Things to do in Dayton

Luminaries of Dayton: Thomas Staniland

March 28, 2017 By Angie Hoschouer

Thomas Staniland was admitted as a partner in Dayton Marble and Granite Works in 1865. The business was established in 1860 by H. Houghtelin. When Thomas became a partner, the company changed its name to Houghtelin & Staniland and continued under the direction of Mr. Houghtelin until his death in 1873. In 1875, Ira Crawford bought half the interest in the company and the name changed to Staniland & Crawford. The business did monumental work in all kinds of marble and granite and handled all sorts of marble, both foreign and domestic. Their granite work was all done at the quarries, except for the lettering. Mr. Staniland designed all the work and always personally supervised all of it. In December 1881, Mr. Crawford retired and Thomas continued the business on his own.

The Staniland mausoleum was built in a classic Greek temple style with four Ionic columns.
In funeral art, the garland draped on either side of “Thos Staniland” represents victory over death. The impressive mausoleum’s walls are large roughly chiseled limestone blocks.

Thomas Staniland was born in England in 1831 and died in Dayton on November 23, 1921 at the age of 90. He is located in Section 20 Lot 3278.

Woodland Cemetery, founded in 1841, is one of the nation’s five oldest rural garden cemeteries and a unique cultural, botanical and educational resource in the heart of Dayton, Ohio as you will see as you read through this new MostMetro.com series. 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 UD 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 website.

Luminaries of Dayton: The Mead Monument

March 21, 2017 By Angie Hoschouer

The Mead monument was once the tallest obelisk at Woodland Cemetery. Today, just a few short feet away from the Mead family lot stands the tallest obelisk, that of John Alexander Collins. During a search through the Wright State University Archives, a series of photographs were found of storm damage at Woodland involving the Mead monument. On the back of each photo was written “Storm Damage July 1944.” I did some checking with the local National Weather Service office in Wilmington and found out that there was a heat wave and drought in the summer of 1944. On July 11th the temperature was 100 degrees; on July 12th the temperature dropped to 83 degrees. The local office did not have written records dating back that far other than a few statistics but stated that with a dramatic drop in temperature, it was possible that a storm had blown through.

A search of the Dayton Daily News microfilm at the Dayton Metro Library Genealogical Center on Maryland Avenue revealed a Wednesday, July 12, 1944 page 1 short article titled, “Lively Shower Brings Relief from Heat.” The first paragraph states, “Residents of Dayton and vicinity Wednesday were given at least a temporary respite from the prevailing high temperatures with the first break coming shortly before 10 am Wednesday when the city was visited by a shower which peppered down right lively for about 10 minutes. It is estimated that about one-hundredth inch of rain fell.”

Most Dayton and Miami Valley residents know that the wind can pick up in an instant in the area and knock a few trees down. Perhaps the answer to what happened was truly blowing in the wind.

Luminaries of Dayton: The Angel as a Cemetery Symbol

March 14, 2017 By Angie Hoschouer

Angels are often referred to as Agents of God. They direct you towards Heaven. They are the guardians of the dead and they symbolize spirituality.

Angels are shown in all types of poses with different symbolism. Two angels can be named and are identified by the objects they carry: Michael, who bears a sword and Gabriel, who is depicted with a horn.

Michael is known as the leader of the angels who remained faithful to God after after the great war in heaven, overcame and cast Satan from their midst. Gabriel was sent by God to announce the birth of Jesus.

An angel with a trumpet is a symbol announcing the resurrection of the deceased’s soul entering into Heaven. It is a metaphor for the joyous resurrection of the individual in the afterlife.

Other angels you may see in the cemetery:

→An angel carrying the departed soul, as a child in their arms or as a guardian embracing the dead.
→An angel flying represents rebirth.
→Angels gathered together in the clouds represent Heaven.
→Angels weeping symbolize grief or mourning an untimely death.

