Germantown

Brunch Starts at The Florentine

February 24, 2024 By Dayton937

Bryce and Sheree Henson took over The Florentine this past fall and have been working hard to bring Ohio’s second oldest inn, originally opened in 1814, a fresh new feeling. The Henson’s introduce brunch this weekend from 10am -1pm and say they will offer it every weekend from here on out.

Here’s a little sneak peak of the menu:

Brioche French Toast

Eggs Benedict

Omelette

Bacon egg & Cheese Handheld

brunch cocktails

The Florentine

21 W Market Street
Germantown, OH 45327

(937) 855-7759

Wed & Thurs 4-9pm
Fri 4-10pm
Sat 10am – 1pm and 4-10pm
Sun 10am – 1pm and 4-9pm

Historic Germantown Restaurant Under New Ownership

October 30, 2023 By Lisa Grigsby

Bryce & Sheree Henson, are the new owners of The Florentine in Germantown, as of 11am today. No strangers to business ownership, the couple purchased The Creamery at Market & Main about 3 1/2 years ago, which serves up coffee, espresso, muffins and ice cream from Young’s Jersey Dairy. About a year after that acquistion they purchased the tanning salon, Tan & Co. And for about a year they started talking about The Florentine.

And as of today they’ve made that happen. Sheree, who grow up in Germantown had found memories of going there for special occasions with her family. She and Bryce, who’ve been married for 20 years, love the historic past of the Florentine, which was opened 1814 by Philip Gunckel, the founder of Germantown, to welcome travelers as they passed through Germantown. They are looking to build on the nostalgia and history of this business. They’d love to hear from you if you have pictures or stories of your visits there over the years.

The Henson family

With eight children it’s just not possible for them to be hands on full time in the restaurant so they’ve hired Nick Paglione as their general manager. He’ll work on tweaking the menu and elevating some of the dishes. Bryce says he’s a huge steak fan, so they’ll continue to have great steaks, but look for a few different preparations to be added. He says his wife wife has added a fantastic Brussel sprout dish to the menu and they will also be adding a lobster mac and cheese. They will also use their expertise from The Creamery to add some coffee drinks and cocktails to the menu, including an Affogato-an espresso served over ice cream.

Other changes coming include removing some of the tables from the bar side and adding some leather couches around the fireplace and having a custom made community table built to add to that space to create a warm , welcoming cozy tavern feel. Other plans include adding a large patio this spring.

The Florentine

21 W Market St,
Germantown, OH

(937) 855-7759

Current hours:

Wed – Sun 11am – 10pm

Street Names of Dayton: Gunckel Avenue

June 30, 2019 By Angie Hoschouer 1 Comment

The Honorable Lewis B. Gunckel

Lewis B. Gunckle was born on October 15, 1826 in Germantown, Ohio which was founded by his grandfather, Phillip Gunckel in 1804. He graduated from Cincinnati Law School in 1851 and won the first case he tried.

Gunckle was Hiram Strong’s senior partner in the law firm of Gunckel & Strong. He developed a reputation as one of the most successful jury lawyers in southern Ohio and as a peacemaker who used his influence to settle controversies.

He was elected to the Ohio Senate and was a delegate to the Republican National Convention. He was a member of the reception committee when Abraham Lincoln came to Dayton in September 1859.

In the Ohio Senate, Gunckle was the author of the soldiers’ voting law, of measures to send medical aid and supplies to the battlefields, and of bills to provide care for the widows and children of those killed in service of the Union.

Gunckel Avenue on the east side of Dayton

In the middle of the Civil War he introduced a bill for the establishment of a state soldiers’ home and this became his pet project. He canvassed the state as a presidential elector for Lincoln in 1864, and in that same year Governor John Brough established a state soldiers’ home near Columbus with Gunckel as one of its trustees. The Honorable Lewis B. Gunckel was influential in the establishment of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers at Dayton. He picked the location and rallied the local citizens to get behind the move and donated $20,000 toward the land purchase. The first winter that the home was established, 750 soldiers were moved there. Gunckel would sit on the board for its first twelve years all without compensation. Today we know the home as the VA Medical Center.

