The total amount of accumulation in Dayton was more than forty inches in January. More than a foot fell on just one day, January 26th. Volunteers dug out people stranded in cars and transported them to safe shelters that were set up. The situation was so severe that Governor James Rhodes sent the National Guard in to bring supplies and help rescue stuck motorists.
Most Dayton residents were unable to get to work, and for the first time since the 1913 Flood, mail was not able to be delivered. The airport ceased all air traffic at Cox International Airport and the RTA did not put any busses on the street. Travel agencies saw record bookings for cruise ships and warmer climate destinations. Some parts of the state still had snow until May.
Fire at the Requarth Lumber Company
Requarth incurred $650,000 in damages, but firefighters were able to save most of the main building. The storage sheds were almost completely destroyed. At first, faulty equipment was blamed for the blaze but soon after, it was discovered that arson was the cause. Samuel Edward Ross, who was a patient from the Dayton Mental Health Center, started the fire in the storage yard at the west corner.
Requarth Lumber Company
“Bought lumber for making ribs and uprights from Requarth Co..” – Orville Wright in his journal, January 19, 1904
Requarth Lumber was founded by Frederick August Requarth and Henry W. Meyer in 1860 as a small turning shop at Fourth Street and Wayne Avenue. They eventually moved to 447 East Monument Avenue in 1895, and have stayed there since.
This Day in History – August 29th, 1876
On August 29, 1876, Charles F. Kettering was born in a farmhouse near Loudonville, Ohio. After graduating high school, Kettering taught at rural schools to save for college tuition. He enrolled at the College of Wooster but had to drop out due to problems with his eyesight. He returned to teaching until he enrolled at Ohio State University, but again he had to drop out due to his eyesight. After a brief stint as a lineman, Kettering returned to Ohio State, this time graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in mechanical and electrical engineering.
As an engineer, Kettering invented an electric cash register that eliminated the need for a hand crank, developed the first self-starting auto ignition system, and organized the Dayton Engineering Laboratories Company (Delco). Kettering had more than 140 patents.
This Day in History – June 27th, 1872
And oh my heart is sad by day,
And ah my tears fall fast by night,
What may I do in such a plight.
Why, miles grow few when love is fleet,
And love, you know, hath flying feet;
Break off thy sighs and witness this,
How poor a thing mere distance is.
My love knows not I love her so,
And would she scorn me, did she know?
How may the tale I would impart
Attract her ear and storm her heart?
Calm thou the tempest in my breast,
Who loves in silence loves the best,
But bide thy time, she will awake,
No night so dark but morn will break.
But though my heart so strongly yearn,
My lady loves me not in turn,
How may I win the blest reply
That my void heart shall satisfy.
Love breedeth love, be thou but true,
And soon thy love shall love thee, too;
If Fate hath meant you heart for heart,
There’s naught may keep you twain apart.
Wright Library Zine
We submitted written pieces to the zine and were both lucky enough to be selected for publication in the zine glide, which was published as both a hard copy and a digital copy. There were so many entries that an additional online zine, glide on was made available as well.
You can read our stories here:
The Man Who Sent Wilbur on the Wright Path by Sara Kaushal
The Missing Benches by Bethany Kmeid
While at the reception and open mic for the event, we had the honor of meeting Jeff Wilson, Author of Ohio Legends!
Grant’s Construction Services, LLC
We recently had one of our followers reach out to us with the idea of featuring some local, home-grown businesses, and we just loved the idea! Thanks, Jared!
If you know of a local, home-grown business that you think should be featured by us, let us know via the Contact Us page! We would love to support local business in any way we can.
Today, we are featuring Grant’s Construction Services, LLC!
This Day in History – May 1st, 1863
He went on to say that President Abraham Lincoln was using the war as an excuse to squelch Constitutional rights.
Days later, federal troops broke down the door at his home on Wilkinson and First Streets in Dayton. He was arrested for violation of General Order 38, which prohibited declarations of sympathy for the Confederacy.
Wright Library Literary Zine Reception
To celebrate, Wright Library decided to publish an art and literary zine made up of poetry, short stories, essays, and art focusing on the Miami Valley, the Wright Brothers, and more.
We both submitted written pieces to the zine, and we were both lucky enough to be selected for publication in the zine Glide and the online zine, Glide On! We will update with the link after the online zine is released!
There is a reception and open mic tonight from 7-8:30 at Wright Library to celebrate the release of the print and online zines! If you are interested in a copy of the print edition or want to join the festivities, please stop by!
Wright Memorial Public Library
1776 Far Hills Avenue
Oakwood, Ohio 45419
Also, next weekend is the Gem City Made craft show! We went last year and had a blast!
Where:
Beavercreek Nazarene Church
1850 N Fairfield Road
Beavercreek, OH 45432
When:
Saturday, May 4th, 2019 from 9am-3pm
This Day in History – April 19, 1919
During WWI, Irvin joined the Parachute Research Team of the Army Air Service. The expanding aviation industry created a need for parachutes in the event of aircraft failure. Irvin helped develop the Airplane Free-Fall Parachute Type-A. This parachute incorporated 3 elements:
- Parachutes needed to be stored in a pack on the user’s back
- A ripcord, to manually deploy the parachute a safe distance away from the plane.
- A pilot chute that would draw the main canopy out of the main pack.
Irvin was so confident in this product that he volunteered to test it himself. With pilot James Floyd Smith at the controls, Irvin jumped. As a result of his jump, the new parachute was put into production. Months later, Irvin formed the Irving Air Chute Company in Buffalo, New York.
A popular story is that the company was intended to be named the Irvin Air Chute Company, but a secretary spelled Irvin’s name wrong and he never bothered to correct it. According to the company, the earliest man to be saved by an Irving Parachute was William O’Connor at McCook Field.
Dayton Unknown 