Preparing For The Super Bowl Party

February 3, 2017 By Brian Petro

nrg Staduim, home of Super Bowl LI!

This Sunday might as well be declared a holiday in the United States. It could be argued that it the holiday could be international; the global reach for Super Bowl 50 was 167 million people. That is the third largest audience in the history of people watching television. The week before the game is nothing but analyzing the game to death, figuring out where to watch the game, and an odd parade of previews for ads that will be played during the Super Bowl. Part of this pre-game ritual is preparing the drinks that people will be consuming during the game.

A Little Love for the Refrigerator

Don’t reach for your keys until you have reached for something else; the refrigerator door. Spend a little time in there pulling out all the leftovers you were going to eat and the jars on the door you have not looked at in a year and dump them. Mainly because you are going to need plenty of room for keeping drinks cold. And food, I suppose. There is the added benefit of getting rid of all the odd smells in there, which is nice. While you are in rummaging, take stock of the fruit and mixer situation. Do you have some juices? How much pop is in the fridge? How is the beer situation? Write it down in your favorite list-taking app (mine is Google Keep). As you are walking out the door, look in the liquor cabinet. There may be a stop at Arrow Wine in your future if you are running low on a family member’s favorite rum.

Shop Smart

This will get us through the first quarter…

Technology has come a long way. While there is nothing wrong with guessing the amount of drinks you are going to need for an event, there are websites out there now that can help you out. Perfect Party Planning, while not a thing of beauty, is one of the better ones out there. Mostly because it takes into account how people drink, from the children who will not be having anything to the one guy who you KNOW is going to be borderline drunk by the opening coin flip. You can modify accordingly, but this handy tool is a great place to start. The good people at Epicurious have their own chart, which uses a little more explanation and goes into more detail for those of you who want to REALLY go deep. Buy a little bit extra, especially with beer and mixers. Pop and juice are fair game for anyone, and few people will turn down a beer at any point during the game.

Make a Batch of Cocktails

People are going to want something to drink when they get there. Having beer and wine readily available is one way to go. Another thing you can do is make batches of cocktails! This is a great way to get a drink into someone’s hand the moment they walk in the door. There is no worry that you are going to be bartending for the first hour of the party or that people will be waiting for a drink. If you know the recipe, batching it is not difficult. Multiply the recipe by the number of cocktails you want to make, and you are off to the races. For large jugs or bottles to pour from, I recommend Brewtensils. Yes, you can hit up Target for a fancy jug, but Brewtensils has a great selection of bottles and plenty of them.

Shaking adds water to the cocktail as it chills it.

The one thing you do not want to forget when you make a batch of a cocktail is the water. Water is critical to the way a cocktail tastes and one of the reasons they are mixed with ice. It takes off some of the rough edges of the liquor as it chills the drink. You can do this in one of three ways. If you have a vessel with a spigot that is going to be self-serve, or a punch bowl, you can make the cocktail in advance and just add ice to it about ten to fifteen minutes before guests arrive. This will give the ice some time to melt. You can shake or stir the cocktail briefly over ice before you serve it. Sure, you are back to bartending, but it will be a little less time-consuming. The third way requires you to add water to the cocktail when you make the batch. For every cocktail you are planning to make, add about a half an ounce of water. Then put the well-mixed cocktail into your clean fridge, and it will be ready to just share and enjoy!

This is a Marathon

The men playing the game are not new to the sport, in the same way you and your friends are not new to drinking. So you know you are going to need to pace yourself. We all enjoy a great craft beer, and Dayton is lousy with it. Grabbing a few growlers, or a keg if you can get it, of beer is the right way to go. The smart money is going to pick up some session beers along with the other, more robust beers. Warped Wing’s release of Trotwood means we all know there is a local, if sometimes hard to find, lager out there to enjoy. Rhinegeist’s Hans is available in a limited release, setting an easy drinking lager up with Cougar. Otherwise, click on the link above and find the low-ABV beer that will get you through to the final play.

