When we started Dayton Unknown, our goal was simple: to uncover and share the forgotten, overlooked, and lesser known stories that shaped our city. Stories like Johnny Morehouse and the Morehouse Family.
Recently, we heard from a descendant of the Morehouse family.
Just a Bite of Popcorn
The Fawleys were driving around town running errands when Mr. Fawley parked in front of the smokehouse on South Detroit Street. He left his wife and daughter in the car while he walked to complete a few more errands. Norma was eating popcorn and started choking, and her mother was alerted by her gasping for breath. Workers in the smokehouse heard Mrs. Fawley’s cries for help and they rushed out to try to help.
All attempts to dislodge the popcorn by swinging Norma around by the heels, turning her upside-down, and forceful blows on the back were unsuccessful. A man in the crowd carried the child half a block to a nearby doctor’s office, but by then it was too late. As the doctor prepared to perform a surgery to remove the piece, Norma took a few more gasps of air, then tragically died.
Source: Child Chokes to Death from Bit of Popcorn, Dayton Herald, April 3, 1925, Page 1
Fined for Helping a Prisoner
Messler was accused of harboring Ruth Isley, aka Margaret Williams after she escaped from the workhouse on September 3. According to her testimony, she escaped by prying off a door lock, crossing a roof, and entering a window of the Antler Hotel located on 6th Street. From there she ran to Messler’s garage, where she stayed all night.
Source: Fined For Help Given Prisoner, Dayton Herald, October 9, 1917, Page 16
An Elevator Accident in 1954
Source: Elevator Victim Reported “Fair”, Dayton Daily News, August 2, 1954, Page 4
Honor Flight Dayton 2026
This year’s flight is on May 30th. To apply as a Veteran, Guardian, or Volunteer, visit the Honor Flight Dayton Application Page.
Happy Birthday, Dayton!
Footprints in the cement at Founder’s Point at Riverscape Metropark to remember the first settlers of Dayton.
”The boat party was the first to arrive. Rounding the curve in the river, where for so many years since then it has been flowing under the Dayton View Bridge, the pioneers perceived before their eyes the swift current of Mad River emptying itself into the main channel, just as it had been described, and saying to each other (so we may imagine), ‘Yes this must be the place,’ they tied the pirogue to a tree at the head of St, Clair Street and led by Mrs. Thompson, all clambered ashore.
At that moment, DAYTON came on the map!” – Charlotte Reeve Conover in The Story of Dayton
The Thompson Cow
- William Hamer
- Soloman Hamer
- Thomas Hamer
- George Newcom
- William Newcom
- Abraham Grassmire
- John Davis
- John Dorough
A Fire in 1900
- J.P. Wolf & Sons, Tobacco Merchants
- E. Bimm & Sons, Grocers
- Benedicts & Co, Cigar Manufacturers
- The Dayton Paper Novelty Company
The Big Four Freight depot was located in the back, and had minimal damage. The office building was destroyed, but the slate roof prevented the rest of the company from more damage. There was an estimated $500,000 in damages to the district.
It took 3 hours for the flames to be under control, and there were many injuries:
- Night Watchman Snedecker was overcome by smoke and later found unconscious by other firemen.
- Another fireman, Louis Swaneger, was taken to his home, badly frozen.
- Three firemen, George Coy, George Nienaber, and George Griesheimer were buried when the east wall of the J.P. Wolf & Sons building collapsed. Nienaber and Griesheimer were not badly injured.
- Many other firefighters and volunteers were treated at a makeshift hospital located in a nearby home.
Lester Emoff
Robert Emoff,
By 12:00 noon tomorrow, you should have in your possession(sic) the sum of four-Hundred-Thousand dollars ($400,000) in bills of tens and twenties. Money will be checked for unfamiliar markings. Police will not be contacted. Money is for the ransom of Lester Emoff. If these demands are not carried out to the letter, Lester Emoff and car with tag #866-pe will be destroyed with dynamite along with all three stores and your warehouse.
At 12 noon tomorrow, you are to leave your house with the money in the green car, tag #7947-NV and proceed to the Sohio station on Riverview and Philadelphia Dr. Inside the station you will receive further instructions at exactly 12:05 by phone. You will be timed. 30 mph.
Although the ransom was paid, Lester’s body was found three days later on Olt Road in Jefferson Township. He’d been shot in the back. His car was discovered in Miamisburg. Residents nearby saw men leave the car there the night Lester was abducted. Roughly $193,000 was recovered.
Albert Lee Scott, a former employee of Emoff’s, was arrested in connection to the case. Scott had been fired by Emoff when there was a question about some merchandise missing from a truck. Scott provided information leading to the discovery of the body. Two other men, Herman Lee Moore and Willis Leroy, were arrested in connection to the crime.
Albert Lee Scott was convicted and sentenced to die in the electric chair. Herman Lee Moore and Willis Leroy both received life sentences.
Clemens “Clemmy” Focke
Clemmy and his mother had just left early mass and headed to his grandmother’s house for a visit. When they arrived, Clemmy joined his younger brother Edward outside while their mother and grandmother headed into the house. The boys played outside for a bit and some other boys from the neighborhood joined them. It was hot outside and one of the boys suggested they go take a swim.
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