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grantsguru — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:23:51 CST

Gem City Circle Walking Tours has completed walks for 2009. All walk resume April, 2010. Fifteen programs are available year-round for presentation to groups and organizations.

Leon Bey, tour guide, (937) 274-4749 or email Leon at grantsguru501c3@yahoo.com
Private group walks also available on Sundays. Call/email for more info. Scroll down for walk descriptions.

Walks:

Ghost Walks.

Ludlow Street Walks.

Main Street Walks.

Oregon Historic Arts District Walks.

Miami & Erie Canal Walks.

Descriptions of walks:
Ludlow Street Walk:
* the historic Terra Cotta District
* photos and history of the once great RKO Colonial and RKO Keiths Theaters with DDN story about the theater's Wurlitzer Organ
* an update on the new owners of the Dayton Arcade and their evolving plans for restoration of the Grande Dame of downtown Dayton
* history of the outstanding DDN 1909 building
* histories and photos of over 10 long-gone mansions on Ludlow Street including Valentine Winter's mansion where Abraham Lincoln spoke from the front porch Saturday, September 17, 1859
* history of the Algonquin Hotel now known as the Doubletree Hotel
* a peek inside the Dayton Woman's Club
* a tour of the Dayton Int'l Peace Museum plus much more.
We'll walk for an hour then have lunch for an hour at the oldest restaurant downtown (on Saturday we'll go to another restaurant since the oldest restaurant is closed on Saturdays) and walk about another hour and return to the library. Walks are $8 per person payable day of walk. Please make advance reservation to Leon Bey, tour guide, (937) 274-4749 or email grantsguru501c3@yahoo.com Please call or email in advance as some tours may sell out, may be cancelled or booked by private groups.

Don't miss our Walk of the Route of the Miami & Erie Canal. Visit canal buildings still in use, see historic canal photographs, walk the old canal tow path, lunch in the Oregon Arts/Historic District, relive the days of the canal during this, the 180th anniversary year of the opening of the canal to Dayton. For Advance reservations: call/email Leon Bey (937) 274-4749 or grantsguru501c3@yahoo.com
Also available for groups: 1-hour slideshow program The Miami & Erie Canal in Downtown Dayton for those folks who cannot "walk the walk".

Historic Oregon District Walks: about three hours including lunch. Enjoy a leisurely walk and visit the businesses of 5th Street and new art galleries, then walk the charming residential streets of the district ending with a walk down Tecumseh Street. See magnificently restored homes built during the canal era--1830's plus.
* For group presentation, a special 1-hour slideshow of an Armchair Walk of the Oregon Arts District for "folks who can't walk the walk".

Main Street Walks of Historic Downtown Dayton: three-hour walks including an hour for lunch.
Also available two 1-hour programs: Armchair Show of Downtown Dayton's Historic Main Street and Armchair Show of Movie Palaces and Department Stores of Downtown Dayton of Days Gone By. For folks who cannot "walk the walk".

Ghosts, Cemeteries and Murders Walks of Downtown Dayton. Includes sites and buildings of hauntings, sites of two former cemeteries and sites of famous murders of the 1800's. Plus history and architecture spanning many years and new condos, lofts and condos along with saved and restored facades and buildings.

All walks including ghost walks are offered by reservations only. For dates available, meeting locations and reservations contact Leon Bey (937) 274-4749 or email Leon at grantsguru501c3@yahoo.com We walk rain or shine!

Come explore the history and revitalization of downtown Dayton.

