Dateline Dayton – Last Thursday evening Pauline and I attended the annual meeting of Dayton History. I served on the Dayton’s History Board for one year, just after Carillon Park merged with the Montgomery County Historical Society, forming Dayton History. Prior to and during the merger, I was on the board of the Montgomery County Historical Society.

Since the merger, the park has really been growing. It was announced at the meeting that growth will continue. Projects to begin include building an operating brewery, an exhibit focusing on the Dayton flood of 1913, moving the Dayton Triangles locker room from Triangle Park to Carillon and the acquisition of the William Mayfield photo collection.

Carillon Historical Park will become the only such facility in the United States that will produce and sell beer and wine, using historical tools and techniques that date back to the 1850s. A two million dollar building will be built at the park to house the facility.

It is not without controversy. Some believe that manufacturing and selling alcohol should not be a part of the park since many children visit and participate activities sponsored by the park. The critics must realize that brewing is a rich part of the history of Dayton and the Miami Valley, all of which is served by Carillon Park. Both Pauline’s grandfather and mine were involved in breweries in Piqua, and our children have memorabilia.

The great flood of 1913 was a terrible disaster in Dayton, and the story will be told in a new exhibit planned for the park. Many persons died, and the property loss was staggering. The real story is how the folks of Dayton rallied to prevent future flooding, forming the Miami Conservancy District. Carillon Park is to be commended for devoting exhibit space to this almost 100- year-old story.

The Dayton Triangles locker room was built in 1916. On the morning of Oct. 3, 1920, the Triangles played the Columbus Panhandlers in what would become the first game in the history of the National Football League. The building was donated by the City of Dayton and moved from Triangle Park to Carillon on Friday. Originally, there were two locker rooms. One was vandalized, then set on fire. It’s great that, at least, one of these structures was saved and will be on display for future generations.

Say Cheese

To me the most significant announcement was the acquisition of the William Mayfield photo collection.

Bill was the first aerial photographer, working from an airplane. good friend of the Wright brothers, Mayfield worked for a Dayton newspaper, but was allowed to do freelance work. He shot many photos of early Dayton, Dayton factories and innovations.

This collection has been in the care of Marvin Christian, who worked for Mayfield. His body of work will form a sizable collection for Carillon. They will begin digitizing the collection, about a five-year task, before probably take five years, before it becomes available to the public.

The staff, under the leadership of Brady Kress, President and COO, has done an outstanding job in making the park a real Dayton asset. Carillon Park is a must-see if you are in the area.

Carillon Park, the Air Force Museum, the Wright Brothers home, along with other attractions, such as Huffman Parries, Paul Lawrence Dunbar’s home, the Wright-Dunbar area, Aullwood and do not to forget, the Learning Tree Farm. These attractions would make for a great long weekend in the Dayton area.

Mr. Hennessey may be contacted at pmhenn@sbcglobal.net