In 1871 Gunckel was appointed by President Ulysses S. Grant as special commissioner to investigate frauds practiced upon the Cherokee, Creek and Chickasaw Indian tribes. His report was a milestone in the history of reforms in the Indian service.

He served in Congress as a representative from the 3rd district from 1872-1875 . Mr. Gunckel served on the Military Committee and even turned down a pay raise which he was entitled to under the law. He lost his bid for re-election and spent the rest of his life in the practice of law in Dayton.

The Gunckel Family Monument at Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum

The law firm of Gunckle & Strong became Gunckle & Rowe, his new partner being E.L. Rowe who had read law with him and became his partner in 1869. In 1890 the firm became Gunckle, Rowe & Shuey with the addition of Webster W. Shuey. The law firm had many name changes throughout the years and today the firm is known as Coolidge Wall.

In 1860 Gunckle married the daughter of Valentine Winters. When Winters and his son Jonathan founded Winters National Bank in 1882, Gunckle became of member of the bank’s first board of directors. He served for three years as the state bar’s delegate to the National Bar Association and served as its treasurer and a member of its executive committee.

Lewis B. Gunckel died on October 3, 1903 at the age of 77. He and his family are buried in Section 44 Lot 1008.

Street Names of Dayton: Artz Lane

June 8, 2019 By Angie Hoschouer Leave a Comment

Peter Artz 1792 – 1873

The Artz family made their way from Maryland with Peter Artz arriving in Ohio on horseback. Peter settled on a farm near Fairfield, Ohio but soon moved to Dayton where for years he operated a wholesale grocery business. Peter Artz died in 1873 at the age of 81. He rests peacefully at Woodland Cemetery with his wife Elizabeth who died in 1875 at the age of 77.

Joseph S. Artz 1824 – 1899

Joseph S. Artz was born on a farm in Greene County, Ohio in 1824 and grew up working on the family farm. He made his way to Germantown, Ohio and began working in the lumber and undertaking business. On account of deafness, he was rejected when he offered his services to fight in the Civil War. In 1866, he moved from Germantown to Dayton where he established a lumber business which he conducted for about eleven years. In 1877, he bought out the furniture firm of Chadwick & Beaver and continued in that line of business for a number of years until his sons took over the business. Joseph was married in Germantown to Miss Elizabeth Negley, a daughter of Captain W.H.H. Negley and together they had eight children. Elizabeth Artz died on February 11, 1882 at the age of 56 and Joseph died on December 26, 1899 at the age of 75. Both are resting peacefully together in Section 103 Lot 2016 at Woodland Cemetery.

William Negley Artz 1862 – 1934

William N. Artz had a prosperous business as a furniture dealer in Dayton. He was born in Germantown, Ohio in 1862. He was seven years old when his parents moved to Dayton and this is where he remained. William stayed in school until the age of fifteen then left to work for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company in the Dayton yards. He spent five years with the railroad rising to the position of conductor and then moved on to the Dayton & Ironton Railroad and served that line as conductor for a year. Soon after, he left the railroad and joined his father in the furniture business at Artz & Ozias. William began delivering furniture for them at a salary of seven dollars per week. He had been receiving one hundred and twenty dollars per month with the railroad but working for the railroad was hard work and often dangerous and he wanted to learn his father’s trade and business. He also knew that the opportunity for advancement always came to the man who was willing to work for it. He earned the position of shipping clerk, then salesman and eventually became one of the three owners of the store known as Artz Brothers.

Artz Furniture Store at 110 – 112 N. Main St.

In 1904, William purchased the interest of his brother and ran the store under his own name. His store was well stocked with a variety of goods of varying prices in order to meet the demand of his customers. He was well respected for his business practices and enjoyed much success in his new vocation. William married Miss Mary Anna Baile on April 6, 1882. William died on April 1, 1934 and Mary Anna died on June 28, 1932. They are both resting peacefully together in Section 34 Lot 1306 at Woodland Cemetery.