…And A Bottle of Wine

A few bottles of wine for the party…

Wine is a little more of a finicky creature. People who love wine can be almost as snobby as craft beer drinkers when it comes to what they want in their glass. One way to get around this is to just ask what they want to drink, then go out and buy it. But if you are just going to get a few bottles of red and white for the game, don’t be intimidated by the wine section. For white wines, Riesling a general crowd pleaser, as is a good Chardonnay. Spicy food tends to hover around the tables of sporting events. A sweet, cool Riesling will wash that spice right off your tongue before the fire starts. Chardonnay is just a general crowd pleaser. Need a red? Pinot Noir and Zinfandel (the real ones, not the pink stuff) work really well. The lightness and fruitiness of either of those two will give some relief if the spices get to be too much. You can even pick up a bottle or two of Champagne in case your team wins!

While the game is going to be on, the event itself is gathering your friends and family together to eat, drink, and have a fun screaming at the television. Hopefully by game day there will still be some surprises, both on the field and during the commercial breaks. The planning you have done should prevent any surprises happening to you and your guests during the festivities. Unless your friend who was drunk(ish) at the coin toss makes it to the end of the game. Now, can you pass the nachos?

Sixth Annual Brew-Ha-Ha: West V. Midwest

January 17, 2017 By Brian Petro

Dayton is in the midst of a craft beer explosion. There are daily notifications that new breweries are opening or that current breweries are planning to expand. In Montgomery county alone, there are well over a dozen breweries. From Crooked Handle in the south to Hairless Hare in the north, breweries are popping up all over. However, the fuse for the craft beer movement was lit on the West Coast. Anchor Brewing Company was bought by Fritz Maytag in 1965, just as the brewery was going to sink quietly in a sea of macrobrews. He resurrected the brand, inspiring other west coast beer enthusiasts to take their home brews and start offering them to the public. It has now been fifty years, and the west coast still rules the roost when people look at raft beers. As of 2014, roughly one of every four breweries were located in California, Oregon, and Washington. It would take all the breweries in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio to make a comparable amount. That is a lot of breweries. A wide variety of beer. The Montessori School of Dayton thinks that the Midwest has come a long way in the craft beer game, and is ready to put breweries head to head at the 6^th Annual Dayton Brew-Ha-Ha on January 28^th from 6 to 9 PM.

We all know the Midwest is best. Time to prove it!

Most years have had a theme focusing on the flavors of the Midwest. Kevin J. Gray, curator of the beers and co-chairman, laid out the format: “We thought it was time to go head to head with the giants—to pick a bunch of really interesting beers from the Left Coast and pit them against the best that Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and the other Midwestern states had to offer.” In a Montessori school, the environment is important. They want students that are “eager for knowledge, who will initiate learning in a supportive, stimulating, and thoughtfully prepared learning environment.” Mr. Gray asserts that they will be creating an environment that is welcoming to everyone, from those just dipping their taste buds into craft beer to those who have explored every style and flavor profile. There will be Beer Ambassadors there to answer questions and direct you to the beers best suited for your tastes. For the home brewers looking to do a little research, members of DRAFT will be there to answer any questions you may have.

Three hours is a long time to be sampling beer. Fortunately, there will be some other events at Brew-Ha-Ha. Chicago’s Gyros And Dogs will be offering hot dogs, gyros, pita sandwiches, and other delights to compliment the beer. There is an online silent auction running now through the end of the event, where you can pick up some fantastic gifts and help support the school. Some items listed are from Proto Build Bar, Day Yoga Studio, Sherwood Florist, Dayton Funny Bone, and more! This festival has been growing every year, bringing beer lovers together from all over the Miami Valley and educating them about the amazing craft beer options in the region.

Eat, drink, and support the Montessori School of Dayton!

This year, they are working hard to expand that knowledge to the fine breweries on the Pacific coast.

