May is National Preservation Month.

Did you know?  

The first National Preservation week was celebrated in 1973, from May 6^th through May 12^th.

 Preservation is about the capturing of our history.  From stories, to photographs and physical items, to our built environment, all these factors tell us about where we came from.  The help us complete the picture of what life was like for our ancestors.     

 The City of Dayton works to ensure the preservation of our 13 locally designated historic districts, and our 71 local landmarks.  For more information on our historic districts, you can find links to maps and the original nomination forms, here: https://www.daytonohio.gov/223/Historic-Districts-Information  

Did you know?

Dayton’s first historic district was the Oregon Historic District, designated in 1972.  The most recent historic district is Squirrel-Forest, designated in 2011.

Exploring our past can help us find people and stories that are not always wide-known or celebrated.

Did you know?  Mrs. H.G. Carnell donated the land and the building for the Dayton Art Institute to the City of Dayton in 1928. (May 22^nd, 1928, Dayton Daily News)  

=====

Did you know?  Older homes will sometimes have two front entrances.   Often, one entrance was the “formal” entrance, for guests, and the other was the main entrance for the residents.

=======

Did you know? Halloween used to be associated with “Gate Night”, a night where young folks would play pranks, usually involving stealing people’s front gates. (October 31^st, 1906, The Dayton Herald)

=======

In addition to photographs and newspaper articles, we can access the stories of our friends, neighbors, and other community members.  Programs like the Dayton and Miami Valley Oral History Project and the West Dayton Stories Project record and provide access to the stories of our residents, provided access into the real lived experiences of the past.  You can access the recordings for the Oral History Project online here:

https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/history_oral_history/

West Dayton Stories can be found here:

https://www.wyso.org/west-dayton-stories

 “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”  Preservation helps us remember.  Take a look around your neighborhood today, find a building that you like, find a building that you don’t like, find a building that you’d like to know more about.  Celebrate and acknowledge your own built environment, and the stories it can tell us.   

--Post by Holly Hornbeak

The Planning Division prides itself on exceptional customer service. While we know such service is always appreciated, sometimes we receive more feedback than other times. Jen Hanauer was recently thanked for her service with this floral display for providing first-class communication, clarity, and empathy through a land use public process. Way to go, Jen!

Planning Division staff recently had the opportunity to visit America’s Packard Museum at 420 S. Ludlow St. The museum is located in a former Packard showroom designed by Albert Kahn and has been lovingly kept in the spirit if its original use. One of the great things about this museum is that it offers an enjoyable experience for both car-lovers and non-car-lovers, because of the additional historical context that is provided alongside the automobile information. America’s Packard Museum is a true Dayton Gem! We recommend considering it for tours and events.