Artz Lane in Downtown Dayton

The W. N. Artz Furniture Store was located at 110 and 112 North Main Street in the heart of downtown Dayton. To the north of it’s location were the King Brothers and Company, and the Green, Green and Co. Bakery (Victoria Theatre) and to the south was G. W. Shroyer and Co., Jacobs Business College and P. M. Harman and Co. Currently, 110 North Main Street is the current site of Premiere Health headquarters.

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 and until 7 pm during Daylight Saving Time. 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.

Brookville’s Girls Tennis Team Wins Local Tournament

September 29, 2016 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Brookville HS Girls Tennis Team 2016

Congratulations are in order for the Brookville Girls Tennis Team. They were declared winners of the Jennifer Schmidt Memorial Tennis Tournament, September 20th at Thomas Cloud Park.

Brookville High School, out of Brookville Ohio, bested the following local teams:

Beavercreek HS – Beavercreek, OH

Carroll High School – Dayton, OH

Catholic Central High School – Springfield, OH

Jennifer Lee Schmidt, 1985 Carroll Graduate

Kenton Ridge High School – Springfield, OH

Lehman Catholic Schools – Sidney, OH

Tippecanoe High School – Tipp City, OH

Valley View High School – Germantown, OH

It was a big win for Brookville who scored the most points in the day’s matches to surpass the other schools. There were competitive girls tennis matches with some of the area’s most talented players.

The Tournament was well attended

Individual awards included :

1st Team Singles Champion: Jillian Milano, from Carroll High School who won the 1st Team Tournament Singles title for a record 4th year in a row.

2nd Team Singles Champion: The title went to Ashley Wallace from Kenton Ridge High School.

3rd Team Singles champion: Leena Koklades from Brookville High School

Other winners included:

1st Team Doubles Champions: Danielle Spanbauer & Alissa Otte from Carroll High School

Kenton Ridge players receiving awards

2nd Team Doubles Champions: Anna Vandewiele & Kailey Helton from Beavercreek High School.

THE HISTORY OF THE TOURNAMENT:
The year was 1985. The parents of former Carroll High School student Jennifer Lee Schmidt had reported their daughter missing from the area of Purdue University. She was never found.

Concession profits went to charity

Carroll High School has tried to turn this heartbreak into a positive, by sponsoring a memorial Girls’ Tennis Tournament in Jennifer’s honor each year.

It was a great tournament, a good cause and a beautiful setting.

There was also a concession stand with doughnuts, grilled hamburgers and hot dogs run by our own Food Adventures Crew. All proceeds from the concession stand benefitted the annual event and the Carroll HS Girls Tennis Team.

The Big Ragu, Chef House and Hungry Jax make up Dayton’s Food Adventure Crew. You can find them writing articles on Dayton Most Metro almost every week since 2011. Follow their trips on Facebook by clicking here. From local mom and pop restaurants, charity event, festivals, cooking classes, TV spots, and everything food related

Please browse the photos below from the awards ceremony and more.

champs – Brookville

Waiting for awards

Congratulations Brookville !

Jillian Milano – 1st Singles Champ

More winners from Kenton Ridge

Stacks of burgers were sold

Brookville gets another award

Carroll Singles award

Intense competition

2nd Annual Twisted Pretzel Tour

September 20, 2015 By Dayton Most Metro

The Twisted Pretzel Tour is a mass-start timed event through the beautiful Germantown countryside. The routes (8, 19, or 38 miles) are flat to gently rolling with the longer routes traveling over the scenic Germantown dam (and down, not up, the dam hill). A ride across the wooden planks of the historic Germantown covered bridge is a feature enjoyed on all routes. Signs and road markings clearly mark the routes. Helmets are required. Professional timing is provided by Good Times Event Services. The ride is held in conjunction with the Germantown Pretzel Festival and is sponsored by the Germantown Lions. The ride is a charity event with all proceeds benefiting local food pantries and civic organizations. You can register online.

Packet pick up at the Germantown Senior Center, 33 N Cherry St. is from 5:30-8:00am on Sat, or 5-7 pm on Friday before the tour. Pre-ride overnight camping is available at the Shimp’s Hollow camp ground in the Germantown MetroPark.

