Vinegar Hill

The Dayton Daily News wrote a nice article about our latest public art project, now known as the Vinegar Hill Sculpture.   We wrote about it in a previous post on this blog.    Here's a bit from the DDN story....

The orchards that were part of the Fifth Street landscape in 1834 were covered with green trees dotted with red apples.

There used to be a very strong vinegar odor from those orchards just east of Keowee Street. The new “Vinegar Hill” sculpture, about 160 pounds of steel, serves to remind visitors to the St. Anne’s Historic District of that fact.

Nationally known sculptor Hamilton Dixon created the eye-catching marker with the help of 19-year-old Bakumba “BK” Elias and K12 Gallery for Young People students Tom Brotherton, Edward Finnicum and Cleveland Sumerlin.

The article also mentioned "The 1600 Group" project at the former American Saloon....

“We bought the building at the end of October last year and hired a painting crew. We are looking for more investors to finish the inside,” said 1600 Group member Joe Dierkers, who is restoring an 1853 house the next street over. “We’re hoping someone will start a restaurant or a tavern for a neighborhood gathering place.”

... and there's a photo of the artists along with a great bunch of neighbors who came out to celebrate the new sculpture!



Fashion sense

Here's a fun little article from the DDN about how people dressed in victorian times.  An excerpt....

Victorian nightgowns were traditionally long and floating with lots of fabric and lace or ruffles. Up until the Victorian era, there had been no concept of clothes meant only for bedtime. Both men and women slept in the shifts or shirts they wore as underwear during the day. The wealthy might change them more frequently, but they were still dual-purpose garments. In the 19th century, increased prosperity and a new interest in hygiene combined to make nightclothes a necessity for those who could afford it.

We experience a slice of the victorian age every day, right here in St. Anne's Hill historic district!

High Street Gallery

From the Dayton Daily News ....

DAYTON — The Dayton Society of Painters and Sculptors is showing off its new members.  Twenty-one of them are presenting their works at the High Street Gallery. There are 44 works total, divided between the rooms on the first floor....  New members also showing photographs in the show are: Amanda Baker, Frances Schanberger and Sally Struthers....

“The wide variety of expression speaks to the healthy art community in the Dayton region, and to the expansive talents of the new membership of the Dayton Society of Painters and Sculptors,” [Bridgette] Bogle said.

Where: The High Street Gallery, 48 High St.
When: Continues through March 27
Hours: 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Fridays, 2 to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays

We could not have said it any better ourselves!  
Come check out the arts scene in St. Anne's Hill.

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LOST

We had some terrible news this week, in the midst of the worst ice storm to hit Ohio in years.   The former Pauley estate at the corner of Henry and Josie Streets in the St. Anne's Hill Historic District caught fire and burned beyond repair.    Dayton Fire crews worked late into the night, only to find the fire re-kindled early the next morning.    The following photographs pay tribute to the loss of this historic home.

Photo courtesy of St. Anne's Hill Historic Society

Photo by Chris Stewart, Dayton Daily News.

Photo by Nicole K.

Fortunately, no one was injured in the blaze.   The home had been vacant and tax delinquent for some time.   The current owner has refused to sell, despite receiving several offers from concerned neighbors over the last few years. 

[Update: The fire-damaged building was demolished by the City on Feb.21, 2011]

This is an example of what can happen when historic homes are not properly maintained.   Too many homes have been lost due to careless or negligent property owners.  Please help us preserve these homes by joining the St. Anne's Hill Historic Society.   Our 2011 membership drive is going on now.   Donations to our 501(c)3 organization are always welcome, and very much appreciated.

We sincerely thank the Dayton Fire Department and Dayton Power & Light for their ongoing service to the community during this difficult time.   For more photos of the fire, visit the Dayton Daily News website.

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Gemini

Another neighbor was featured in the Dayton Daily News, in an article about horoscope signs and the supposed controversy about the addition of another sign to the zodiac.  Check it out!

Alan Leonard, a hair stylist at Square One Salon and Spa in downtown Dayton, believes he still is a true-blue Gemini. He sports the sign of Gemini, known as the sign of the twins, just above his wrist. He got the tattoo about five years ago and has no intention of removing it.