Tickets for the event are on sale right now! General Admission is going to be $40, with a limited amount of VIP tickets costing $50. That extra $10 get you in to the event at 5 PM, giving you one more hour to sample the beers they are providing. Proceeds from the event will go to the school’s improvement fund. The funds from this year’s event will be going to help install an energy efficient roof on the school.

While the west coast has created some iconic beers, the Midwest has crafted beers that can stand up to anything that is being brewed there. On January 28, the Montessori School of Dayton hopes you join them in deciding where the best beer in the country is brewed.

What Does It Mean To Invest In Community?

September 27, 2016 By Nikki Nett

So, I’ve done some research and I should probably share it with you. Look, I know it may be shocking, but hear me out.

As it turns out, binge-watching Flipping Out With Jeff Lewis, HGTV, and Rehab Addict does not make one a real estate expert. No matter how much you love those sassy Joshes from Million Dollar Listing, they may not be the best teachers of success in the real estate market, though I sure do like their parties. Tarek & Christina, Jonathan & Drew, et. al are probably not the ones to consult about real estate in the Dayton Ohio market. There is no amount of Shark Tank that sets you up for financial security, right here, right now. Yes, I know, I am just as surprised and disappointed as you are.

Ok then, we’ve established that we’ve gotta do more than build our Pinterest boards while binge watching. Reality tv isn’t making me a professional investor, flipper or rehabber (for real, keep me away from the spackle & grout), I don’t know about the housing market, but I DO know about Dayton. I know about marketing and how that works a little differently here in the Miami Valley. Most importantly, I know that we are protective of our communities around here.

So why the hell is any of this connected or relevant??

Frankly, I didn’t think it was until recently. I just started working with Real Estate U in Beavercreek. I’ve been up to my eyeballs in their branding, mission statements, processes, classes and more for the last few weeks. The more I am immersed in all things REU, the more I begin to understand what similar companies from out of town do.

As someone who has spent the majority of my life in the Dayton area, that pisses me off. As someone who, over the years, has been involved in all the Daytonish things, that really really pisses me off. Why, though? Because their investment in Dayton is not a long term investment in the residents of Dayton. Because they breeze in, make some promises and breeze out with our assets. Nah, no thank you.

We’ve seen the lists that Dayton appears on, and we get a little braggy when we hear that people all across the nation are talking about how affordable it is to live here. This is amazing! Right???

Wellllllll….yes and no.

Dayton is prime real estate right now. But that means more than just high income creatives moving into all the cool, historic neighborhoods. It means that investors across the country are sweeping in and buying up foreclosures. It means that Joe & Suzy Suburbs from Nebraska are looking at some of the older areas and seeing opportunities for a DIY house flip. It means that available money going into these homes, is ultimately leaving the area.

But we want to keep it here. Locally. In the Miami Valley where it can benefit our entire community. How’s THAT for Return On Investment?

Cool. So now what?

If you are interested in learning about real estate investing, rehabbing, flipping, rentals, and beginning to build generational wealth, then you have to attend one of Real Estate U’s FREE Real Estate Investing classes. REU is a nationwide company headquartered here in Dayton. At their free classes, REU teaches you how to find great deals, what areas in Dayton to avoid, where the sweet spots are, and even coaches you through the day to day activities of flipping a house.

There are classes this Thursday & Friday night, and they have added 2 more classes for Saturday. I added the Eventbrite link below so you can choose your time slot.

Maybe this isn’t your thing, that’s fine, but if you know someone of any age (over 18) that would like a jump start into this market, feel free to pass this along. Everyone is welcome, you don’t have to be a Wall Street banker to make this work for you. You just have to want to work…for you.

RSVP to this weekend’s classes by clicking here.

Find REU on Facebook by clicking here.

Double tap on the ‘Gram here.

See what the heck REU is all about here.

Support Breast Cancer Charities through 5k For Kelli on Saturday Aug 20th

August 17, 2016 By LIbby Ballengee

Kelli’s family remembers her through this annual fundraiser!