Walk descriptions:
Main Street Walks of Downtown Dayton - selected dates at 10 a.m.
Our walk starts in the Local History Room of the downtown Dayton Metro Library and proceeds to historic Cooper Park to talk about Dayton's early history and the Miami & Erie Canal.
* Historic Lutzenberger photographs of long-gone buildings from the library's collection are featured n the walk.
* Stunning architecture of historic and newer buildings that have been save/restored/have found new tenants and new uses will be highlighted--we visit interiors of buildings, too.
* See the historic building where the world's first self-starters were manufactured in 1911 for the 1912 Cadillac.
* See the sites of the famous public market houses 1816-1955 where our Watervliet Ohio Shakers sold their goods.
* See the sites and hear stories of the history of the RKO Strand, RKO State, Gebhardt OperaHouse/Park Theater/Lyric Theater/Mayfair Burlesk House, Loew's and Victory theaters.
* See the site where Sinclair College was founded by David Sinclair and the first YMCA.
* See the site of the only downtown location of the Wright Brothers bicycle shop.
* On Friday walks, tour the inside of the spectacular Art Nouveau lobby of a restored building and see the great Urban Window of a downtown church.
* See the site of the first church and graveyard in Dayton.
* See all three sites of Rike's Department Stores.
* See the sites and hear the histories of Elder-Johnston Dept. Store, Adler & Childs Dept. Stores' two locations, the Home Store location and the Arthur Beerman and Jesse Phillips connections.
* See where A. Lincoln spoke and what he talked about for two hours in 1859--this is the 150th Anniversary year of Lincoln's visit to Dayton--special emphasis on this walk on Lincoln's historic visit.
* See new lofts, condos, new apartments, piano bars, restaurants, etc.
* Enjoy a made-from-scratch lunch with the walk group at a terrific local restaurant on Fridays.
Plus much more...

Ludlow Street Walk -- about three hours including an hour for lunch.
Our walk meets at the downtown library. Make sure to call/email for reservations.
* Historic photographs of buildings from the library's collection that are long-gone are featured on the walk.
* Stunning architecture of historic and newer buildings will be highlighted.
* We'll proceed to Dave Hall Plaza on Main Street between Fourth and Fifth Streets.
* See a sculpture tributes to Orville and Wilbur Wright.
* Walk the historic Terra Cotta District and see restored buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. Learn the history of our own unique Terra Cotta buildings and the history of the long-gone RKO Keith Theater including photos of the interior and the terra cotta exterior.
* See the site and hear stories of the great vaudeville house, the RKO Colonial Theater, where "talkies" were first screened in Dayton.
* See the site and learn the history of the city's second cemetery.
* See spectaculr historic photos of mansions and where they once stood: mansions of Oscar Reim, David Rike, Valentine and Jonathan Winters, Mrs. Leslie Carter, John Patterson, Julia Patterson Shaw Carnell, Clement Vallandigham, Daniel Mead, E. J. Barney, Phillips, etc.--a mansion on every corner of every intersection of Ludlow Street from 5th Street north to Monument.
* See the site of the terra cotta gem, the RKO Keith's Theater and the history of the famous church on that spot before the theater was built in 1922.
* See the building that was built to look like a bank but is not a bank--the building is on the Natinal Register of Historic Places!
* See the site of Dayton's first high school for Orville Wright and Paul Laurence Dunbar.
* See and hear the history of the Dayton Arcade--five buildings on the Natonal Register of Historic Places and the plans of Friends of the Dayton Arcade to find new uses for the complex of buildings. An Arcade update.
* See the Dayton Bicycle Club building and the site of the $1 million hotel that John Patterson of NCR fame helped build with his wealth. This walk does not duplicate the Main Street Walk. See a part of downtown Dayton that will surprise you! Plus, we'll stop for lunch at the oldest continually operating restaurant in dowtown Dayton. Do you know the name of that restaurant? If not, come on the walk to discover a new place.
Plus much more...

