The Delco Sneak Peek Tour

Registration opens at 4:30 p.m. in the lobby of the AC Hotel Dayton located at 124 Madison Street. Tickets are $10 for PDI members and $15 for non-members. Tickets are limited to 80 attendees.

The program begins at 5 p.m. with a presentation by Chuck Johnson, who will share insights on this historic landmark, Delco Plant No. 2, built in 1915. Johnson, a retired engineering executive with 45 years of experience, began his career at the Charles F. Kettering Research Laboratory where he worked with Kettering for six years. Johnson is also a Carillon Park volunteer interpreter, a former charter member of the Five Rivers Metroparks “Inventour Program” and a former Woodland Cemetery tour guide. Kettering, a successful inventor, businessman, and philanthropist founded the Dayton Engineering Laboratories Company, known as Delco, and held more than 300 patents.

Small group tours begin at 6 p.m. to visit The Delco apartments, community spaces, rooftop pool and sundeck. Tours will be led by employees of Crawford-Hoying which purchased the site in 2022. Following the guided tours, guests are invited to the Moeller Brew Barn for a social hour with a cash bar/food.

“This unique event features Chuck Johnson, former senior research associate who worked directly with Charles F. Kettering for six years,” said Monica Snow, PDI’s vice president. “Chuck will share his deep knowledge of the Delco site in its heyday of manufacturing innovation. Participants will also see how Crawford-Hoying has transformed this historic landmark into an innovative housing and commercial complex.