The Breast Wishes Foundation presents the 4th annual 5k for Kelli to honor and support women with breast cancer and to remember all those we have lost. The 5k for Kelli is a fun and family friendly event that gives 100% of its proceeds to local charities: The Noble Circle Project, Good Samaritan Hospital’s Breast Health Center and our very own Breast Wishes Foundation which grants wishes that bring joy to women and their families affected by breast cancer.

This race is in memory of Kelli James who lost her battle with breast cancer in 2006, and is organized by her two loving sisters. Kelli loved fairies so they encourage everyone to wear tutus and wings…no fairy gear? No problem! We will have plenty to purchase at the merchandise tent with all proceeds going to charity.

Organizers will have free coffee, fruit, and cookies. There will also be free face painting and colored hair spraying. Day Yoga Studio is offering a free pre-race stretch and warm up. The Shakery Juice truck will be there selling delicious juice and healthy sandwiches.

Raffle tickets for $1 include prizes like a 50″ flat screen TV, Kings Island tickets, massages, $100 Kroger gift card, Restaurant gift cards for Luckys, Roost and even the Oakwood Club! Great prizes to the Top 3 male and female runners in each age group and the Top 3 male and female runners overall. Age Divisions include: 19 and Under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60 & Over

When: Saturday August 20th– Onsite registration starts at 7:30 am. Race starts at 9 am.

Where: Wegerzyn Gardens 1301 E. Siebenthaler Avenue in Dayton. The 5k loop begins and ends close to Wegerzyn Gardens Metro Park but takes place on the Stillwater River Bikeway and Recreation Trail.

Cost: $25, which includes commemorative t-shirt. Please note, shirts are unisex and run a little small so plan accordingly.

NOTE: Early Packet Pickup at George’s Family Restaurant 5216 North Dixie Drive in Dayton on Thursday and Friday August 18th and 19th from 9a-7p.

Gary Owen’s Reality at the Funny Bone

August 14, 2016 By Nikki Nett

Started at Talawanda now we here

Gary Owen, local-ish comedian, is about to take over the world. Ok, he’s not super local, but he grew up in the Cincy area and now calls Cincinnati home, so that counts, right? Just say yes, and let’s keep it moving.

When he’s not yelling “Who Dey!”, Gary is making people laugh. Hysterically. A lot of people, actually, and they’ve been laughing for over a decade.

You may know him as Mr. Broccoli from Daddy Day Care, Zach the barber from House of Payne, or any number of his scene stealing movie roles. Don’t act like you weren’t hoping your boyfriend was taking notes during his role as Bennett in Think Like A Man (and Think Like A Man Too), we know better. We know.

But you have to take it back a little further. After high school, Gary enlisted in the U.S. Navy. After serving on the Presidential Honor Guard, he found comedy. Being named “Funniest Serviceman in America” was only the beginning. He quickly found a huge African American fan base and was named the “Funniest Black Comedian” in San Diego. Soon he could be seen gracing the stage of BET’s ComicView, with appearances that lead him to the hosting gig.

Now the whole team’s here

Now, it’s coming full circle. Once again, Gary answered when BET called, except this time, it was for his own reality tv show. A statement from BET reads as follows:

“Gary Owen is arguably Black America’s most beloved non-Black comic. He became part of the family as the first Caucasian man to host BET’s ComicView, and confirmed he was here to stay with his star turns in the Think Like A Man films, Ride Along and Meet The Blacks. He also starred in his own hit stand-up comedy specials including ‘I Agree With Myself,’ ‘True Story’ and the upcoming ‘I Got My Associates.’ Now, he brings his own interracial and blended family to BET in a 30-minute unscripted series that is colorful, truthful and hysterical. Gary Owen loves his wife so much, he wants to marry her again — and the path down the aisle is paved with non-stop laughter as he balances planning a wedding with raising his three rambunctious children and growing his white-hot career. ‘GARY OWEN FAMILY’ is produced by Bunim/Murray Productions. Bunim/Murray’s Gil Goldschein and Jeff Jenkins serve as executive producers along with Gary Owen, Stella Bulochnikov, Brian Sher and TIP ‘T.I.’ Harris,”

