South Park Historic District (Dayton, Ohio) facts for kids
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South Park
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Houses on Perrine Street
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Built | 1880s |
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| Architectural style | Second Empire, High Victorian Italianate, Queen Anne, Federal and Romanesque Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 84003794 (original) 88000857 (increase) |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | August 23, 1984 |
| Boundary increase | June 16, 1988 |
South Park is a historic neighborhood in Dayton, Ohio. It covers about 24 blocks and has over 780 buildings. Most of these buildings were built between the 1880s and the early 1900s.
You can find South Park just south of downtown Dayton. It's near the University of Dayton and Woodland Cemetery. This area is special because of its many different building styles. It's also linked to John H. Patterson, who started the National Cash Register Company (NCR).
Contents
What is Slidertown?
The first buildings in this area were put up in the mid-1800s. Back then, it was called Slidertown, named after a person called Reverend Slider.
How John Patterson Changed the Neighborhood
When John H. Patterson started the National Cash Register Company in 1884, the area around his factory, Slidertown, wasn't a very nice place to live. Patterson wanted his workers to live in a beautiful environment close to their jobs. So, he decided to clean up the neighborhood.
He hired the Olmsted Brothers, famous landscape designers, to create lovely gardens around the factory. They also helped redesign the small gardens at people's homes. These gardens became examples for everyone in the neighborhood. Residents learned how to plant and care for their own yards. Patterson even gave out prizes for the best gardens!
The Boys' Garden and Other Improvements
In 1897, the National Cash Register Company started a special "Boys' Garden." This program helped boys in the neighborhood learn responsibility. The idea was to teach them skills that would make them good citizens and workers.
Besides the gardens, Patterson also opened a kindergarten for children. The factory itself was designed to be a "daylight factory," meaning it had lots of windows for natural light. This made the work environment much nicer. By 1901, the area was full of gardens and became known as the lovely "South Park" neighborhood.
For a long time, South Park was closely connected to Patterson's company. Many company picnics and events happened on Park Drive Boulevard, which is in the middle of the district. This changed when cars became common, allowing NCR workers to live further away.
Becoming a Historic District
South Park was officially recognized as a historic place on August 23, 1984. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The original boundaries included streets like Park Drive, Morton Avenue, Hickory Street, and Wayne Avenue.
Later, on July 16, 1988, the historic district was made even bigger. It expanded to include Wyoming Street, Nathan Place, Oak Street, Alberta Street, and Blaine Street.
Community Efforts for Preservation
In 2007, the Dayton chapter of the American Institute of Architects chose South Park as a community partner. This partnership helped create new housing designs and landscaping ideas. These plans fit well with South Park's history and its participation in "Rehabarama" events in 2001 and 2007. Rehabarama is an event where old homes are renovated and shown to the public.
What Kind of Architecture Can You See?
South Park has many different styles of buildings. You can see examples of:
- Second Empire
- High Victorian Italianate
- Queen Anne
- Federal
- Romanesque Revival
These buildings are usually one or two stories tall and are made of brick or wood. The neighborhood still feels like a close-knit community. Residents work together to take care of the many parks that give the area its special charm.
The Landscape Design
John Charles Olmsted, who was part of the Olmsted Brothers firm, designed the landscape for Park Drive. This beautiful street once had a fountain in the middle and a small waterway running through it.
Famous People from South Park
- Martin Sheen, a well-known actor, lived here.
