Jeff P. Schmitt, 1954-2018

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For many years, Jeff Schmitt has been a local celebrity. Although we never met him in person, we did briefly meet his son Jay, who worked at Sam Goody at the mall in 2003. Through meeting Jay and living in the Dayton area, it felt as if we knew Jeff Schmitt in a small way.

Recently, Jeff Schmitt passed away (his obituary). While at lunch, he suffered a heart attack that eventually led to his passing. Jeff had suffered some health issues in recent years, including needing a new kidney, which he received from his son Jay.

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Magee Park

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In real estate, a property’s value is all about location, location, location. Is that the case for supernatural and unexplained happenings in Bellbrook? Magee Park seems to be the location for many a supernatural haunt. Located in Ohio’s Sleepy Hollow, Magee Park boasts more spooky stories than can be told around a campfire in one night.

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Some Interesting Street Names

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  • Shoup Mill Road —Named for the mill on the Stillwater River

  • Claggett Drive, Neff Road, Ensley Avenue, and Drill Avenue – named for early settlers of Dayton

  • Bidleman Street — Short street named for Chas Bidleman, a Dayton dry goods merchant

  • Clay Street —named for Henry Clay, a former candidate for U.S. president

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The Yellow Springs Street Fair is Tomorrow!

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The Yellow Springs Street Fair occurs twice a year, on the second Saturday of June and October. The event is considered a day of “hoopla” and there are over 200 vendor booths with arts and crafts and food, plus two stages of musical performances, a beer garden, and plenty of street performers.

When: October 13th, 2018, 9am-5pm
Where: Yellow Springs (for directions and parking information, click here)

A few notes:

  • Pets are not allowed at this event, except for Service Animals
  • You can ride your bike to the Yellow Springs and use the Bike Valet!
  • There is a free shuttle service from Young’s Jersey Dairy

Dayton Sights: Wright Brothers Benches

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“It wasn’t luck that made them fly; it was hard work and common sense; they put their whole heart and soul and all their energy into an idea and they had the faith.” – John T. Daniels, who witnessed the first flights.

There are reportedly nine identical benches sculpted by David Evans Black, located all around the Dayton area. On the edge of the seat on the front, it reads, “Dedicated to the immortal spirit of Daytonians Orville and Wilbur Wright…” and continues on the back seat-edge with, “whose gift of powered flight lifted our world forever skyward.” The bench is designed to be reminiscent of the bench shown in the famous photograph of the Wright brothers’ first flight.

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Magee Park: J. Buckley

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Another urban legend from Ohio’s Sleepy Hollow.

As the urban legend goes, John (also sometimes listed as James) Buckley was a rich man living along the banks of Possum Run Creek (now Little Sugar Creek). One night, his cabin was broken into and he was decapitated as thieves tried to find his buried treasure, and his ghost still haunts the creek looking for his head.

Is this story true? Did this really happen?

Well, yes and no.

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Magee Park: The Woman and Her Baby

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Magee Park is a smallish park just off Little Sugarcreek Road in Bellbrook. Although it looks unassuming and quiet, it is smack dab in the middle of a city dubbed, “Ohio’s Sleepy Hollow.”

As the legend goes, in the late 1800s, around the 1880s, a young servant girl had an affair with her master, the mayor of Bellbrook. As these things go, she soon found herself pregnant. Once he discovered she was pregnant, he turned her away from his home, and refused to see her again. Desperate, the young girl turned to prostitution to feed herself and the baby growing inside her.

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Edwin C. Moses

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“Lots of people let it go by and never accomplish what they want. I just wanted to see what I could do.” – Edwin C. Moses

Edwin Corley Moses was born in 1955 in Dayton, Ohio. As the son of two educators, Edwin took academics seriously. In addition to being an excellent student, he was also a gifted athlete.

During high school, Edwin participated briefly in basketball and football, but soon turned to Track and Field. Edwin accepted an academic scholarship to Morehouse College, majoring in Physics and Industrial Engineering. Morehouse College did not have its own track, so Edwin practiced on nearby high school tracks. He competed mostly in 120-yard hurdles and the 440-yard dash. Edwin attributed his success at running to applying his knowledge of the mechanics of running and lots of stretching. He had a trademark technique, taking a consistent 13 steps between each hurdle instead of the usual 14, causing him to get ahead in the 2nd half of the race as his competitors changed their strides.

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Dayton Sights: Places of Worship

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“When I think of a place of worship, I think of a place where one can sit and be reminded of all the things that are important outside our individual lives. To express spirituality, the architect has to think of the original material of architecture, space and light.” – Richard Meier

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