“I’m OK with it,” he said. “I still feel like a Gemini. I don’t think people can just randomly change the zodiac signs. I’m not paying any attention to it.”

Just another example of the great neighbors we have in St. Anne's Hill!


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Busy Bees

From the Dayton Daily News....

Dayton spelling bee tonight at Stivers
By Margo Rutledge Kissell
Wednesday, January 26, 2011, 10:35 AM

The 61st annual Dayton Public Schools Districtwide Spelling Bee will begin at 6 p.m. tonight at Stivers School for the Arts, 1313 E. Fifth St.

Students in grades 2 through 8 are eligible to participate in the event, which will feature spelling bee winners from within the district as well as local charter, private and parochial schools, said Melissa Fowler, a spokeswoman for Dayton Public Schools.

Participants will be striving to win a chance to move on to the regional spelling bee at Sinclair Community College on Feb. 26. Good luck to all.

Stivers is located on East Fifth Street in St. Anne's Hill - just one of the many great assets in our community!


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Pretzel time!

In celebration of Oktoberfest the and German heritage in our community, here is a great story from the DDN about a small business just around the corner from St. Anne's Hill.  An excerpt...

DAYTON — As businesses struggle in a rough economy, the century-old Smales Pretzel Bakery thrives inside a refitted house on an alley, its fourth generation still twisting pretzels by hand.

The bakery began with German-born Rudie Schaaf opening Gem City Pretzel on Warren Street in 1906, not long after he arrived in Dayton as a boy in 1895. The shop’s current location at 210 Xenia Ave. dates to 1926 when his daughter, Emma, moved it there and renamed it.

Smale’s history twists into the city’s at every turn. A stand operated in the old downtown Arcade for years. Armloads of pretzels were ferried to neighborhood groceries and found their way into the hands of generations of school kids. Larry Smales, Schaaf’s great-grandson, recalls that as a boy he sold pretzels to legions of NCR employees on their lunch breaks.

Another great reason to live on the Hill!




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Return of St. Ann

Here's an interesting story from the DDN that's not exactly about the neighborhood, but provides a different  perspective to our blog post about the old St. Ann's maternity ward here in Dayton.  An excerpt...

“In July of 1930, during the Great Depression, my mother had a bouncing baby girl at St. Elizabeth Hospital. It was me.  I have always been told that my mother was hoping for a son, and was ready with some possible boy names for the new baby. She was apparently surprised when I turned out to be a girl.  She always told the family she didn’t know what name to pick for me, and that someone suggested that she name me after the hospital where I was born, so my mom named me Elizabeth Ann.”

St. Elizabeth Hospital and St. Ann’s Maternity Hospital were adjacent to each other along the southwest side of the Great Miami River not far from downtown Dayton.

 Interestingly, our blog stats indicate that the post about the maternity hospital is among the most popular on this site!   I still can't help wondering if there is some connection lost in history...

In the News

Check out the Dayton Daily News for a story about Anticoli's restaurant closing that references the original location in St. Anne's Hill.

Also, this week's Dayton City Paper has a nice article about the Front Street artists building just north of the neighborhood, including a reference to the correct French pronunciation of our own Dutoit Street!  (dew-twa)



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Mural Update

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The Fifth Street Mural project was featured in a Dayton Daily News article this weekend.

Lead artist Jessica McMillan is a recent graduate from The Arts Institute of Pittsburgh and has been working with K12 program director Kelly Sexton and their Artist in Training students since September. Other involved include St. Anne’s Hill neighbors, volunteers, and Franklin High School art teacher Margaret Hostetter and 11 of her students. The mural should be installed in March.

“The images on the mosaic will represent the different cultures and the diversity of the St. Anne’s Hill community,” Sexton said.

For more information, visit our Fifth Street Project webpage!

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Grants

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Two big grant announcements this week that will definitely have a positive impact on our community! Both were reported in the Dayton Daily News.



First, an expansion of the popular "De-Construction" program that saves historic building materials and sells them for re-use...

