Posted June 1, 200817 yr This post kicks off a series on Dayton’s suburban “empty quarter”, using the old Madison Township (Trotwood) as the initial study area. The study area with growth to +/-1970/1973 Since so much of the built-up area in Dayton is post WWII this is also an experiment on doing relevant urbanist investigation in a suburban context since this is the bulk of the lived urban environment of Daytonians. Also, using suburban history is a way of breaking free from my the fetishization/cliché of the “historic” and “old city”. Why this particular study area? Because of the empty quarter phenomenon. The study area with growth to 2008 The study area enlarged with some more detail. As this is a large area we will look at mostly the northern parts of this area to start. A series of diagram maps showing how the area grew via mapping residential subdivision activity (but not ribbon development). Salem Avenue, Wolf Creek, and US 35/Third Street shown for reference. Prewar development with prominent institutional features. Note that much of this was only partly built on, if at all, by WWII. The land was subdivided though, indicating the reach of the metropolitan economy and real estate market. Early postwar development to about 1960. Note the very large Townview plat from about 1956 1957 as the only significant platting activity in the southern portion of the study area, and the cluster of plats around Trotwood village. After 1960 new subdivision is mostly in the northern half of the study area, more or less north of Wolf Creek. The Salem Mall is shown as a prominent feature for this era In the 1970s large-scale single family home subdivision activity ceases, with the new subdivisions shown being either associated with the failed Newfields new town or (northern half of the study area) apartment complexes. Starting with the 1980s, but probably more in the 1990s, there is a revival of subdivision activity, with a large new golf course community coming online (Moss Creek). What’s shown here is a mix of single and multifamily development. Putting it all together on one color-coded map, how the area grew. One can get even more granular and show each little lane and such, but this series of diagrams and map capture the larger development, where blocks of farmland go under development. Traffic Planning Anticipates Growth The 1950s/60s trends indicated that the study area would keep growing, so the highway engineers ensured it was well served by limited access highway in their traffic planning, including the construction of a western bypass around Dayton and the Wolf Creek Expressway. Perhaps the expectation behind this feeder diagram that both the northern and southern halves of the study area would be undergoing enough development that would justify limited access And a close up of the “Trotwood Connector” showing some elaborate interchange action with the Wolf Creek expressway (and subdivisions apparently known to the traffic planners) Early Postwar Subdivision Trends Looking at some info on subdivision and numbers of lots one can see that the study area was seeing fairly aggressive development starting in the 1950s, though there was a lot going on in the late 1940s, too. So it wasn’t unreasonable when freeway planning started in the mid/late 19550s would be expecting these trends to continue. Dividing acres by number lots, one can get a feel for the average lot size (maybe) for the early postwar period. As one can see the size of these lots approach half and acre some years. This might be due to ribbon development, where farm frontage on country roads gets subdivided into sometimes fairly deep lots. This is a little-remarked on feature of sprawl, and is found throughout southwest Ohio. Perhaps an interesting study would be to track how this development progresses. And, finally, the share of new units from 1940 to the mid 1950s. Note that this area (“Madison Twp”) ranks fairly favorably in getting a share of units, though the lions share of new units are in Dayton and Kettering/Moraine (a lot of this in Dayton’s case might be infill on dead pre-war plats as well as subdivision of houses into multi-units). (and how Wayne Twp/Huber Heights was not a growth area yet) Early Strip Development It will have to wait for winter to get some house pix from this early suburban era, but here is a quick look at an early commercial strip that was probably killed by the Salem Mall. Trotwood in the mid/late 1950s (courtesy of the Soil Conservation Service aeriel photo files) showing the postwar boom in progress. The incipient strip is in the red box And a close up, showing how the road (Free Pike) is being realigned for the auto era and a school is being built. This isn’t a good pix, but maybe you can see some very early strip stuff, perhaps a gas station. By the early 1960s (say ‘62 or ‘63) there’s been quite a bit of new development (one can see some site prep on the left center of the pix for some new housing..in this case multifamily). Taking a close up of the strip, it looks like there’s been some site prep for expansion of a shopping center. Most of the retail is on the south side, but there’s plenty of land available for additional retail/commercial sites north of Free Pike. By 1970 just a few new things. The Salem Mall opened in 1966, so that probably became the preferred shopping location, thus no more major development here. And today. One new add in the 1970s (expansion of a shopping center) but also the start of demolition, reverting land to green space. On the Ground Heading west on Free Pike into Trotwood, approaching the strip (note vacant land to the right) The first thing one encounters is this strip center which might have been intended to continue further to the east as the parking extends out that far, beyond the building. ..and the nifty modernist treatment on the façade. This is now a storefront church (have no idea what it was to start). One of the things about this strip was that it wasn’t “recycled”, so its sort of a living museum of retro