Where:
St. Helen Catholic School
5086 Burkhart Road
Riverside, Ohio 45431
- St. Helen Christmas Bazaar
Benjamin Archer
In 1788, Benjamin Archer moved to Kentucky from New Jersey with his brothers-in-law, Aaron Nutt, Sr. and Benjamin Robbins. The three men struggled with the existence of slavery in Kentucky and after issues with land titles, they decided to leave Kentucky and move to Ohio. Archer, Robbins, and Nutt are considered to be the founders of Centerville.
Archer purchased over 500 acres of land near Clyo Road and Alex-Bell Road – which was originally outside of Centerville’s city limits. Archer came back to Ohio in 1798 to settle with his family.
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A Brief History of Spring Valley
At the intersection of two busy trade routes, the village of Spring Valley was founded in 1844 by a Quaker father and son duo, Edward Walton, and Moses Walton (grandfather and great-grandfather of William Walton). The Cincinnati-Xenia Pike crossed the Little Miami Railroad, and with the many natural springs and Little Miami River, the location provided the perfect crossroads to build an agricultural market.
By 1860, Spring Valley had a hotel, tannery, two blacksmiths, two cabinetmakers, two physicians, two grocers, and a shoemaker, along with a wool mill and flour mill, started by prominent citizen, George Barrett. Moses Walton also partnered with George Barrett’s son, Isaac, to produce and distribute smoked meats, wool, and flax products nationally.
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Ida Weller
Ida Evaline Albrecht (later Albright) was born in 1876 to farmer parents. Her father’s farm was located on the western side of State Route 48, where Bethany Lutheran Village now stands.
In 1893, At the age of 17, Ida graduated from the Washington Township High School on West Franklin Street. The building still stands today, and until recently, was the Las Piramides Mexican restaurant. Two years later at the age of 19, Ida earned her teaching certificate from Ohio Northern College and from 1895-1897, Ida taught at Schoolhouse Number 8, which was located at McEwen Road and State Route 725.
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William Walton
While driving through Centerville, have you ever spotted a tiny sign – “Walton House Museum” and wondered what it was? So have we! As it turns out, this stone house was built in 1838 by Henry Reese, who bought the parcel of land from one of Centerville’s founders, Benjamin Robbins. Eventually, William Walton and his wife Miriam (known as Mary) bought the house in 1927.
William Walton was born April 1st, 1876 to Samuel and Mary Walton. William was the grandson and great-grandson of the founders of Spring Valley, Moses and Edward Walton. Also, William’s older sister Edith married Colonel Edward A. Deeds and later created the beloved Deeds Carillon Bells.
More Fun Dayton Facts
Here are some more Dayton fun facts!
- In 1920, Dayton had no unsolved murders.
- During WWII, Lieutenant Harry Zavakos was reported MIA and presumed dead after his plane was shot down over China. He was actually found by the Chinese and slowly moved across the country to be returned to his unit. During the time the Chinese transported Zavakos, they continually fed him fried chicken.
- Flight personnel gave Dayton the moniker “The Popcorn City” due to the popcorn sold at Wileswood Country Store. Some ground crews would refuse to work on aircrafts if the flight crews did not return from a trip to Dayton with “Dayton popcorn.”
- In 1979, while excavating for the Gem Savings headquarters, the skeleton of an adult male was discovered. The site was originally the location of Dayton’s first cemetery. Since the bodies had never been moved from the location, one theory is that this particular skeleton was John Davis, an early Dayton pioneer.
- Dayton’s most successful professional sports team was the Dayton Gems, a hockey team that played in Dayton from 1964 to 1977.
- Electricity was introduced in Dayton in 1882, when the first electric light turned on in the Dayton Morning Journal office.
- Ponderosa Steakhouse, which was founded in Indiana, moved its headquarters to Dayton in 1968, where it flourished for decades.
- During WWII, there was such a drastic labor shortage in Dayton, that a job draft was considered to fill the positions.
Oktoberfest is back for 2021!
The Dayton Art Institute’s Oktoberfest is back for 2021! This year Oktoberfest is celebrating its 50th Anniversary. The DAI Oktoberfest was started in 1971 and is the largest annual fundraiser for the Dayton Art Institute.
Lunch and Preview Party
Friday, September 24th
Advance Tickets
– $55 for DAI members
– $75 for non-members
At the gate: $95.
Oktoberfest –
Saturday, September 25th, 12pm-11:30pm
Sunday September 26 12pm-7pm
Advanced Tickets:
– Adults: $8
– Seniors (60+) and Ages 7-18: $5
– Children under 6: Free
At the Gate:
– Adults: $10
– Seniors (60+) and Ages 7-18: $7
– Children under 6: Free
Where:
Dayton Art Institute
456 Belmonte Park North
Dayton, OH 45405
Please Note: The DAI does not allow pets (except service dogs), backpacks and large bags, or weapons of any kind.
Lewis Kemp and the Oldest House in Dayton
Lewis and Elizabeth Kemp and their family of eight children moved from Frederick, Maryland to Mad River Township in 1806. Kemp bought 822 acres of land at $10 an acre, and settled on a piece of land that looks out over the modern-day Huffman Prairie. Shortly after their arrival in 1806, Kemp built a brick and limestone house with a stone foundation. A brick addition was added around 1832.
First Friday Book Sale & Signing!
Sara had her second Author Talk, and it was another success! We loved meeting everyone at the Winters-Bellbrook Community Library (Greene County Public Library) last night. The crowd was small, but it was a great discussion!
Don’t forget to come out to Heart Mercantile tonight during First Friday to see us!
When:
Friday, September 3rd, 5pm – 8pm
Where:
Heart Mercantile
438 East 5th Street
Dayton, OH 45402
Dayton Unknown 