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Brains, Brews, & Broadcasting: A 40 Year Flashback with DATV

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2018 marks DATV’s 40th year of providing public access television to Dayton and giving our community the Freedom to Communicate. Rewind back to 1978 at the 1st annual gala with a trivia contest, a silent auction, and heavy hors d’oeuvres! The Stivers School for the Arts Jazz Combo will lend their musical talents during the night as well!

Individual Tickets: $55 (includes 2 drink tickets)
Trivia Team: $1,000 (up to 8 people per team)

For more information about tickets, sponsorship opportunities, and silent auction items, please visit www.datv.org/2018gala.

Luminaries of Dayton: Harold K. Omer

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L to R: Harold Omer, Ray Danner and Lee Cummings. Danner was the owner of Shoney’s, which at the time owned the Famous Recipe franchise.

The founding of Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken.

Lee Cummings, the nephew of Colonel Harland Sanders, spent his childhood in the kitchen of his Henryville, Indiana home. Lee hit the road with his Uncle Harland in 1952, selling their own special blend of spices along with their famous pressure cookers, which later became part of KFC’s “secret Recipe”. In three years, Lee and the Colonel opened over 800 KFC stores. In 1962, the Colonel sold KFC to John Y. Brown.

After the sale of KFC, Lee Cummings started developing his recipe later to be known as “Famous Recipe.” In 1966, Lee along with Harold Omer started “Harold’s Take-Home” in Lima, Ohio where Lee first introduced Famous Recipe Chicken.

By 1967, Lee and Bob Burick in Springfield, Ohio opened the fifth franchise store. Later that year, stores followed in Dayton and Cincinnati as well as in Michigan.

In 1972, Famous Recipe had 100 stores and by 1979 the number had doubled to 200. In 1981, Lee Cummings sold the chain to Shoney’s Restaurant in Nashville, Tennessee and in 1995, it was sold to RTM Restaurant Group in Atlanta, Georgia.

Locally, there are two major franchisees in the Miami Valley that keep the tradition of Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken in the community.

Harold Omer was also a manager of aerospace engineering at Lima’s Westinghouse plant. Sometimes he would leave the office and go straight to his second job of frying chicken.

Harold K. Omer died in 1999. He is located in Section 100 of the Woodland Mausoleum.

The Brightside Celebrates its Grand Opening

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The renovated Vodvil Ballroom will be revealed at The Brightside’s Grand Opening on October 12, 2018.

The much anticipated grand opening of The Brightside Event & Music Venue is happening this weekend, Friday October 12th, 2018. Lots of love and labor has gone into this once forgotten space near the corner of 3rd & Keowee. Now this renovated industrial event space is ready for parties, weddings, concerts, art shows, and community events, right in the heart of downtown Dayton.

Owners and artists Carli & Hamilton Dixon started this project a decade ago, drastically transforming the space into multiple businesses, The Brightside being the final installment. They are ecstatic to invite the community to celebrate with them as they reveal their finished Vodvil Ballroom, in addition to the cozy bar space that has been open for events the last year. (To learn more about their story, click here)

The grand opening party will kick off with a two-hour VIP party, from 5:30-7:30pm, which requires tickets and will feature a ribbon cutting! Then the space is open to the public from 8pm-12am. Please feel free to drop in to check out this newest multi-use space in downtown Dayton!

HOW TO GO?

Where: The Brightside Music & Event Center, 905 East Third Street Suite B, Dayton, Ohio
When: Friday October 12, 2018. VIP Party 5:30-7:30pm (tickets here). General public 8pm-12am.
More Info: https://www.thebrightsidedayton.com/
https://www.thebrightsidedayton.com/video-the-brightside-story

Let’s Talk Trees Arboretum Tour

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Of the fifty-eight Oak species native to North America, Woodland has twenty-five of them on its Arboretum grounds plus another 140 different species of trees. Join tour guide Kay Linden as he gives you an enlightening tour of the Arboretum at Woodland Cemetery.

 

Tour begins at 10:00 a.m. and departs from the main entrance of the cemetery. Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum is located at 118 Woodland Avenue off of Brown Street near the UD Campus. This event is free and open to the public. To make a reservation or for more information, please call 937-228-3221.

Woodland Cemetery, founded in 1841, is one of the nation’s oldest rural garden cemeteries and a unique cultural, botanical and educational resource in the heart of Dayton, Ohio. Visit the cemetery and arboretum and take one of the many tours Woodland offers free of charge. Most of Dayton’s aviation heroes, inventors and business barons are buried at Woodland.

Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum is located at 118 Woodland Avenue off of Brown Street near the University of Dayton Campus. The Woodland Office is open Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 pm and Saturday 8 am to 12 pm. The Cemetery and Arboretum are open daily from 8 am to 6 pm. The Mausoleum is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. For more information, call 937-228-3221 or visit the Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum website.

Luminaries of Dayton: Frederick and Otto Euchenhofer

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Frederick H. Euchenhofer was born in Switzerland about 1812 and came to American when twenty years old. For a few years he lived in one of the eastern states and then moved to Miamisburg in 1836. Frederick opened a bakery and confectionery store there, running a successful business until 1848, when he came to Dayton. He purchased the old Columbus House and ran it as a hotel until 1863.

In 1861, Frederick opened the Third Street Lager Beer Brewery on 1513 East Third Street. The brewery was made of brick, two stories high and had a cellar. In addition, there were three individual cellars, separate from the main building that were capable of storing 1,200 barrels. The brewery was bought by Miller and Ritzler in 1867, but Euchenhofer rebought the brewery five years later.

Frederick later changed the name of the brewery to Third Street Brewery about 1887. In 1888, over 3,500 barrels were being produced each year, most of them being consumed in the home. The annual trade for that year was in excess of $25,000.

Frederick was a charter member of, and a director in, the Teutonia Insurance Company of Dayton, which was one of the most successful financial institutions in the city. Fraternally, Frederick was an Odd Fellow and a member of the Harugari. The German Order of Harugari, sometimes called the Ancient Order of Harugari or by its German name, Der Deutsche Orden der Harugari, was a mutual benefit and cultural association of German Americans founded in New York City in 1847 that was at one time the largest German secret society in the United States. The objectives were mutual protection in a time of high German immigration and anti-German sentiment in the U.S., and preservation of German language and culture. The order forbade discussion of religion, politics, or social issues. The name Harugari comes from the old German word Haruc. It may be roughly translated as “The Teutonic spirit (or priest) of the oak tree.”

Frederick was a Lutheran and in politics a Republican. He was married twice. His only child from the first marriage, Albert, died in February, 1892. His second marriage was to Caroline Disher. They were married in Dayton and had ten children.

Frederick H. Euchenhofer died on February 3, 1891. Caroline died on November 22, 1938. They are located in Section 103 Lot 1619.

Otto Frederick Euchenhofer was born about 1857 in Dayton, Ohio. He belonged to the St. Luke’s German Lutheran Church. He was the father of four children.

Otto Euchenhofer took over the Third Street Brewery on 1513 East Third Street in 1892 and changed the name to Third Street Ale Brewery. Unfortunately, records show that the brewery slipped in business under Otto’s management. By 1895, the brewery’s yield was only 1,000 barrels, down from 4,000 in 1890. He sold the business to Henry B. Pruden and Peter J. Altherr in 1896.

Otto Frederick Euchenhofer died on May 20, 1912. He is located in Section 103 Lot 1619.

History & Halloween combine at Huffman’s Spooky Tour

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If you’ve ever driven or taken a stroll down Linden Avenue in the Huffman Historic District, you may have been struck by the beauty of the tunnel of oak and linden trees that create a continuous canopy overhead. Or perhaps you were too distracted by the stately collection of Queen Anne, Italianate, and Eastlake Victorian homes. Especially in the fall, there’s a certain magic in the air in Huffman when jack-o-lanterns grace front porch steps and the leaves of the tree canopy transition to autumn colors.

This October 12th and 13th, that magic will be alive and well when the Huffman Historic Neighborhood Association puts on their biannual, guided home tour, “The Spirit of Huffman.” The Spirit of Huffman home tour’s tagline is, “Where Halloween and History Collide,” and, indeed it’s true, when the outing offers tour goers a visual feast of Halloween decorations and entertainment dispersed among the Victorian homes.

Participants of the home tour will be guided through the neighborhood, established in the 1860s through the 1890s  by William P. Huffman, stopping to tour nine unique homes: one totally renovated house, a home bought through auction, homes renovated through Rehabarama, one home that housed the neighborhood post office, and two houses that were doctor’s offices. They will encounter an extensive collection of Halloween decorations, marble mantles, one-of-a-kind woodwork, bay windows, original hitching posts for horses, original carriage houses, carpenter’s lace, fretwork, corbels, towers,  and curved-glass windows. Along the way, they’ll take note of Dayton’s first brick school house, two beautiful Victorian churches with active congregations, and an old market that is looking at a second life. They’ll hear about the importance of the community’s connection to the country’s largest manufacturer of bicycles.