**Gary Owen Family is currently in production

Truuue Storyyy**

You can catch Gary Owen at the Dayton Funny Bone (click for tix) this week, August 16 & 17 at 7:30pm. This is a special engagement and WILL sell out, so make sure you get your tickets. I’ve seen Gary perform dozens of times and I can promise you, this ticket will be worth every cent. He’s hilarious. Oh, and make sure you smile for the cameras.

Lucky for you, Dayton Most Metro has partnered with the Dayton Funny Bone to give away a few FREE tickets! We’ll hold the contest on our Facebook page, so keep an eye out!

**if you didn’t read that header in Gary Owen’s voice, go on ahead and look for his special, titled True Story and thank me later, after your abs heal from the laugh-crying.

Art is Everywhere During New Juried Show and Kickoff Event

May 28, 2016 By Dayton937

It’s not a difficult task to discover visual arts in downtown Dayton. Whether you’re exploring a gallery space or admiring local products sold in downtown businesses, Dayton’s rich arts amenities abound. Last year, we introduced our first event in the new Summer in the City series in May, and it was a blast. But we’ve got a lot more in store for art lovers at this year’s event. Pack your bags, because you’re in for a trip! Art in the City is the next signature event of the 2016 DP&L Summer in the City lineup, and it promises to be quite the visual feast.

The Downtown Dayton Partnership is helping to roll out a new juried art show. The Dayton Visual Arts Center pulled together 26 talented local artists whose work will be on display in different downtown businesses. Our goals are simple: We hope to encourage art lovers to discover a new downtown business, and we want to introduce regular patrons to incredible local art. We’re also throwing another element into the mix: You get to decide which artist nabs the title of “People’s Choice” by voting for your favorite artist or artwork. Voting starts Friday, June 3, and closes at noon on June 17. Visit downtowndayton.org for details.

To kick off the open voting session, we’re hosting a huge visual arts party, complete with live demonstrations, hands-on activities, and other interactive programs throughout downtown. It’s free! It’s fantastic! It’s fun for all ages! And it lasts from 5-9 p.m. on Friday, June 3.

You can meet the artists from the juried show pop-up galleries in their spaces, and you can check out an array of other arts activities sprinkled around downtown, including:

The Front Street Experience: Watch artists blow glass and create street art on canvas, get your face painted, and take a selfie at the art wall, located on Courthouse Square. While you’re there, check out more fun going on for the kickoff of Dayton Pride weekend, Affair on the Square.
K12 Gallery & TEJAS: The whole family will enjoy visual arts activities and special performances by SMAG Dance Collective. Get down on the dance floor with music by DJ Tony Whitfield and DJ Scorpius Max. Visit “Make n’ Take” stations and create garden art planters and garden wire sculptures. Juice bar and snacks also available for purchase.
Mendelson’s Mural: A new mural-painting company, The Mural Machine, is taking art to the streets and transforming buildings. Watch them work on their current project, Mendelson’s Outlet, off First Street.
Live demos: Several downtown arts businesses will have live demonstrations, and you can browse artwork in the shop for sale. Check out Gallery 510 Fine Art at 508 E. Fifth St., Vessels at 227 N. Main St., Ink & Hammer at 506 Wayne Ave., Dayton Society of Painters and Sculptors on 48 High St. in St. Anne’s, and the Front Street Galleries in the warehouse at 1001 E. Second St.
Art on 5^th: Following the success of its first art show and handmade craft sale, theNorthGate returns with its next gallery and market, located at Fifth and Wilkinson in the former historic Salvation Army building.
Dayton Art Institute: If you haven’t seen the latest exhibit, Into the Ether, you’ll be inspired to visit the interactive light gallery when you visit the museum’s special Art in the City location near Lily’s Bistro (329 E. Fifth St.). Make your own luminary with color-changing LED lights!
Innovative Arts Nexus (IAN): The University of Dayton’s former Art Street program has gone beyond art as a creative medium for expression and turned it into an application for creative problem solving and innovation. Learn more about the process and challenge your perceptions at their interactive experience in front of the Clair Lofts (St. Clair Street between Third and Fourth streets).
Nucleus CoShare: Not only will you get to see one of the largest pop-up gallery installations at this space, you can experience a variety of other local artists. Wouldn’t it be cool if you could work here? Memberships to the co-shared office space are still available. Chat with the staff on-site to learn more about rates and benefits (besides being surrounded by inspirational artwork).
The Mosaic Institute of Greater Dayton: Create your own unique mosaic while you enjoy the sights and sounds of Pickin’ in the Park at RiverScape MetroPark. Be sure to try the free demo of the new Urban Family Challenge Food and craft beer will be available for purchase at this location. (Heads up – Monument Avenue will be closed from Patterson to St. Clair for this activity.)
African American Visual Artists Guild: Watch computer art and thread painting demonstration at their station in the Oregon District.
Courteous Mass: Get a new perspective on your city from the seat of a bike. Join a group ride to tour public art installations on a new iteration of the Bike the Arts Bonus: The new culture-wrapped Link Bike also will be unveiled! The ride departs from Don Crawford Plaza (Fifth Third Field) at 6:30 p.m.

12th Annual Patriot Freedom Festival This Weekend at the Dayton VA Campus!

May 27, 2016 By Tom Gilliam

The Grotto (built in 1867-1868) at the historic Dayton VA campus, site of the Patriot Freedom Festival. – May 5, 2016

Memorial Day Weekend is fast approaching. Area pools will be opening, The Five Rivers Fountain of Lights at RiverScape MetroPark in Downtown Dayton will start shooting water again plus there will be plenty of parties & barbeques with family and friends. This weekend is also the unofficial start of Summer. The main reason we have this extended holiday weekend is to honor the men and women who have died while serving in the U.S. military by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades.

It also happens to be the most fitting weekend for the 12th Annual Patriot Freedom Festival on Saturday & Sunday, May 28-29, 2016 from 11 AM to 6 PM (both days) at the historic Dayton VA Medical Center Campus on 4100 West Third Street. This event is hosted by the American Veterans Heritage Center, a non-profit organization whose sole mission is “To preserve the best of our past…by improving the present…to create a better future for our heroes, our United States Veterans.” In short, the AVHC is the VA’s historical society. This year’s festival theme is Honoring Women in the Military. The festival is family friendly including free admission and free parking.

The bandstand (built in 1871) at the historic Dayton VA campus, site of the Patriot Freedom Festival. – May 5, 2016

The Dayton V.A. (Veterans Affairs) Medical Center Campus was built in 1867 when it was known as the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers and later the Dayton Soldiers Home. President Abraham Lincoln signed the creation of the Dayton VA into legislation on March 3, 1865. In 2012, the entire Dayton VA Medical Center campus was awarded with a National Historic Landmark status. 2017 marks the 150th Anniversary of the Dayton VA Medical Center with many events and festivities going on throughout the year.

I recently sat down with Tara Browne, a very enthusiastic volunteer for the AVHC. She has many reasons and much motivation to volunteer for this organization. Her father and sister both served in the U.S. Air Force (30 years and 10 years respectively). Browne’s grandfather on her mother’s side served under General MacArthur in the U.S. Army during World War II. He had four brothers who also fought in WWII. One of them was actually in the Battle of the Bulge and survived.

