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Original facade of Building 26 (Circa 1944)
The Ohio Historic Preservation Office will hold a public hearing about Building 26 at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 19, at Carillon Park in cooperation with the University of Dayton.
Mark J. Epstein, head of the resource protection and review department for the Ohio Historic Preservation Office, will chair the meeting, which is designed to solicit public input about a report by the ASC Group Inc. that finds the building ineligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Congressman Michael Turner requested that UD ask the Ohio Historic Preservation Office to convene the hearing.
During World War II, the building served as the top-secret site for NCR engineer and University of Dayton alumnus Joseph Desch’s development of a code-breaking machine credited with helping to bring the war to a close.
The meeting will include a background briefing by UD officials; an explanation of the report by Doug Terpstra, an architectural historian with the ASC Group Inc.; and an opportunity for interested members of the public to offer their views on the report.
The report can be found here at: http://udcampusmasterplan.udayton.edu/architecture.pdf.
German Enigma encoding machine.
The Bombe decoding machine.
Bombe developer Joe Desch
Officers and leaders of code breaking team in front of Building 26.
U.S. Navy Women's Auxiliary (WAVES) march out of Sugar Camp to their jobs at Building 26.
1. What is Building 26?
Located at the northeast corner of South Patterson Boulevard and Stewart Street, Building 26 was constructed in 1938 as NCR’s night school. The Art Deco structure was enlarged in the 1960s and 1970s by building a glass shell of office space around the front and sides of the original tan brick building. It’s the shell, not the original building, you see when viewing it from the street.
2. Why is Building 26 important?
With the German submarines sinking Allied ships faster than they could be built in 1942, the fate of Free Europe was at stake. NCR was selected by the Navy to develop a state-of-the-art, computer-like device to break the German submarine codes, help locate the subs and turn the tide. The top-secret project was headed by UD graduate and NCR research engineer Joe Desch, who designed the machine.
In addition to the team of NCR scientists, hundreds of U.S. Navy Waves, living at Sugar Camp, marched to Building 26 each day to assemble the decoding devices, known only to an inner circle as “The Bombe”.
Assembled Bombes were shipped by rail to Washington, D.C., where they were successfully used to help locate and destroy German submarines and to help decipher the flood of German radio messages during and after the D-Day invasion. The Bombes shortened the war by months, perhaps years, and saved countless lives. For his work, Joe Desch was awarded the Medal of Merit, the nation’s highest civilian honor.
3. Why haven’t I heard of Joe Desch before?
Joe Desch’s work and the development of the Bombe in the mid-1940’s remained classified for 50 years and became public only in 1992. A book, The Secret in Building 26, and a PBS documentary, The Dayton Codebreakers — both released three years ago — and an occasional newspaper article are all the recognition Joe Desch and his fellow workers have received. Unlike other famous Dayton inventors, such as the Wright brothers and Charles F. Kettering, Desch is virtually unknown.
4. Why does UD want to demolish Building 26?
UD has announced plans to build 100,000 square feet of commercial, retail and residential space on the property at a cost of $8.4 million. It will be part of the $100 million redevelopment of its new 50-acre West Campus, stretching from Brown Street all the way to the Great Miami River.
5. Isn’t UD interested in the historical significance of Building 26?
In an August 10, 2005 hearing, UD summarized its own analysis of the building: “Building 26 is not in any state resembling what it looked like in the 1940’s and is not reasonably returnable to such a state.”
6. Shouldn’t the importance of Building 26 to Dayton be reviewed by governmental agencies, especially since $2 million of taxpayers money is involved in the project?
Unfortunately, the only public oversight on UD’s plans to demolish Building 26 would have come as a result of partial funding for its West Campus.
The Army Corp of Engineers, which was providing some of the funding for the new campus, was persuaded by the university in early March to transfer the available funds to another part of the project. This eliminated the need for the corps’ review and a public hearing.
Fortunately, on March 21, Congressman Mike Turner announced that his support for the federally funded project would depend on the University of Dayton consulting with the Ohio Historic Preservation Office and holding a hearing on the building’s fate.
7. Did UD ever have an independent study of the building’s worthiness?
Yes, but only after they had requested and received public funds to demolish Building 26. Their request for demolition funds was dated June 1, 2006, their independent study was dated January 20, 2007 — more than six months later. It seems the proper order of things would have been to do the study first, then request the funds.
8. Could Building 26 be a part of UD’s West Campus?
Architects have suggested a number of ways in which the building could be a part of their plan. One especially attractive idea is to restore the building as an Alumni Center, housing the Office of Alumni Affairs and serving the needs of UD graduates who are visiting the campus. What could be a more fitting tribute to Joe Desch, one of the university’s most outstanding alumni?