The 3 routes will have staggered starts, beginning at 8:30 am for the Giant Pretzel, followed by the Pretzel Rod, then the Pretzel Ring. Break stops include warm fresh pretzels and dips along with the regular fare

Post tour partying includes the 36th annual Germantown Pretzel Festival which has free entertainment along with food and craft booths AND the Twisted Biergarten open from noon to 8:00pm featuring beers from local breweries participating in this year’s Twisted Pretzel Charity Biergarten! A $2 ticket gets you a sample of one of 9 craft beers! They will also be selling a commemorative taster and pint glasses. Please view or download the Twisted Bike Tour Information and Site Map to see the event locations in Germantown.

All riders are welcome. The goal of this event is to have fun! The break stops (one at the Farmersville Community Park and the second just below the Germantown Dam) include warm pretzels with toppings along with the regular fare.

DMM Give Away:

We’ve got 2 Complimentary Twisted Bike Tour Registrations for a couple of lucky DMM readers. To be entered to win just fill out the form below and leave a comment below on why we should pick you! Of course it’s up to the winners to decide how far they are riding- 8, 19 or 38 miles.[form 55 “DMM Contest Entry – Generic”]

Meet Your MetroParks

November 3, 2010 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

As a former journalist, the election season has always been an exciting time for me, but when I took up my mantle with Five Rivers MetroParks, I would be on the other side of the proverbial punch card. No longer simply an observer, I kicked off my new career with a tall order—volunteer with the MetroParks levy campaign. Through those months of phone calls and canvassing, I discovered that many Dayton area residents knew of the MetroParks closest to their home, but weren’t aware of the total number of parks, or the number of acres we protect. I thought it would be appropriate today to give you a little overview of each of our facilities.

Aullwood Garden MetroPark: This 31-acre garden situated on the edge of Englewood MetroPark is the former home of John and Marie Aull, whose world-wide travels inspired this luxurious shade garden. Lenten roses and other choice shade plants are featured at this estate garden.
Carriage Hill MetroPark: Take a trip back in time at this preserved 1880s historical farm.
Photo by RA Makley: Check out the Riding Center at Carriage Hill MetroPark. Weekend trail and pony rides start again in April!

Children love to learn about agricultural and professional skills popular during the turn of the 20^thCentury. This 900-acre park, located in Huber Heights, also offers hiking and equestrian trails as well as fishing ponds, a 14-acre lake, and the nearby Carriage Hill Riding Center, where trail and pony rides are offered April through October.
Cox Arboretum MetroPark: Mature forests populate this 189-acre park south of Dayton near Moraine and Miamisburg, along with diverse gardens, such as the Edible Landscape Garden and the Clematis Arbor. The Butterfly House is a favorite summertime destination to view native butterflies and moths in various stages of metamorphosis.
Deeds Point MetroPark: The landscape beds this park perched downtown along the Great Miami River offer visitors a floral garden paradise in an urban setting.
Eastwood MetroPark: Paddle in the 185-acre lake, ride the Mad River bikeway, fish in the lagoon or river or hike 3 miles of wooded and open meadow trails in this park just off State Route 4 near Riverside. Both the Buckeye and North Country National Scenic trails run through this park. This is the site of the annual GearFest recreation celebration, which takes place in the fall.
Englewood MetroPark: The potential for recreation is endless in this 1,900-acre park. Choose from 12 miles
Enjoy 18 holes of disc golf at Englewood MetroPark.