“When I was out in California, I did a lot of work with the homeless. I just kind of started feeding the homeless on the street as I found them. The more stories I heard, the more people I got to know on the streets and the more I realized that a lot of them were veterans. When I moved back from California to Ohio, I actively sought out volunteer opportunities at the Dayton VA because I knew I wanted to get more involved with that. So that’s how it started. Now I’m involved with the VA as well as Team Rubicon, Team RWB and the Invictus Games,” said Browne.

The Grotto (built in 1867-1868) at the historic Dayton VA campus, site of the Patriot Freedom Festival. – May 5, 2016

In 2015, Browne’s first year volunteering for the AVHC, she served as Event Co-Chair for the Patriot Freedom Festival. “I think it’s great because for one it opens up the VA, this awesome historical location that most people don’t even know is there or have forgotten about it. It opens it up to the public. It provides a lot of interesting things to do and interesting ways to learn not only about the history of Dayton, but about the impact that Dayton itself has had on veteran history. The VA was one of the original three and is one of the only ones of those original three that’s still open and functioning to this day. That was Civil War era and has made it all that way through. So, I think it’s a really cool learning time and just a fun, safe place for families to be,” said Browne.

Here is Browne’s rundown of what to expect at the festival.

The Grotto (built in 1867-1868) at the historic Dayton VA campus, site of the Patriot Freedom Festival. – May 5, 2016

“There’s a lot of activities for families. There were pony rides last year. There are all these different displays around the area. They have a lot of Civil War displays. There are bands, food vendors, clothing vendors, different sorts of wares and all sorts of small businesses from the Dayton area set up tents. It’s an eclectic festival where you get to see different aspects of Dayton.”

“There are tours of the cemetery, a Gold Star Wives & Mothers ceremony going on plus there’s a lot that goes on in the chapels. The Grotto is going to be open and that’s been really refurbished/redone over the past several years since 2014. The grounds itself are relatively open for people to walk around, see and really get the feeling for the campus.”

A couple of days ago, I briefly spoke with Mike Turner, United States Marine Corps veteran/volunteer Events Secretary for the AVHC and asked him to share some highlights of the Patriot Freedom Festival. “I would say the most popular thing to do is to see all the reenactors, military displays and our free entertainment. The most unique thing about our festival is that we are on the National Historic Landmark Designated Campus and you can tour it. Also, our guests can see military groups and equipment from the Civil War to the current era plus being able to thank the Veterans that are here,” said Turner.

Building 116, formerly the Headquarters/library and future home of the VA National Archives at the historic Dayton VA campus, site of the Patriot Freedom Festival. - May 5, 2016

Building 116 (built in 1871), formerly the Headquarters/library and future home of the VA National Archives at the historic Dayton VA campus, site of the Patriot Freedom Festival. – May 5, 2016

In April 2016, an announcement was made that the VA National Archives will be moving from Washington, D.C. to the Dayton VA campus. The plan is for the archives to be housed in Building 116 (formerly the Headquarters, built in 1871) and Building 129 (formerly the Clubhouse, built in 1881). “The National Archives has no timetable really since 20-26 million needs to be raised first,” said Turner.

Said Browne in reference to 2015’s Patriot Freedom Festival, “We have people who didn’t even realize the festival was going on and just stumbled on the campus because they saw signs and showed up so you have a variety of people. My personal favorite part of the festival is seeing everyone come, getting to educate people, getting to be there in a very veteran & family friendly atmosphere and being a part of the celebration of our American veteran history.”

Recap of festival activities: honoring ceremonies, historical military reenactors, guided historical tours, children’s activities, barrel train, kid’s corner, gardening, equestrian team, the Miami Valley Military History Museum and more.

For more information about the Patriot Freedom Festival, visit americanveteransheritage.org, facebook.com/patriotfreedomfestival and follow @theavhc on Instagram & Twitter. Also, donations to the American Veterans Heritage Center can be made by clicking here.

Photography by Tom Gilliam of DaytonGram and Tom Gilliam Photography.