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Things to do in Dayton | Restaurants, Theatre, Music and More

Grafton Hill

Carve Out Time for the Popular Pumpkin Glow!!

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It’s BACK!

Many of the screams you heard last Halloween were from fans of the Stoddard Avenue Pumpkin Glow, when they realized it wasn’t happening. No fear this year! The Glow is a GO!

Carve out time on October 24th and  25th, from 6-10pm, and head to the beautiful Grafton Hill area of Dayton.  “To start, we have to thank Judy Chaffin who began this great event nearly 20 Years ago.” says John Edinger, president of the neighborhood association. “Judy’s passion and direction took this event from 36 pumpkins the first year to over 800 pumpkins two years ago.”

It’s all in the detail!

The community event gets all kinds of people from all over the area together with one goal….carve an incredible pumpkin. “There have been so many great pumpkins over the years. Off the top of my head, I recall one that depicted a famous scene from ‘The Birds,’ and another great one was Elvis!” Edinger goes on to say, “This year, we are upping the game a bit by adding food trucks from El Meson, Urban BBQ, The Claybourne Grill, Childers Chimney Cakes & Billie Bold Bubble Tea/The Family Bean Coffee Truck!

 

You will see some amazing jack-o-lanterns!

The event easily brings about 1500 viewers, and it could reach 2000 this year.
“It’s back!For those of us that love the event, we are so stoked that we can see the Glow on the hill once again!” says Carly Mikesell. “I can remember a few years ago driving down 75 South, looking over and thinking, ‘That’s one of the most beautiful things I’ve seen. But then, I went up and saw the carvings…..that was one the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen!’

Get your GLOW ON!

Family friendly, and a true seasonal traditional, the Stoddard Avenue Pumpkin Glow is sure to pleases everyone. The event is sponsored by Grandview Medical Center, with special thanks to Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church.

PARKING will be available at The Dayton Art Institute, Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, Dayton Masonic Center & Kettering Health Dayton off of West Grand Avenue as well as throughout the Grafton Hill Neighborhood.
*Please note that Stoddard Avenue will be closed from 5:00 PM-11:00 PM both nights for the safety and enjoyment of our guests!

Walking Tours of Dayton’s Historic Neighborhoods 

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A series of self-guided walking tours in the 10 historically-zoned district areas in Dayton are now available courtesy of Preservation Dayton, Inc. The walking tours highlight architectural and historical features of each area.

“Each tour highlights the unique architectural heritage of the area and the citizens who helped Dayton thrive through the centuries,” said Monica Snow, the organization’s president. “The leisurely designed walks allow ample time to pause and appreciate the architecture, the streetscape, and the amenities of each area.”

The Daniel G. Fitch House, a Greek Revival home on South Williams Street in the Wright-Dunbar Historic District, was built around 1856 and is one of Dayton’s oldest homes. Photo courtesy of Andy Snow.

Made possible by a $3,500 grant from the City of Dayton, 12 volunteers devoted more than 400 hours to create the web-based tours.  PDI developed the first printed tour guides in 1994 with a grant from the Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District.

This Victorian Italianate home on Linden Avenue in the Huffman Historic District was built for Charles P. Huffman, founder of the Huffy Bicycle Company. Photo courtesy of Andy Snow.

Easy downloadable audio and print formats with photos and Google maps are provided online at https://www.preservationdayton.com/walking_tours.html. Free tours are available for the following historic neighborhoods: Dayton View, Five Oaks Squirrel Forest, Grafton Hill, Huffman, McPherson Town, Paul Laurence Dunbar, South Park, St. Anne’s Hill, West Third Street and Wright-Dunbar Village.

Russell H. Bates, a partner in D.L. Bates and Brothers, a manufacturing company, built this home on Grand Avenue in the Dayton View Historic District around 1900. At the time this Free Classic Queen Anne cost $10,048.21. Photo courtesy of Andy Snow.

Originally founded in 1983 as the Dayton Area Coalition of Historic Neighborhoods, Preservation Dayton is a non-profit corporation that promotes the restoration, renovation, and rehabilitation of historic structures and settings as economically viable activities and enhancements to the public welfare.

This Colonial Revival house on Belmonte Park in the Grafton Hill Historic District was built in 1931 for Judge T.A. Ferreding. The stone wall came from an early 1800s barn on the family homestead, the site of the former Salem Mall. Photo courtesy of Andy Snow.

 

Contributions to PDI’s Endangered Property Fund can be made online at preservationdayton.com/endangered or by check made payable to Preservation Dayton, Inc. Fund #8630 and mailed to Preservation Dayton, P.O. Box 3614 Dayton, OH 45401.

 

Dayton at Work and Play: Couple of Quinns

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Laurie and Brian Quinn, known on facebook as Couple Of Quinns

The Quinns are renovating this home in Dayton’s Grafton Hill neighborhood. They’ve also been investigating the house’s history and learned that it was once the home of a French teacher who had a beloved dog named Iris. When the dog passed away the teacher planted irises in the back yard that still bloom every year. The couple are sharing video of their project on a youtube channel called Couple of Quinns. Every Friday they issue a new episode where they show viewers the week’s progress.
Check it out:

The house will be open for a tour soon. Follow their facebook page to make sure you don’t miss it.