of scenic trails, 3.5 miles of bridle trails, paddling on the Stillwater River, and great spots for fishing. This park also boasts a unique feature—an 18-hole disc golf course. Disc golf is an easy-to-learn activity that involves throwing flying discs into a “basket” situated a distance from the starting point.
Germantown MetroPark: The size, quality and age of the woodlands make this 1,665-acre park the most diverse of the natural areas. The park also contains large open grasslands, cedar glades and dry hillside prairies. One popular weekend attraction (particularly for birders) is the Nature Center with its Window on Wildlife.
Hills & Dales MetroPark: This Olmsted-designed park has 63 acres of native plants and landscaped areas situated in the crux of Kettering, Oakwood and Dayton. Recently renovated to restore its former beauty, this park boasts 2 miles of wooded trails, including the Adirondack boardwalk that gives visitors a tour of the wetlands.
Huffman MetroPark: One of the most prominent amenities of this park located just east of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is MoMBA, the MetroParks Mountain Biking Area. About 8 miles of track snake their way through this wooded sub-facility. MoMBA’s trails are constructed to help the novice gain mountain biking confidence and challenge the most experienced rider.
Island MetroPark: Towering sycamore and cottonwood trees lend shade to those seeking respite from the bustling city in this 33-acre park, located just north of downtown Dayton. Landscaped beds, a seasonal water playground, picnic shelters and the historic bandshell are other hallmarks of this park.
PNC 2^nd Street Market: Pick up farm-fresh produce, meats,cheeses, eggs and dry goods as well as flowers, wine, jewelry, soaps,gifts and more. The Market highlights the growers, producers and
Find farm-fresh produce at the PNC 2nd Street Market

artisans we have right here in the greater Dayton region. Regular hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday and Fridays, and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.
Possum Creek MetroPark: Head southwest of downtown Dayton to find this 556-acre park and enjoy its many amenities, such as Polly Possum’s Math Farm, fishing ponds, historic Argonne Forest, 100-plus-acre planted prairies and the sustainable farm.
RiverScape MetroPark: Downtown Dayton’s favorite hangout has become an indelible icon with its fountains and renovated amenities. The covered pavilion provides shade for summer concert and festival-goers in the summer and doubles as an outdoor skating rink in the winter. Cyclists who commute or ride for recreation have welcomed the new bike hub. Children can splash around in the interactive fountains or get a brief history on Dayton’s innovative past while traveling the Dayton Inventor’s River Walk.
Sugarcreek MetroPark: This diverse area—with all stages of succession, mature forests, a trio of 500-year old white oaks, varied topography, a planted prairie, meadows and scenic Sugar Creek—is located near the Bellbrook area. Its trails are popular among trail runners, dog walkers and equestrians.
Sunrise MetroPark: The walkways of this tiny urban oasis, conveniently located just north of downtown Dayton, are filled with stunning views of the city’s skyline. Prairie plantings and wildflowers draw in wildlife from the adjacent river habitat, and make the park a serene spot for relaxing. Catch a glimpse of the large and graceful blue herons that frequent the area.
Taylorsville MetroPark: There’s no shortage of history or nature to encounter along this 1,300-acre park’s 13 miles of trails, nestled just outside Vandalia. Visitors also can link up with the Buckeye and North Country
Have you visited Sunderland Falls at Taylorsville MetroPark?

trails. The Buckeye Trail completely encircles Ohio and is over 1,200 miles long. The North Country Trailextends into seven states and will be the longest continuous hiking trail in the United States when completed.

Twin Creek MetroPark: This 1,000-acre park situated in the southwest corner of Montgomery County is home to 20 miles of hiking trails, 7 miles of equestrian trails, and ample access to the Twin Creek, one of Ohio’s cleanest waterways. Hike the Twin Valley Trail, a 22-mile backpacking trail connecting Twin Creek and Germantown MetroParks.

Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark: With about eight different formal garden areas, this north Dayton park is a haven for plant lovers, featuring something in bloom nearly year-round. The Children’s Discovery Garden here offers fun and learning through the joy of gardening. Visitors can also enjoy paved bikeways and the Marie Aull Nature Trail.
Wesleyan MetroPark: Home to Adventure Central, a program aimed at getting urban youth engaged in the outdoors, this 55-acre park offers its west Dayton neighbors a place to enjoy nature, whether hiking on 1.5 miles of trail, cycling along the Wolf Creek Bikeway, playing on the playground equipment or fishing in Wolf Creek.

Now that you know a little bit about each park and its respective subfacilities, plan your next adventure today.