9. Couldn’t UD memorialize Joe Desch in some other way than through its use of Building 26?
Of course, there could be statues, exhibits, etc., but maintaining the building where Joe Desch worked, where you feel his presence, would be a much more meaningful tribute. It’s the feeling you have when visiting Hawthorne Hill where the Wright family lived, for example, or Thomas Edison’s laboratories in Ft. Myers, Fla. There is a very real difference. You feel a part of history.
10. What effect can the hearing and review by the Ohio Historic Preservation Office have? Can UD be ordered not to destroy the building?
UD owns Building 26 and can tear it down, regardless of what historic preservation organizations and the public think. It is hoped, however, that as the importance of the building where Joe Desch did his work becomes more widely known, the University will rethink its development plan to include Building 26.
The University of Dayton and our community have had a close and mutually beneficial relationship over many decades. Let’s keep that relationship growing by saving Building 26 and using it to recognize the accomplishments of Joe Desch and the hundreds of others who worked on the codebreaking project.
For more information, or to get involved, call Jerry Hauer at 222-2815 or Jim DeBrosse at 307-9111.
On Thursday, April 19, 2007, 7 to 9 p.m., the Springboro Dorothy Lane Market, 740 N. Main Street, will be holding a Pastry Show. Meet Ghyslain Maurais (featured on the Food Network) - pastry chef and chocolatier for DLM.
Taste fabulous new spring creations, all prepared daily using clean, fresh ingredients including organic eggs, European-style but
ter, and real vanilla.
French wines, Belgian ale, and Chasson Bistro Sandwiches will be served with the pastries.
Advance tickets $30. $35 at the door. Available at any DLM Service Booth or online at www.dorothylane.com.
Enjoy demonstrations by Pastry Chef Ghyslain and the DLM Patisserie staff.
The twenty-first annual Friends of Smith Gardens “Perennial Sale” will be held on Friday, April 20th and Saturday, April 21 at the Oakwood Community Center, 105 Patterson Road. The hours are from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Over 100 varieties of plants will be available including perennials, hostas, ferns, herbs, ornamental grasses, daylilies and some annuals.
All plant material is Ohio grown, within a 100 miles of Dayton. All of the growers are known for their excellent quality plants. Plant material will be potted in 3”and 41/2” pots, quarts and gallon containers and will arrive in Oakwood the day of the sale so all the plants are fresh from the growers and the best of quality.
A complete listing of plants is now available at the Community Center, 105 Patterson Road or by calling the OCC at 298-0775.
This fundraising event is open to the public with proceeds going to the care and maintenance of Smith Gardens.
Join us Thursday, April 26 at 6 p.m. at The Lutheran Church of Our Savior, 155 East Thruston Blvd for our Welcome to Spring Potluck Supper. Attendees are invited to bring their favorite culinary efforts to share based on their last names:
A through F: Main dish. G through M: Dessert. N through Z: Salad or vegetable.
Please bring enough plates and utensils for your party. Beverages and rolls will be provided.
Local historian and author Tom Cecil will give a presentation on President George Washington titled, “What You Always Wanted to Know About Our First President”. This will also include a fun skit performed by local actors.
Although there is no charge, we need to know how many will attend. Please contact Teresa Prosser @ 293-8506 or by email, teresa.prosser@sinclair.edu. Parking and entrance is at the rear of the church. This will prove to be a filling and educational treat for diners and historians of all ages. See you April 26.
Gardeners in search of plants for their shade or woodland garden are sure to find them at this year’s Wildflower Sale at Cox Arboretum & Gardens MetroPark. It will be held on Saturday, April 21 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. in the Arboretum’s Edible Landscape Garden Pavilion.
All plants have been propagated and grown in Cox Arboretum’s five-acre Woodland Wildflower Garden or rescued from local habitats.
Each plant will be tagged with information about bloom period, light conditions and moisture needs. Knowledgeable volunteers from the Cox Wildflower Group will be on hand to answer questions and help visitors pick out the plants best suited for their garden.
In addition to the plants for sale, visitors can take a guided tour of the Wildflower Garden. Also, they can sit in on the “All About Our Wildflowers” plant identification program running continuously throughout the event in the MeadWestvaco Theatre inside the Zorniger Education Center.
Funds raised through the sale support the volunteers’ work to preserve and increase the population of native wildflowers, as well as other Arboretum programs. The Woodland Wildflower Group is recognized for its work rescuing plants in jeopardy when their habitats are destroyed.