Oregon Historic District: select Fridays and Saturdays.
We start our walk in front of the Excelsior Condos next to Jay's Restaurant on Sixth Street.
* See stunning architecture of homes dating from the 1830's and learn the history of Dayton's first neighborhood/first suburb. Oregon's history dates from the wealth from manufacturing and commerce of the Miami & Erie Canal starting in 1829.
* See the former route of the canal and sites of flour and grist mills.
* See and visit art galleries that have recently opened for business.
* See historic photos of the old firehouse and learn the history of the name Oregon.
* See livery stables and factories that are now restaurants.
* Explore the German history of Oregon starting in 1832 and the many German businesses that thrived in the area.
* See the oldest and second oldest businesses still operating in Oregon dating from the 1930's.
* See the oldest business succesfully operated by a woman for over 30 years in Oregon.
* See the sites of four silent motion picture theaters and one that successfully converted to "talkies".
* We'll walk the charming residential streets and see the Flemish House, Stepladder House, churches converted to condos and other uses. Imagine living in this neighborhood.
* We'll walk historic Tecumseh Street and profile the history of six homes.
* We'll learn the history of three stars of television's West Wing and their connections to Oregon.
* We'll see a vibrant community that is magnificently restored, the safest and most sought after residential location in the city.
Plus much more...make reservatins by phone or email for these popular walks.

Ghosts, Cemeteries and Murder Walks of Downtown Dayton$10 per person for these walks.
Don't miss these exciting walks select Fridays and Saturdays of September and October, 2009, 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Walks feature stops at sites of numerous hauntings, the two cemeteries of the city and famous sites of murders in the 1800's. We stop for refreshments after the walks. Tour leaders wear black capes and carry lanterns.
Contact Leon Bey (937) 274-4749 or email grantsguru501c3@yahoo.com for dates, meetings locations and reservations--these walks quickly sell out--call/email for resevations. Private group walks available select Fridays and Saturdays and Sundays, too.

Don't miss our newest walk of the Route of the Miami and Erie Canal in Downtown Dayton. We'll visit historic canal buildings, see historic photgraphs of the canal, walk the old tow path of the canal, stop for lunch at an Oregon Arts District restaurant, etc. Celebrate the 180th Anniversary year of the opening of the canal to Dayton which made our city a boomtown with all the industry locating near the canal.

For upcoming walks including date, time and meeting location contact Leon at above phone and email.
Private group walks may be arranged with Leon Bey.
Gem City Circle Walking Tours are researched and led by local history buffs, Leon Bey, retired librarian, grantsguru501c3@yahoo.com and Nancy Roach, retired teacher, nancy.roach@att.net

Come walk with us and see exciting changes in downtown Dayton! See the growth of condos and apartments downtown. Marvel at the Schuster Center for the Philharmonic, Opera and Broadway Road Shows; the excitement of Riverscape and festivals; Fifth Third Field and baseball; the stunningly restored Victoria Theater; The Cannery; the St. Clair Lofts; Performance Place condos at Schuster Center's Performance Place; magnificent exteriors and interiors of downtown churches, the YMCA now occupied as apartment residences; the landing apartments next to the YMCA; the new apartments at the former Ramada Inn on First Street; the Firefly condos; Cooper Park Lofts; Cooper Townhouses; the upscale restaurants and good home cooking of restaurants and taverns in the Oregon District; the first-run movies at the Neon Movies; the wealth of info, books, dvd's and services at Dayton Metro Library at 215 E. Third Street; the promise of the renovation of the Arcade; our stunning 1850 Court House at Third and Main Streets where Lincoln spoke in 1859; living history on every street and street corner; Private Fair Monument; the new Care Source building at Main and Monument; numerous new art galleries in the Oregon Historic District; plus much more. And banks on every corner, too. Plus the Dayton Convention Center and Crown Plaza Hotel and the Doubletree Hotel plus Moraine Embassy Restaurant, Swisher's Restaurant, Citi Lights Restaurant at Schuster and many fast food restaurants.

