- First Infirmary – the building was erected west of town, on land bought from Dr. James B. Oliver, in April 1826.
- First Foundry – Opened by McElwee and Clegg and the first “heat” was made on December 2, 1828.
- First Park – The land on Third Street between St. Clair and Patterson – now occupied by the public library – was deeded to the city in 1836 by David Ziegler Cooper, the son of D. C. Cooper, with the provision that it was “to be kept forever as a walk for the citizens of Dayton and its visitors.” It was first known as the “public square.”
- First Episcopal Church – St. Thomas Episcopal Church, the first Episcopal church in Dayton, was organized on May 15, 1817 by Bishop Chase, with 23 members.
Tag Archives: Dayton history
The Day They Hung John McAfee
In 1825, a man by the name of John McAfee was convicted of murdering his wife and sentenced to death by hanging. Although he never made a formal confession, he was said to have written one out in rhyme:
Draw near young man and hear from me
my sad and mournful history.
And may you ne’er forgetful be
of all this day I fell to thee.
my sad and mournful history.
And may you ne’er forgetful be
of all this day I fell to thee.
Before I reached my fifth year,
my father and my mother dear
were both laid in their silent grave
by Him who their being gave.
No more a mother’s love I shared,
no more a mother’s voice I heard,
no more was I a father’s joy –
I was a helpless orphan boy.
The Deathbed Confession
The silence of the cold January afternoon on Oak Street in 1867 was interrupted by screams as Christine Kett was discovered on the cellar steps by her brother.
Neighbors rushed to the house to a shocking scene. 18 year old Christine had been bludgeoned to death and was lying in a pool of her own blood.
Dayton Hero – David T. Chambers
The chain of events that started Dayton’s Great Flood started on March 21, 1913, with a rainstorm. Over the next few days, more rain came, ultimately weakening the levees and flooding the already oversaturated soil. Water rose quickly, and as gas lines were destroyed, a fire started downtown that destroyed most of a block.
As these events were happening, twenty four year old David T. Chambers of North Dayton could not stand by and watch without helping. From the safety of his home, which was located above the flood waters, he could see the damage being caused by the rising waters.
Dayton Firsts Part 5
First Newspaper – First regularly published newspaper was “The Repertory,” published by William McClure and George Smith, the initial issue appearing on Friday, September 18, 1808.
First Political Convention – Held on September 6, 1809.
First Drug Store – It was opened in 1809 by Dr. Wood in Reid’s Inn, then occupying a part of the present site of Loew’s theater.
First “Fourth” Celebration – Dayton’s first public celebration of the Fourth of July, with a parade and speeches, was held in 1809.
Prominent Local Figures: Israel Ludlow
Although not very well known, Ludlow accomplished a lot in 39 years. Like Jonathan Dayton and James Wilkinson, Ludlow was from New Jersey, near Morristown.
Ludlow was a surveyor and town planner, helping to found Dayton, Cincinnati, and Hamilton, Ohio. Hamilton, Dayton, and Cincinnati all have a Ludlow street in his honor.
The Man Who Sent Wilbur on the Wright Path
If any fact is known about Dayton, it’s that Wilbur and Orville Wright created their heavier-than-air Flying Machine in Dayton, Ohio. What many don’t know, is that it almost didn’t happen.
Wilbur had set his sights on Yale. A star athlete in football, skating, and gymnastics, Wilbur intended to leave Dayton behind. It was the Winter of 1886 that changed the course of history for Wilbur and the future of flight.
Dayton Innovator – Philip Haas
Sometimes your life’s work going down the drain is a good thing…
Born in Germany in 1874, Philip Haas had at least 10 siblings. The family emigrated to the US in 1888, settling in Dayton. Soon after, Haas became an apprentice to a plumber, starting his career.
Born in Germany in 1874, Philip Haas had at least 10 siblings. The family emigrated to the US in 1888, settling in Dayton. Soon after, Haas became an apprentice to a plumber, starting his career.
Philip did not invent the toilet, however he made many improvements to it that are still in use today, turning a formerly unreliable product into its modern equivalent. Over the course of his career, Hass applied for 31 plumbing and/or toilet related patents.
Dayton Firsts Part 4
It’s that time again! Let’s find out more about the early years of Dayton!
First Library — The first library association (also the first in the state of Ohio) was formed on February 1, 1805, through an act of the legislature. Rev. William Robinson served as the first president of the organization.
First Graveyard — Next to the Presbyterian church at the corner of Third Street and Main Street. In 1805, Daniel Cooper gave four acres of land between Ludlow Street and Wilkinson Street to form a cemetery shared by the Presbyterians and Methodists.
The Story of Jack the Strangler
The influence of Jack the Ripper had a worldwide effect, along with the tabloid-like practice of naming killers. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, a series of criminals were given similar monikers, from Jack the Peeper, a man who broke into houses to tickle the feet of the lady residents, Jack the Grabber, an exhibitionist, all the way to Dayton, where a vicious serial killer who terrorized Dayton for 9 years (1900-1909) was nicknamed, “Jack the Strangler.”
Dayton Unknown 