Additional parking is available at Bauer Elementary School, just south of the park. Trams will be available to shuttle visitors to/from the sale.
Cox Arboretum & Gardens MetroPark is a landscape arboretum that offers gardening, nature and horticulture to visitors of all ages and backgrounds. Featuring 189 acres of specialty gardens, woodlands, prairies and other natural areas, Cox Arboretum offers a unique outdoor learning and recreational experience. Educational programming, centered on plants, trees, wildlife and the conservation sciences, is offered for all ages. Ohio’s only native butterfly house, which opens for the season on June 23, is located at Cox Arboretum.
For more information, call 937-434-9005 or visit www.coxarboretum.org.
2nd floor balcony of the Patterson Homestead.
Join us for a delightful afternoon of tea, poetry and exciting remnants of the past at the historic Patterson Homestead, Sunday April 29, from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Enjoy hot and iced tea, lemonade, a variety of pastries, tea sandwiches and desserts amidst the ornamental garden and on the second floor balcony. Experience 19th century poetry readings greeting and celebrating spring. Relax with your cup of tea while listening to music and witnessing the beginnings of spring.
Tour the Homestead’s five 19th-century rooms and one Patterson exhibit room. Discover a unique tea set in each period room. Don’t miss your chance to celebrate all the wonders of spring at the Patterson Homestead afternoon tea.
Tickets are $20 per Dayton History Member and $25 per non-member. Tickets can be purchased for $20 each for two or more people. Space is limited. For more information, or to make reservations, please call (937) 222-9724. Period dress is welcome.
The original party filled up so quickly that Miss Pat has added a second one!!! Hurry in, space is limited to the first 15 princesses!!!
Look! Here comes Cinderella! You are invited to join us at Smith Gardens for a Princess Tea Party. Come dressed in your prettiest outfit (moms too), for an afternoon of fun and elegance. Moms are encouraged to stay to serve their little princess. Activities will include crafts, music, individual pictures and a description of outfits. Light refreshments including tiny tea sandwiches, lemonade, assorted desserts and of course tea will be served.
What little girl wouldn’t LOVE to come to a tea party? Register today!
Date: Saturday, May 5, 2007 from 2:30 – 4 p.m.
Fee: $15 (M), $22 (NM), $30 (NR). Location: Smith Gardens, in case of rain it will be held in the OCC Great Room.
April is National Donate Life Month. Community Blood Center/ Community Tissue Services ™ (CBC/CTS™) urges area residents to give life by pledging to be an organ and tissue donor at www.donatelifeohio.org, becoming a potential bone marrow donor by joining the National Marrow Donor Program [call 1(800)388-GIVE] and by donating blood on Saturday, April 21, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Oakwood Community Center, 105 Patterson Rd., Oakwood. Sponsored by the Oakwood Rotary.
On two Monday evenings during the spring Wright Library will present special preschool storytimes. Children ages 3 to 5 will have fun listening to stories and making simple crafts led by children’s librarian, Mrs. Rose. No registration is required.
Monday, May 14: Celebrate Transportation Week. Come listen to stories about trains, boats, automobiles, bicycles, and walking. Make your own vehicle.
Contact the Children’s Room at 294-7171, or for more information visit the Wright Library website.
Come celebrate with Wright Library! Jennifer Mattingly, Education Program Specialist at the Montgomery County Public Works Department, will be at Wright Library on Wednesday, April 18, at
10:30 a.m. to help celebrate National Library Week.
Ms. Mattingly will present a program for children ages 2-6 about the benefits of recycling and make a craft with the children. “Curby the Cardinal,” the recycling mascot, will also attend the program and will be available for pictures. This program is free and no registration is required. Anyone with questions can call the Children’s Department at 294-7171.
Join special guest speaker Pam Guiden, RN, BSN, from Children’s Medical Center for her talk about incorporating nutrition and exercise into a child’s daily life on Tuesday, April 24 at 7 p.m.
Ms. Guiden will speak to Moms and Dads in Wright Library’s meeting room while children ages 2-6 can enjoy stories about food and nutrition with Mrs. Rose in the Children’s Room. Both sessions are free but registration is required.
To register, please stop by the Children’s Room or call the Children’s Department at 294-7171. For more information visit the Wright Library website.