Each time The Spirit of Huffman Tour is presented, visitors are entertained. In addition to being a tour of today’s homes, this is an energized evening walk through time.  Expect to meet up with Huffman residents of a century ago who are scheduled to make an historic return engagement this year – just in time to make the past live again.  Visitors are advised: It is likely you will be transported beyond the Victorian architecture you are coming to see. Come prepared for several “Close Encounters of the Huffman Kind” as they pull back the curtain on time, revealing William Huffman’s new dream for a diverse community of bankers, laborers, shopkeepers, and street vendors at a moment when it is all so exciting and new.  When you come, be sure to listen carefully. The winds of change are rustling through the prairie grasses outside the city. It is 1870 and thanks to one man’s vision, Huffman Prairie is about to transform into the vibrant “Inner East” of Dayton.

Tickets are on sale now! To learn more about the Spirit of Huffman Tour please visit their website at www.SpiritofHuffman.com, or contact [email protected]

A special thank you to sponsors DK Effects, LinkDayton, Blackbox Improv, Dayton Most Metro, St. Anne the Tart, Gem City Podcast and our great neighborhood of volunteers helping to keep the Spirit of Huffman alive.

How to Go?

When: October 12 and 13, 2018

Where: Huffman Historic District – 19 Linden Avenue, Dayton, OH 45403

Tickets: $18

buy online here

Note: This tour is not recommended for children under the age of 12.

What are my transportation/parking options for getting to and from the event?

Once you arrive for the tour signs and guides will help to find parking.

What can I bring into the event?

This event is rain or shine. Please come prepared with umbrellas and/or ponchos in the event of rain. We will have flashlights to share but are limited. Feel free to bring your own.

Luminaries of Dayton: William Judkins Conklin, M. D.

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William Judkins Conklin, A. M., M. D., was born in Sidney, Ohio on December 1, 1844. He entered the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1866. He began the study of medicine with his father, Dr. H. S. Conklin, one of the most prominent physicians of the Miami Valley and graduated from the Medical College of Ohio in the spring of 1868.

In 1869, the Detroit Medical College placed upon him the ad eundem degree, a courtesy degree awarded by one university or college to an alumnus of another. In May, he was appointed assistant physician of the Dayton Asylum for the Insane, a position he held until December 1871 when he resigned to accept a partnership with Dr. J. C. Reeve. In 1876, he was appointed by Governor R. B. Hayes a member of the Board of Trustees of the Dayton Asylum for the Insane. From 1875 to 1886, he was a member of the faculty of Starling Medical College in Columbus, Ohio, first as professor of physiology and afterward as professor of the diseases of children. He was a member of the American Medical Association, the Ohio State Medical Society, the State Sanitary Association, and the Montgomery County Medical Society. He was also a member of the surgical staff of St. Elizabeth Hospital and was also in association with Miami Valley Hospital.

Dr. Conklin was a frequent contributor to both medical and literary journals. In Dayton, he served as Director of the Merchants National Bank. In 1875, Dr. Conklin married Catherine Beckel, daughter of Daniel Beckel. Their son, Dr. Daniel Beckel Conklin, was associated with him in his medical practice.

William Judkins Conklin died on October 31, 1916. He is located in Section 52 Lot 1167.

Let’s Talk Trees Arboretum Tour

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Of the fifty-eight Oak species native to North America, Woodland has twenty-five of them on its Arboretum grounds plus another 140 different species of trees. Join tour guide Kay Linden as he gives you an enlightening tour of the Arboretum at Woodland Cemetery.

 

Tour begins at 10:00 a.m. and departs from the main entrance of the cemetery. Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum is located at 118 Woodland Avenue off of Brown Street near the UD Campus. This event is free and open to the public. To make a reservation or for more information, please call 937-228-3221.

Woodland Cemetery, founded in 1841, is one of the nation’s oldest rural garden cemeteries and a unique cultural, botanical and educational resource in the heart of Dayton, Ohio. Visit the cemetery and arboretum and take one of the many tours Woodland offers free of charge. Most of Dayton’s aviation heroes, inventors and business barons are buried at Woodland.

Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum is located at 118 Woodland Avenue off of Brown Street near the University of Dayton Campus. The Woodland Office is open Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 pm and Saturday 8 am to 12 pm. The Cemetery and Arboretum are open daily from 8 am to 6 pm. The Mausoleum is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. For more information, call 937-228-3221 or visit the Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum website.