DAYTON — The Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission said it will administer a $1.5 million federal economic stimulus job-training grant that will pay for work by various organizations to dismantle old, vacant houses.

East End Community Services, PowerNet, Architectural Reclamation Co., St. Vincent de Paul and Dayton Works Plus LLC are involved in a partnership effort to dismantle the vacant homes.

They will be displaying materials at this weekend's Home Show at Hara Arena.

Even bigger news, the City of Dayton and a coalition of regional partners won a huge $29 million stimulus grant!

The cities of Dayton, Kettering and Fairborn along with Montgomery County and the Dayton Metropolitan Housing Authority jointly applied for the Neighborhood Stabilization II funds to finance purchase of foreclosed homes for either demolition or rehab.

The goal is getting properties back on the housing market, Sorrell said. The award will address approximately 1,000 structures with work expected to get underway by late February.

Dayton neighborhoods likely impacted by the grant are Santa Clara; a swath of houses west of Main Street in the 45406 ZIP code; the Greater Inner West area, Westwood, Twin Towers, Walnut Hills, Linden Heights and Inner East.

Congrats to the community leaders who make these projects happen. More good news is on the way!

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Gray's Days

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The Dayton Daily News featured another one of our neighbors this week, and some great historic photos as well...

Photographers may recognize Dennis Gray’s family name from its connection to GraLab darkroom timers. Dennis Gray’s grandfather founded the company, DimcoGray, that still manufactures the devices in Centerville. DimcoGray, then located in the Oregon District, was passed down to John Daniel Gray, who was president until the 1980s, when he sold the firm to his employees.

Gray’s father died two years ago, and his collection nearly disappeared with him. Gray said his father didn’t recognize the value of the shots and wanted to throw them away.

When the photos passed from father to son, Dennis Gray knew where to turn for help. He was familiar with the Wright State archive from his volunteer work with the St. Anne Hill Historic District and First Lutheran Church.

His father’s collection “was a treasure waiting to be unlocked, but the technology wasn’t there until just a few years ago,” he said.

He's just one of the many "Dayton Originals" in St. Anne's Hill!
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In the news

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The St. Anne's Hill "Dickens of a Christmas" holiday home tour is only a week away! We've sold hundreds of tickets, but still have more available. Please help us spread the word.


The tour has already been featured in the Oakwood Register and the Dayton Daily News. Look for another article next weekend as well!


For more information, visit our website or read the other blog entries about the tour, below.

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So you think you can Dance?

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More art on the Hill!

DAYTON — The city’s department of recreation and youth services has teamed with Culture Works to launch a series of arts programs for children, teens and adults.....

SMAG Dance Collaborative: A bi-weekly teen urban dance program for teens 13 to 17, which will meet for six to eight weeks at the Dayton Bomberger Teen Center, 1306 E. Fifth St. The program, with up to 25 participants, will expose youth to the fundamentals, history, and forms of contemporary dance....

The story was reported in the Dayton Daily News.

Dance, dance, dance!
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Gala, Part II

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Recently, we wrote about the 35th Anniversary Gala that is coming up this weekend. It marks the creation of the historic district in 1974.

This week, the Dayton Daily News featured a brief article about the event.

Past and present neighbors can still send their RSVPs and register for the festivities.

See you there!

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Guitar Hero?

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Here's some news of more artistic talent coming from St. Anne's Hill!

Guitar Player Magazine Superstar Finalists
August 24th, 2009

Guitar Player Magazine has announced its top ten finalists in the Guitar Player Superstar Competition for 2009.

Guitarists from all over applied, and the editors of the magazine whittled them down to these ten finalists:

• Steve Langemo
  • A jazz guitarist from Dayton, Ohio
    • http://www.sonicbids.com/stevelangemo

So what does that mean for Steve? Well, read on!

These players will perform in front of a packed audience and a panel of world-famous guitarists including Elliot Easton (The Cars), Jennifer Batten (Michael Jackson/Jeff Beck), Steve Lukather (Toto) and Greg Hampton, (producer of Alice Cooper, Ronnie Wood, Lita Ford). The host of this year’s event is Brendon Small, co-creator of Metalocalypse.

