Dayton Unknown Spotlight: Laurana Wong

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Back in October, we hosted the Dayton Unknown Fall Scavenger Hunt at Wegerzyn Gardens. It was a beautiful fall day, and we had some great submissions from our participants. We awarded two prizes, one of which is a feature story here on the blog. Our winner of this prize is Laurana Wong – an incredibly fascinating character.
We came up with fifteen questions we thought would truly showcase Laurana’s personality and told her that she could pick and choose which questions to answer. In true Laurana form, she decided to answer all of them! We hope you enjoy learning about her as much as we did!

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Real Change Dayton

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How often are you stopped at a red light and see someone standing on the corner holding a sign and asking for money? Don’t feel bad about not handing them your cash – there are better ways to help them. 

A collaboration of Downtown Dayton Partnership, the City of Dayton, Montgomery County, United Way of the Greater Dayton Area, and partnering with Goodwill Easter Seals of the Miami Valley, The Foodbank, Homefull, Miami Valley Housing Opportunities, Montgomery County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS), PATH (Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness) Programs, and St. Vincent De Paul, Real Change Dayton is a program designed to address the growing panhandling problem in the Dayton area.

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Exercise Dayton – Link Bikes

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If you’ve been in the downtown Dayton, no doubt you’ve seen the bright green Link Bikes in action.

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Riders can access the bikes at any of twenty-four stations throughout the downtown area. Bikes are available for one time users, and memberships are also available. Trips are available for 30 minutes at a time, and if a rider wants to use the bike longer, they can either check the bike back in then check it out again, or they can keep the bike past 30 minutes and pay an additional fee.

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Dayton Firsts Part 12

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  • First Telegraph Message – Received in Dayton on September 17, 1847.
  • First United Brethren Church – The first United Brethren church in Dayton was organized in 1847, in a small room in the Oregon Engine House. Their first church building was erected in 1852, at Sixth Street and Logan Street, later being purchased by the city and converted into a city prison.
  • First Gas Company – Chartered February 4, 1848, by Daniel Beckel, Peter Voorhees, Daniel Stout, I.F. Howells, David Winter, J.D. Loomis, J.D. Phillips, Valentine Winters, John Mills and Daniel W. Weelock.
  • First Hebrew congregation – The first Hebrew congregation was organized in 1850. They met in the old Dayton Bank building until 1863, when they purchased the old Baptist house of worship.

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Summer Events

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Due to some unforeseen circumstances, we had to take a little break, but we’re back!

We’ve attended a few of the great events in Dayton so far this summer season, and wanted to share some pictures. Take a look!

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Natalie Clifford Barney

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“I built a fire to welcome her
And my voice sighed
Aloud her name. To be with her
This night, I would have died…”

Natalie Clifford Barney was born in Dayton, Ohio in 1876, to an affluent family. By age twelve, Natalie knew she was a lesbian. Although society in the late 1800’s was very conservative, Natalie knew she would “Live openly, without hiding anything.”

Natalie developed an interest in the French language as a child. Her governess often read Jules Vern stores aloud to her in French, and she had to learn the language quickly to understand the stories.  In adulthood, Natalie was fluent in French, and published most of her work in French. 

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Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

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Please help us remember those who have died while serving in our country’s military.

Interestingly, the holiday originated after the Civil War in 1868 as “Decoration Day,” when a group of veteran Union soldiers known as the “Grand Army of the Republic” established it as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of Union soldiers with flowers.

Please have a safe and happy Memorial Day Weekend!

A World A’Fair

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It’s that time of year again! The World A’Fair is a three-day international festival including food, dancing, music, and cultural exhibits. The theme this year is Folk Medicine, and booths from over 30 countries will represent their take on this theme.
Location:
Dayton Convention Center (DCC)
22 East 5th Street
Dayton, OH 45402

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Dayton Sideshow 12

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Dayton Sideshow 12 is coming up! Dayton Sideshow is a two-day community arts festival.

Come out and see a variety of artwork, such as installations, paintings, sculptures, etc., from more than 50 local artists while more than 50 musical acts play. Admission is free, but donations with be accepted to support the event.

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