April 10, 2007 - Volume 16, No. 15

a Winkler Company publication

Also featuring photos from our monthly supplement...

Historic Homes of Kettering-Moraine Museum

Sugar Camp decision tabled until April 23

By Lance Winkler

The Oakwood City Council met on Monday, April 9, and began the meeting with a farewell and a promotion for the ranks of the Oakwood Safety Department. Lt. Bill Thompson was recognized for his many years of service as he is retiring his badge after 31 years on the force. Lt. Randy Baldridge was promoted to Captain with the Safety Department in a ceremony witnessed by many of his fellow officers and his family and presided by Mayor Judy Cook.

Pictured, left to right: newly-promoted Capt. Randy Baldridge, Chief Alex Bebris and Capt. Dave Lantz.

The final OK for proceeding with the comprehensive plan developed by the Oakwood Investment Group LLC and Versant for the Sugar Camp development was tabled again until a formal meeting of the city council dealing exclusively with the issue two weeks from now on Monday, April 23 at 7:30 p.m. in council chambers.

In the Visitors portion of the meeting, Wright Library Director Ann Snively and Wright Library Board President Judy Thompson paid a visit to the council podium. Ms. Snively announced a number of upcoming events at the library including a visit by wildlife specialist, author and Oakwood Safety Officer Tim Harrison on Sunday, April 22 at 3 p.m. Harrison will be bringing along a couple of his wildlife pets to introduce to the audience.

Ms. Thompson made a strong case for the upcoming .94 mill replacement levy for the library on the May 8 ballot. Thompson pointed out the state finances 87 percent of Wright Library’s budget and Oakwood taxes take care of 13 percent. Thompson pointed out that the levy amount will maintain current services at the current level. Campaign signs promoting the levy are available for display on Oakwood lawns and can be obtained by calling 299-1448.

Oakwood residents Kevin and Tiffany Chambers announced they have acquired the historic 1927 manse of Daisy Talbott Green, most recently owned by the Eichelberger family. The Chambers announced they are in the process of renovating the estate and plan to offer it as a candidate for the Dayton Philharmonic Designer Show House and Gardens XVII when the next Show House event is next planned two years from now in 2009. The council approved of the efforts made.

Public Works Director Kevin Weaver gave a staff report, announcing that 99 percent of the radio-water meters have been installed in Oakwood homes. He also reported that the water project on Forrer Boulevard is now completed and water pressure has increased from 50 gallons a minute to 1600 gallons a minute. He said that nearby residents should notice an increase in water pressure in their homes as well. Letters are also going out this week, Weaver said, concerning the upcoming 2007 Curb, Sidewalk and Apron Project.

City Manager Norbert Klopsch announced that the 2007 Annual Report will be coming out as an insert in the April 17 issue of the Oakwood Register. The New Resident Breakfast will be held this Saturday, April 14, starting at 9:30 a.m. at the Oakwood Community Center, 105 Patterson Rd. New residents who would like to attend are asked to make reservations by calling the OCC at 298-0775.

Klopsch also announced that free mulch will again be made available to Oakwood residents for pickup starting this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Public Works Center, 210 Shafor Blvd. Truck deliveries of mulch to Oakwood homes are $65 for 3 cubic yards and $85 for 6 cubic yards.

The next formal meeting of the Oakwood City Council will be May 7, 2007.

Easter Egg Hunt a hit

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It was cold but colorful last Saturday as the annual FOP 107 Easter Egg Hunt was underway. Dozens of families showed up and had fun despite the freezing weather. Children braved the chill and hunted for Easter eggs in the playground area between Edwin D. Smith Elementary School and Wright Memorial Library. Pictures with the Easter Bunny were also a popular idea.

Planning Commission to hear request for National Park Service management May 2

By Dolores Wagner

The City of Oakwood Planning Commission will meet on Wednesday, May 2 to hear a request for a special-use permit re-classifying Hawthorn Hill, the Wright Brothers home located in Oakwood on Park Avenue, from private to museum status. The meeting will take place at 4:30 p.m. at the City Building. Should the planning commission approve the request; the home will be open to the public through public tours beginning in May and managed from Carillon Park. Current plans call for a schedule of three tours daily, four days per week – Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Tours will begin at Carillon Park where tickets are required to be purchased. A small 15-passeneger van will provide the transportation to and from the Carillon Park to Hawthorn Hill via Far Hills Avenue. Tours will last 45 minutes and will be scheduled between 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., but with a break avoiding Harman School lunch hour.

This action precedes an effort to eventually make Hawthorn Hill a part of the National Park Service, according to Amanda Wright-Lane, who, with her brother, Stephen Wright, of the Wright Family Foundation, is beneficiary of the home through a gift from the NCR Corporation, previous owners of the property from 1937 to 2006.

According to Wright-Lane, the opening of the house for tours gives the Wright Family Foundation a chance to “test the waters” for how tours should be managed should it be accepted as part of the National Park Service. It also will give an opportunity to work through any issues that might surface as a negative impact on traffic and homes in the neighboring area.

“We feel that Hawthorn Hill is a national treasure that belongs to the people,” Amanda Wright said. “When visitors walk into the house they are walking into Orville’s mind. Everything in the house has his hand on it. He had to understand everything. If it moved he had to figure out how it worked. We feel it belongs to “everyman” – north and south, east and west.”

An agreement to become part of the National Park Service will contain stipulations for what can and cannot be allowed, based on what both the city and community demand. According to Wright-Lane “The community will always have a say in how it’s run.” Those stipulations will be part of the request presented to the Planning Commission on May 2.

Current planned rules will prohibit Hawthorn Hill’s use as a guest house, but a request will be included to allow special daytime and evening events on a limited, selective basis.

The Wrights believe that Hawthorn Hill would be most carefully preserved under management by the National Park Service. “The National Park Service is the finest steward of our nation’s history.” said Wright.

Over $100,000 annually is needed to maintain the house and grounds, and few options exist to finding the necessary dollars. “While I do believe people in the community would give to support Hawthorn Hill initially, I think in time it could become a burden. Some of the privately-held icons of American history are struggling.”

Designation as an National Park Service site may take up to two or more years.

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