The celebrity judges will evaluate each original performance, and rate each contestant on technique, creativity, charisma and overall vibe. At the end of the night, the 2009 Guitar Player Guitar Superstar will be crowned, along with two runner-ups.

The story was also featured in the Dayton Daily News.

Good luck, Steve!


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Give Peace a Chance!

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Friday's Dayton Daily News had another nice article that highlighted a new neighbor in St. Anne's Hill. Check it out!

The Missing Peace Art Space opens Sept. 4 at 234 S. Dutoit St. in a 1900 carriage-house building that stood vacant and trashed for years. Near Fifth Street and across from Stivers School for the Arts, the two-story structure has been beautifully renovated by Steve Fryburg and Gabriela Pickett and their friends.

Now here is the best part....

Next, there is the possibility of bringing a fresh new perspective to the St. Anne’s Hill district, with the addition of a new art gallery. With Stivers and the High Street gallery nearby, and the Front Street artists’ colony a stone’s throw away, it would be neat to see this neighborhood emerge as a livelier, busier Dayton art spot.

“St. Anne’s Hill wants to become more of a culturally active area with the arts,” Pickett said. “We think we’re part of that.”

Keep your eyes here for more great things happening on the Hill!
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Still a Beacon

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St. Mary Catholic Church is just 'round the corner from our St. Anne's Hill neighborhood on Xenia Avenue. This weekend, they are celebrating their 150th anniversary. The Dayton Daily News just published a great piece about the church.

Here are a few lines about it's place in Dayton's history:

A century and a half ago, Xenia Avenue was known as “Dutch Boulevard” for the German Catholic immigrants who settled in near East Dayton and founded its brand-new parish, St. Mary.In 1906, they built a magnificent Romanesque church that 70 years later would grace the National Register of Historic Places.

St. Mary was built in 1906 by Dayton’s Requarth Lumber Co. for $127,951.60 — less than the average suburban home of today. Its current replacement value is about $30 million...

Like many churches, they are facing financial challenges...

Deeper cleaning, like refinishing the bronze communion gates and resurfacing the marble holy water basins, will have to wait until the parish can raise more money. The congregation already has spent $60,000 over the last two years, and will spend that much again, for repairs needed prior to repainting the interior and original frescoes, a project estimated at between $350,000 and $500,000.

Please read the article and take a moment to learn more about our shared history. There is no doubt that many of the residents of St. Anne's Hill have taken refuge in this church over the last 150 years.


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Ruskin, Part II

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Hot off the presses, here's another great article about Ruskin Elementary from the Dayton Daily News. The new school has created a community garden for the kids. An excerpt:

The Ruskin prototype is a 40-feet-by-40-feet garden that contains tomatoes, green beans, cucumbers, squash and other vegetables. Local kids involved with Street Peace, an after-school program overseen by Ruskin teacher Julie Mcglaun, donated $1,000 in seed money to get the project off — or into — the ground.

Yet another reason why Ruskin is a great asset for our neighborhood!
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Pizza Time!

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St. Anne's Hill is proud to welcome a new restaurant to our community!

New pizza restaurant opens in Dayton
By Mark Fisher [Dayton Daily News]

Friday, June 12, 2009

The New York Pizzeria Restaurant has opened at 1430 E. Fifth St. at LaBelle St. in Dayton’s St. Anne’s Hill Historic District. The dine-in or carryout restaurant seats 20 and also offers free delivery within five miles.

This is the second location for New York Pizzeria, which operates an eatery at 498 E. Main St. in Trotwood. Co-owner Raman Ispakhev said he and his family wanted to open the second location because they live in the neighborhood. The new restaurant opened earlier this week, but is still awaiting outside signage, Ispakhev said.

The New York Pizzeria’s menu includes pizzas, calzones, wraps, subs, sandwiches, wings, pasta dinner entrees, and fried chicken and seafood entrees. The restaurant also bakes and sells loaves of Turkish bread for $2 a loaf.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call (937) 222-0321.

Don't forget to check out the great events going on this month, too.

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