commercial architecture. Continuing on down the line There’s this funky little strip building with the googy-esque angled windows, walls (and roof overhang) combined with brick wing walls and planter boxes Just up the street is Beeber Center, with the big retro sign …for the little modernist shopping center ( later faux mansard for the Subway) Next door is a vacant lot, perhaps the site of a gas station. This might have been the first structure on this strip And another big sign. This strip center was built at first in the 1950s, then an expansion in the 1970s (which is what you see in the background) Also note nice wide sidewalk. We are fairly close to “Old Town Trotwood”, which starts in the trees in the background (the line of Wolf Creek) The original center is in the background, but it looks like something might have been added or modernized (metal roof awning)(another storefront church). The structure in the foreground dates to the 1950s/early 60s, but has been updated with the faux mansard/half timbering (something “olde” …maybe a restaurant or cocktail lounge at one time. Olde English stuff was the rage in the 1960s) Across the street is this strange building from the 1950s,I think. Maybe a restaurant? Or something else? (in some ways it seems like the front end of a motel) Next door is this great little gas station from, perhaps, the 1960s. A fun modernist design. ..and some late 1960s commercial buildings? Speckled brick and faux mansards. We see these everywhere. And the start empty space, this one the former site of a school Yet another modernist gas station. Based on the grainy areils this might be late 50s/early 60s, sort of a precursor to that pitched roof style. Next door is this modern thing. I am not sure what this was but I’ve seen this type of building around town, and think it might have been a local chain or some local designer was site adapting some generic commercial design. Curb cut to nowhere. There was a late 1950s/early 60s era commercial building here, set way back on the pad, with a big parking lot, but it’s all grass now. One of the benefits of sprawl stall is that this museum-piece commercial development survives. Next we will look at the effect of sprawl stall on the last large postwar subdivisions of the 1960s. For that thread click here
June 1, 200817 yr Wow. It seems that even developments built only half-a-century ago are seeing their quick demise, a victim of possibly their own kind: sprawling developments. With little incentive to redevelop if new development is continuing further out, many of these languish and die a slow death, bringing down other establishments over time when an area becomes blighted. I can't recall the book name, but there is a great read with some photographs on the urban prairies of Chicago. Former liveable and urban neighbourhoods becoming vast grasslands, recalling back coyotes and other wild animals into the city. I sometimes think that the next big urban redevelopment will not be in the major cities, but in the suburbs. Doing a mass-tear down of many deteriorated or unused buildings and neighborhoods, and redeveloping them into denser complexes.
June 1, 200817 yr Awesome! "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
June 1, 200817 yr great threads jeffery. "Next door is this modern thing. I am not sure what this was but I’ve seen this type of building around town, and think it might have been a local chain or some local designer was site adapting some generic commercial design." i can even help to tell you what this was, and i'm 100% for sure too. it was a lawson's convenience store! :laugh:
June 2, 200817 yr Nice thread, after 5 years of living in SW Ohio, I have never been to this part of Dayton, not even driving past the former Salem Mall. I guess it is time to see this part of Dayton with my own eyes.
June 2, 200817 yr Lawsons. Excellent, thanx for the intel! Local chain I guess? can't recall the book name, but there is a great read with some photographs on the urban prairies of Chicago. Former liveable and urban neighbourhoods becoming vast grasslands, recalling back coyotes and other wild animals into the city. ..I think it was Vergara? One thing about some of this stuff is that the scale is still somewhat small and walkable. Note that sidewalk along that strip center with the big sign...it wasnt unreasonable to walk along here. As you moved later into the postwar suburbia era scale really jumps and things become more dehumanized.
June 2, 200817 yr http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=39.821359,-84.25621&spn=0.003024,0.007167&t=k&z=18 That's to the east of Salem Mall and it looks dead. Any ideas on what that was?
June 2, 200817 yr Hara Arena, and its quite alive. They just hosted a big annual ham radio convention. They also host Bill Goodmans Gun and Knife show, and the occassional rock act (like Bob Dylan & even some of the newer acts). The place has a tradition for hosting rock shows. They also hosted Daytons' gay pride event once or twice. Hara Arena used to promote regionally. I recall (way back in the 1970s) radio promo spots for shows there when I lived in Louisville.
June 2, 200817 yr Lawsons. Excellent, thanx for the intel! Local chain I guess? regional. once they were all over ohio, but now they are all gone.....everywhere except of all places in japan: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawson_(store)
June 2, 200817 yr Hara Arena, and its quite alive. They just hosted a big annual ham radio convention. They also host Bill Goodmans Gun and Knife show lol
June 2, 200817 yr great threads jeffery. "Next door is this modern thing. I am not sure what this was but Ive seen this type of building around town, and think it might have been a local chain or some local designer was site adapting some generic commercial design." i can even help to tell you what this was, and i'm 100% for sure too. it was a lawson's convenience store! :laugh: We used to walk down Conover Court to get to the Lawson's at W 89th and Madison in Cleveland.
