- 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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Local Author Andrew Walsh
Local Academic Librarian Andrew Walsh became especially interested in information literacy instruction, emerging technologies, and open education resources. His writing focuses on topics such as architecture, urban renewal, and historic preservation. Andrew aims to connect the past to current redevelopment efforts.
Andrew’s interest in Dayton History began when he moved to Dayton and became curious about the area surrounding his apartment in the Dayton Towers, where he lived at the time. During his research, he was fascinated by the major powerhouse the city once was. Andrew now lives in the Oregon District with his wife and two children and he writes the blog Dayton Vistas.
Some of Andrew’s work includes:
Removing Barriers: Textbook Affordability and OER at Sinclair Community College. Reference Services Review. 48:3, July 2020. Peer-reviewed.
Lost Dayton, Ohio. Charleston, SC: The History Press, 2018.
Beyond ‘Good’ and ‘Bad’: Google As a Crucial Component of Information Literacy in The Complete Guide to Using Google in Libraries. Rowman & Littlefield, March 2015.
“Using Website Analytics Tools in the Development of a Humanities Library Web Portal.” In Web Analytic Strategies for Information Professionals: a LITA Guide. Neal Schuman, 2013. Andrew Walsh, Harriett Green and Jordan Ruud.
Enjoying Life: A Conversation with John Pfitsch. The Grinnell Magazine. Spring 2010 (Vol. 42 Number 3) (Cover Story)
A Bank Robbery on May 6, 1930
As soon as they spotted the patrolman, the men fled up a side street and attempted to get a truck driver to help them flee. The truck driver stalled his engine and that gave Patrolman Dempsey time to open fire on the two men. A 21-year-old man named James Royal of St. Louis MO was wounded and his companion was killed. The companion was unidentified and estimated to be about 35 years old. A stray bullet struck a ten-year-old girl, Eleanor Fetz, who had the luck of walking in front of the bank at the time of the robbery.
Taken by surprise, the men inside did not get away with any money. One man was injured by Patrolman Dempsey’s bullets, but both men were able to flee.
The police security had been put in place a month prior in response to another robbery at the location. Five bandits armed with machine guns had robbed the bank of $33,000.
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
Terrorizing Catholics, Jews and Immigrants: The Ku Klux Klan in 1920s Dayton
Per the event website, the event is “a public humanities event featuring a public talk and roundtable on the Ku Klux Klan in 1920s Dayton and the state of the fight against hate in Ohio today. Keynote address by UD Historian and Religious Studies faculty member William Trollinger on the KKK in 1920’s Dayton and the University of Dayton’s response, followed by a roundtable of civil rights leaders from across the state, including Kelly Fishman of the ADL’s Cleveland Office, David Whitehead, VP of the Cincinnati NAACP and Fr. Satish Joseph of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. The discussion will be moderated by Natalie Hudson, Executive Director of the Human Rights Center at the University of Dayton. Reception to follow.
See the Facebook Event Page for additional information.
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.”
Upcoming Sara Kaushal Author Events
- Murder & Mayhem in Dayton and the Miami Valley Book Talk
August 29, 10 AM, Charles Lathrem Senior Center in Kettering - Dayton Ghosts & Legends Book Talk
September 24, 6 pm, Jamestown Library - Spooky Presentation
October 3, 330, Brookville Library - Huber Haunts Truck or Treat
October 6, 1-4, Thomas Cloud Park - Urban Legends Presentation
October 10, 11 AM, Vandalia Senior Center - Fairborn Halloween Festival
October 11-13 - Dayton Ghosts & Legends Book Talk
October 15, 7 pm Centerville Washington Township RecPlex - Urban Legends Presentation
October 19, noon, Dayton Metro Library Downtown - Dayton Ghosts & Legends Book Talk
October 23, 2 pm, St Leonard’s Community - Urban Legends Presentation
October 28, 6 pm Northmont Library
Another Titanic Voyage
“I want to show people worldwide that while the ocean is extremely powerful, it can be wonderful and enjoyable and really kind of life-changing if you go about it the right way,” Connor told reporters with the Wall Street Journal.
Conner told the Wall Street Journal he is confident the $20 million vessel, the Triton 4000/2 Abyssal Explorer, can make the voyage multiple times.
“Patrick has been thinking about and designing this for over a decade. But we didn’t have the materials and technology. You couldn’t have built this sub five years ago,” Connor told the publication.
“You know, what we need to do is build a sub that can dive to (Titanic-level depths) repeatedly and safely and demonstrate to the world that you guys can do that, and that Titan was a contraption,” Lahey told the Wall Street Journal.
Lahey was a critic who declared the OceanGate’s approach predatory. Many whistleblowers in the industry came forward with concerns over the sub’s ability to handle the voyage, as the company opted to skip many safety steps, including certification through the American Bureau of Shipping or Europe’s Det Norske Vertas.
Connor did not specify a date for when the voyage would take place.
Dayton Unknown 