Local author and Oakwood public safety officer Tim Harrison will discuss his new book “Wildlife Warrior: More Tales of Suburban Safaris” on Sunday, April 22, at 3 p.m. in the Wright Library’s meeting room. Harrison will educate and entertain with his stories of wild animal rescues. With over 30 years of experience, there is little in the world of wild animals that Tim Harrison hasn’t seen. He always brings animals to his programs so if you are afraid of snakes, be warned! This program is for all ages. Registration is not required.
In addition to his many local publication and television appearances, Harrison has been featured on Animal Planet, National Geographic, Inside Edition, and was a regular on Warner Bros. The Daily Buzz.
In November 2001, he established Outreach for Animals, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public on the dangers of owning exotic animals. This is a message he continues to preach and is the basis of Wildlife Warrior, as well as his first title Wild Times.
Anyone with questions about this program can call Wright Library at 294-7171. A complete list of programs offered at Wright Library can be found at www.wrightlibrary.org.
Celebrate spring with your family at Old River by flying a kite on Sunday, April 22. Kite Nite is a chance for you and the family to show off your flying skills, or try flying a kite for the first time. Bring your own kite and show off your skills or just sit back and enjoy the calm of the spring evening. You don’t have your own kite? Not a problem! There will be plastic kite kits available for a nominal fee. We can’t guarantee the weather conditions; there is no rain date for this program. Call the Leisure Line at 297-2935 for program updates.
Mark your calendars now for the annual Salute to Senior Luncheon on Wednesday, May 2. This event is open to any area senior and is free for Oakwood Senior residents 60 years and older. The activities planned include entertainment, door prizes and of course a wonderful Lunch. Space is limited please call the OCC now, 298-0775, to reserve your place.
Has your bike been sitting unused all winter? This class will get your bike in peak condition for summer. The class will cover most repairs that do not require specialized tools or equipment. If you have a bike tool kit please bring it with you. Also children in K – 6th grade stay and join us for our Bike Rodeo. This program includes skills course and bike registration by the Oakwood Safety Department. Top scores for each age group, from the skills course, will be sent into the Montgomery County AAA, and invited to compete in a countywide Bike Rodeo.
Date: Saturday, April 28
Times: 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Bicycle Maintenance, 10:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. Bike Rodeo
Location: Edwin D Smith Elementary Parking lot Beginning Riding (Ages 5-10)
This class will provide age appropriate education and skills for the beginner riders. The children will be instructed on safety issues, equipment and basic handling skills. All participants must be able to ride a bike before the session begins. The class will be complete in one evening.
There are three dates to choose from:
Monday, April 30
Wednesday, May 2
Friday, May 4
Kiddie Kamp (ages 3-5)
Summer in Shafor (ages 6-9)
Camp Hodge Podge (ages 8-12)
Tiny Tap (ages 3-5) with Colette Miller, June 18-22.
Tap Camp (ages 6-8) with Colette Miller, June 18-22.
Tennis Lessons with the staff of KTC/Quail Run, starting June 18th.
Ballet with Miss Camille (ages 4-6, grade 1-3, and grades 4-7).
Beginning Riding (ages 5-10) Monday, April 30, Wednesday, May 2, or Friday, May 4.
Jazz Dance Camp (K-3, 4-6, & Jr High/High School) with Trisha Burke-Williams, June 25-29.
Mythic Shorts “New” (grades 6-10) with Jean Howart Berry, June 25-July 27.
Youth Summer Theatre Camp with Teresa Connair (ages 8-13) June 25-29 & July 9-20.
Camp Daylight (ages 6-9) “New All Day Camp” July 9-13.
OCC Soccer Camp “New” (ages 10-14) with Doug Lehman, July 16-20.
Ballet with Miss Camille (ages 4-6, grade 1-3, and grades 4-7).
Pee Wee Cheerleading (grades 1-3) with Colette Miller, July 30-August 3.
Intermediate Tumbling (grades 1-3) with Colette Miller, July 30-August 3.
Cheerleading Camp (grade 4-6) with Colette Miller, July 23-27.
Intermediate Tumbling (grade 4-6) with Colette Miller, July 23-27.
Tennis Camp Deuce “New” incorporation with Hollinger Tennis Club, (ages 4-6 July 9-13, age 7-11 July 16-20, ages 12-14 July 23-27).
Ralleyball “New” incorporation with KTC/Quail Run & Hollinger Tennis Club, (ages 5-7, 8-10, & 13-17),
August 13-17.
Art Camp (ages 8-12) with Jane Brennan, August 13-17.
Sports Camp (ages 7-10) August 13-17
The Oakwood Community Center is currently taking registrations. For more information about these camps please stop by the Oakwood Community Center 105 Patterson Rd., or call 298-0775.
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