June 2, 200817 yr ^ don't forget the lawson's big-o commercial that played forever & really stuck in your bean:
June 3, 200817 yr Great job Jeffery...and once again I am happy to fill in the blanks about what all the buildings (or now vacant lots) used to be. I grew up in Westbrooke Village, which you talk about in your other thread. My house was built in the late 1960's. My parents were the original owners. If you look at the aerial photo from Google, near the center of the picture you see a house set back from the street with a circular driveway that runs around the entire house. Look where the driveway comes off of the street (Weybridge Drive) where the other homes are. There is a house just to the right of the intersection of the driveway and Weybridge Dr. It has a light colored roof. THAT WAS MY HOUSE! Please note that the house with the circular driveway was not part of the original plat. It was built in the early 1990's by a person that my parents (who were still living there at the time) described as...eccentric. The "driveway" was originally a dead end street. It was supposed to connect to the street the comes of perpendicularly from Northford Road. This obviously was never done. Westbrooke Village was supposed to extend all the way to Union Road. but, as you showed in your other thread, construction stalled in the mid 1970's. And once again you are correct that Northford Road was supposed to go all the way to Shiloh Springs Road. The building on the south side of Free Pike next to the FoodTown, the one with "modernist" roof line was, are you ready?....an Elder-Beerman. It was one of their first suburban stores. My Mom bought most of my clothes there. You are correct that the parking lot extends beyond the building because the shopping center was supposed to be expanded, but never was. Across Free Pike, the empty lot (in your last picture) was the Trotwood Lanes bowling alley. It was a great place and I remember bowling in a league there when I was in junior high. You are correct that the building set back from the street and there was a large parking lot in front. I think the bowling alley closed around 1990. The "funky little strip building with the googy-esque angled windows, walls (and roof overhang) combined with brick wing walls and planter boxes" was originally home to an appliance store and a hobby store. The Beeber Center was home to the Beeber Pharmacy. The Subway was originally a Dairy Queen. The empty building between the "funky" building and the Subway was an Arby's. The next shopping center (now called The Crossing) was home to an IGA supermarket (where the church is now, and yes, they changed the front), a Godfather's Pizza and a Western Auto store. In the next picture you say "Across the street is this strange building from the 1950s,I think. Maybe a restaurant?" You are right again, and the restaurant was.....Frisch's! I remember my friends and I used to go there for lunch all the time when we were in high school. Next comes "and some late 1960s commercial buildings?" It was a 7-11 back in the day. Mrnyc is correct about the Lawson's. That roof design was distinctive to their stores. They also had one across Trotwood Blvd. from the old high school (which is now also an empty lot). Thanks again for bringing back all these memories of my childhood! If you have any other questions about the Madison Township/Trotwood area please ask. I am something of an amateur historian on the area.
July 31, 200816 yr Philly Engineer has a pretty good memory. I grew up in suburban Philly (Malvern) and now reside in Trotwood and prefer this less crowded lifestyle than has engulfed the Philly burbs. I will clarify however the street name in that section is currently Main Street not Free Pike. The appliance store was named "Nofzinger Appliance Center," the Dairy Queen was owned by Ken Shank and other locals owned many of the other stores in the strip. As the national chains crept out Salem Av many of these mom and pops gave up. It is my impression that the strip was originally developed larger than necessary to anticipate the continuation of the building boom that was underway at the time. However as you note many dead end subdivision streets have never been extended as the growth stopped about the time the 675 corridor (south and west of Dayton) took off. The city planners have been talking extensively about the future of this strip and how it might be configured for the future. Presently both sides remain zoned for business but there is some consideration to allowing some parts to become residential. I look for good things to come of that. As a side note, back in 1999 the zoning code in the agricultural areas was changed to slow down rural frontage development. I wish more counties in Ohio would consider the approach used here since it seems to be working. The new rule states subdivided agricultural lots can be no smaller than 20 acres. I think there has only been one since the change. Very few people want to have to mow 20 acres every week (5 is bad enough). Nice job Jeffery and I'm still ready for that hot dog in Drexel!
July 31, 200816 yr Bruce K is right. West of Olive Road, Free Pike is called Main Street. My bad. Interesting that Bruce K grew up in the Philly suburbs and now lives in Trotwood and I grew up in Trotwood and now live in the Philly suburbs. :-)
August 1, 200816 yr I lived on Carma Dr. in Trotwood 1955 - 1957. Carma Dr. is easily seen in the aerial of Trootwood in the 50's. It's the last street off W Main before crossing the bridge. Our house was about the 5th or 6th on the right side. We'd drive out each week to see the progress as the house was being built. I'm not positive, but I believe the house cost about 10 K. I went to 2nd grade when the school was next to Trotwood Madison High. The next school year was at the new Broadmore elementary school, which I see is now gone. About a month in, my mother left dad and took my sister & I to Oceanside,Ca. Dad flew out in Jan 57 and brought sis & I back to Trotwood. He sold the house and we moved back to Dayton a couple months later. I remember C.C. Vannaman (sp) Ford when it was on the N.E. corner of the main intersection and saw it move into a new building a block or so East, and the railroad track crossing Main St was on a berm in those days. The last time I was in Trotwood was when dad died in 01. My sister & I took a drive through to see our old house.
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