Programs

We also offer one-hour programs for seniors, other groups and organizations, historical societies, schools, churches, Red Hat Ladies, social groups, civic organizations, etc., on various subjects. Call for costs and available dates for bookings: Leon Bey (937) 274-4749 or email Leon at grantsguru501c3@yahoo.com
Our newest and most popular program now available for bookings in 2009:

Abraham Lincoln Speaks in Dayton in 1859: Celebrating the 150th Anniversary of His September 17 1859 Visit and Vision for the United States

On September 17, 1859, Abraham Lincoln visited Dayton and delivered an anti-slavery speech in front of the Courthouse at Third and Main Streets in Dayton. This one-hour program features the timeline for his 1859 visit--politicians and businessmen who were his local hosts and what buildings/homes did he visit--where was he photographed, historic photographs of buildings Lincoln saw on his visit, local newspaper accounts (pro and con) of his speech, photos and stories about the hotel where Lincoln took an afternoon nap and photos and history of the bed he slept in now owned by a local family; the lost photographs of his visit, a Lincoln chair on display, photos of the children's bible and what Lincoln wrote in the bible at the Court House; favorite songs of Lincoln, Lincoln trivia and the legacy of Lincoln for our times. The program presenter, Leon Bey, is a retired librarian, local historian and a member of the Lincoln Society of Dayton.
Come celebrate the 150th Anniversary of Lincoln's visit to Dayton. Check the website for activites every month during 2009 celebrating Lincoln's visit and big plans for the week of September 17: www.lincolnsocietyofdayton.org

Other programs include:
* The Dayton Arcade: Crown Jewel of the Gem City--a very popular program that includes an Arcade update on the sale and restoration of the complex.
* A Week in Paris and a Wedding in Provence--tour guide Leon Bey's travelogue of a September 2008 trip to France for the marriage of his Godchild
* Old North Dayton--Barney Smith Car Works, the Kossuth Colony, Dayton's ethnic heritage.
* Annie Oakley and My Dad--tour guide Leon Bey's father saw Annie Oakley perform in 1921--great photos and stories plus photos from Greenville's Garst Museum's Annie Oakley collection.
* Miami & Erie Canal in Downtown Dayton--historic canal-era photographs of buildings still on the route of the old canal plus canal-era music. The story of how Dayton became a boomtown--celebrate the 180th anniversary year of the opening of the canal to Dayton.
* History of Dayton
* Movie Palaces and Department Stores of Downtown Dayton in Days Gone By--photos and stories all the famous department stores and great theaters now gone. What one theater was saved and is stunningly restored today?
* Clement Vallandigham: The Disgrace of Dayton--the "most notorious civilian of the Civil War" who called for "King" Lincoln's resignation and Vallandigham was a lawyer here in Dayton and leader of the Democrat's peace faction called Copperheads. Historic photographs about a famous episode in Dayton history. This is HBO movie of the week material! A GREAT PROGRAM DURING THE 200TH CELEBRATION YEAR OF LINCOLN'S BIRTH AND 150TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR OF HIS VISIT TO DAYTON.
* All One Family: The Watervliet Ohio Shakers, 1806-1900. OUR LOCAL FORGOTTEN SHAKERS WITH HISTORIC PHOTOGRAPHS AND FIRST-PERSON ACCOUNT OF LOCAL SHAKER LIFE FROM A WOMAN INTERVIEWED IN THE 1980'S--HER MOTHER WAS A SHAKER!
* Armchair Slideshow of Main Street in Downtown Dayton--FOR "FOLKS WHO CANNOT WALK THE WALK"
* Armchair Slideshow of the Oregon Arts District--FOR "FOLKS WHO CANNOT WALK THE WALK"
* Wright-Dunbar Historic District
* Take A Second Look: Life-Like Sculptures on Downtown Dayton Streets in 2007 and 2008.
* Dayton's Rich Gypsy History
* Route 66
* Famous and Not-So-Famous Inventors of Dayton
* A Walk of Manhattan Neighborhoods
* In the Loop: A Walk of Downtown Chicago
* A Walk of Downtown San Francisco
* 30 Gems of Dayton
* Arcade Update 2009
Contact Leon Bey at (937) 274-4749 or email Leon at grantsguru501c3@yahoo.com for additional information, reservations, fees and dates to book these walks and programs.
Celebrate local history by taking a walk with us and enjoy our varIed selection of programs.

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