Sound Valley Summer Music Festival at Yellow Cab Tavern

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The inaugural Sound Valley Summer Music Festival is being held over Labor Day weekend, at the Yellow Cab Tavern on Saturday, September 1st. This festival has a dual purpose: one, to showcase talented rock bands from across the Miami Valley, and to raise awareness and funds to help combat the heroin epidemic through the local non-profit, Brigid’s Path.

“Dayton has been considered the heroin capital of the United States. We want to shift the national perspective and reclaim our reputation as a place for innovation, creativity and artistic expression through music,” Zac Pitts, co-owner of Sound Valley said.

With a full day of live music, Sound Valley Summer Music Festival will feature local rock, indie, and alternative bands, including: Life In Idle, Knavery, Beesly, Yardboss, Weathervein, NOVAGOLD, Seth Canan And The Carriers, Crosley Court, Isicle, Flee The Valley, Dave Zup, ThunderTaker, and A Voice of Your Own.

“This event is meant to connect those who want to take Dayton’s music scene to the next level.” Pitts said. “There will be two stages, both indoor and outdoor, and some amazing local food trucks throughout the day to keep hungry fans happy!”

In addition to great music, half of Sound Valley Summer Music Festival’s proceeds will benefit the Dayton organization, Brigid’s Path. This local non-profit provides inpatient medical care for drug-exposed newborns, non-judgmental support for mothers and education services to improve family outcomes. “The heroin epidemic has hit our community hard,” Pitts said. “We want to work alongside those that are taking away the stigma and standing with our neighbors who are struggling.”

Life in Idle is one of the bands set to perform at Sound Valley Music Festival at Yellow Cab Tavern on September 1, 2018.

HOW TO GO?

Sound Valley Summer Music Festival

Saturday, September 1 at 4pm

Yellow Cab Tavern 700 E 4th Street Dayton, OH

$10 in advance / $13 at doors

 

 

 

PorchFest – 40 Mini-Concerts In One Day

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Play Music on The Porch Day started out as an idea…“What if for one day everything stopped…and we all just listened to the music?”

Even though this seems like a simple idea, if it worked, it could produce profound results. So in 2013 the organizers of the first “Play on a Porch Day” decided to share this idea with the world and to their surprise the idea spread even faster than they could have ever imagined.

In 2017 thousands of musicians from at least 40 countries and over 400 cities – including Dayton for the first time – participated and the movement continues to grow every day. Musicians from across the globe, regardless of their differences, are finding common ground through music.

This year Dayton again participates in this growing international music phenomenon as the now annual event known as Dayton Porchfest, a free, family friendly event for all ages. The festivities take place in the historic St. Anne’s Hill neighborhood, just east of downtown. There you will find over 40 live Dayton musical acts performing on home owner’s porches. Not only do you get to listen to music all afternoon, you get to experience one of Dayton’s most charming neighborhoods!

This event celebrates Dayton’s rich and diverse music scene, with musicians and bands covering funk and blues to indie rock and jazz, classical and country, to bluegrass and old time muisc that has deep Appalachian roots here. This event also celebrates our “Welcome Dayton” spirit that has contributed to a significant influx of immigrants and refugees over the past decade.

Dayton Porchfest is organized by The Collaboratory, a non-profit incubator for community enterprises and initiatives, located on Courthouse Square. Proceeds from Porchfest go to benefit The Collaboratory. Tips for the musicians are appreciated!

St Anne’s is home to the Fifth Street Brew Pub, who will be open during the festivities. Four food trucks will also be on site, including: McNasty’s, Courtland’s Mobile Grill, Pa’s Pork, Chi-Dogs, and Gary’s Italian Ice. Be sure to scroll below for map and music schedule.

How to Go?

When: Saturday August 25th from 1:30pm – 7pm aka “International Play on the Porch” Day. See schedule below.

Where: Throughout St. Anne’s Hill Historic District located between 4th and Josie St. Please do not park in the neighborhood. Parking is available at the Liederkranz building, Stivers High School, Becker Electric, RSC Graphics, and Miami Valley Gasket. Signs will be present. See map below.

Cost: Free!

Ages: All ages welcome

Remember to bring: Sunscreen, chair, and umbrella (just in case!)

Take photos? Please use #DaytonPorchfest #MusicOnTheHill #DiscoverDayton