3 Lost Dayton Buildings — and Why Historic Preservation Matters

Three very different buildings were demolished in Dayton, Ohio in 2025. In this video I look at the history behind these sites and what they represented in Dayton’s vanishing physical landscape. The buildings include an industrial complex tied to the city’s rail era, a historic University of Dayton building, and one of Dayton’s most famous bowling alleys built when the suburbs were just starting to grow their influence. Before diving into those sites, I take some time to address a broader question: why discussions about historic preservation matter in the first place, especially when we’re talking about more everyday buildings rather than famous landmarks. Topics covered include: • The CJ Ice House / Terminal Cold Storage site near downtown • Chaminade Hall at the University of Dayton • McCook Bowl and the early McCook Shopping Center • The role of historic buildings in shaping community identity • Why preservation discussions matter beyond major landmarks 📬 Join my free Dayton Vistas newsletter for new Dayton history stories and videos: https://daytonvistas.com/newsletter Read more articles I've written about preservation of historic buildings in Dayton: https://daytonvistas.com/tag/preserva... Learn about Preservation Dayton's work on Endangered Properties in Dayton: https://www.preservationdayton.com/en...