NCR Building 26: Update on critical recent developments

Some time ago I spoke with Roger Crum at UD, who told me that the engineering students there have a yearly project. It seems completely appropriate that these students take on the problem of removing the facade around Building 26, and then locating photos or drawings of the original building in order to replace the decorative architectural details. Once the building is restored, the business students can develop a plan for its re-use. Joe Desch was one of their star pupils, and UD has an obligation to preserve that building.

What a shame to demolish a structure with such significance. There is no reason why UD can't reuse the existing structure and change the use of the facility.
Judging from the photographs I've seen on the History Dayton website, it wouldn't take much to restore and replicate what is currently in place.

In the past, UD has taken a strong interest in historical preservation. When their St. Joseph Hall was destroyed by fire, they spent untold wealth to restore it. The only thing that remained after the fire was four brick walls, yet they brought the building back. Clearly UD understood then that actual buildings represent important focal points for communities. One would have expected that as they extend their campus community off campus and into new parts of Dayton, they would extend their sensibility for historic preservation that has guided them on campus. Instead, UD has chosen to divide the project into East and West sections. Thereby making an end run around the law and avoiding the very modest Section 106 Historic Review discussions. This strikes one as uncharacteristic for UD. One would hope that Dan Curran will step forward and commit to the preservation of this significant structure. The community expects him to not bring the wrecking ball down on it like so many other significant local structures such as the NCR Auditorium.

It would have been nice to see voices raised in opposition before the stables [1913 flood morgue] on Main St. were
were destroyed to make way for the DDN. Say, aren't they really pushing to save 26?

I have to say, your group is missing the forest for the trees. It seems, no matter how impractical or expensive you want to save this building at all costs. UD is not being disrespectful, or impetuous. Practically speaking, you believe all the hype and misinformation that is put out. There are NOT millions of dollars available and the building is not in something worthy of saving. This group did not purchase the building, you only complain about what others do. Spend your time saving something else that really is worth it. How about all of you go together and purchase the Arcade, then you may do with it as you wish, and you can pay the taxes, elec. etc. Put your money where your mouth is.

UD has the money....and with the high salaries they pay people over there, they can save this building. Dayton is the only city I know that
continually demolishes its historical buildings and leaves no legacy of anything anymore. They should save this building or at least a major
part of it that contained a majority of the work during the war and leave it as a monument or something like that. Some older colleges have
a memorial or historical building with all their own artifacts in it...perhaps they can do that with part of their building. With all the smart
and innovative minds that are running that place and working there....cannot someone come up with a good solution?????

Far be it for me to advocate the loss of history, but you have to look at the facts. Yes, this building was used in a significant way for a significant purpose. This should be celebrated. However, the fact remains that the building is nothing like it was when these activities were happing, and very little actually remains of the the original building.
Why should people fight and fight and fight for every single piece of dust and dirt that MAY have been around when something important was happening in the general area? It seems to me that battles should be picked a little more carefully.
Again, I am a lover of history (and in the interest of full discloser, I do have a history degree from UD) but which is more important, "saving" a building that has only slight ties to the past that happened on the site, or working toward finding uses for sites that are now close, but could (and should) be opened to the public again (the Arcade, Memorial Hall, etc).

Thank You.

-d

Here is a letter I sent to the Dayton paper last week.

My bottom line we need to continue the fight even if/when the original building is destroyed. Those who steal from our common historical heritage believe they can get away with it if they can just act before the people can react. We need to compel UD to rebuild Building 26 at their expense, both for the sake of the history made there and to set a precedence that may make those who pursue a similar strategy to UD's think twice.


Save UD - and Building 26


This week we were reminded to two tragedies, one necessary, the other self inflicted.  Ken Burns mini series The War reminded us of the terrible human cost of a war that was necessary.  This papers brief article on 27 September reminded us that the site of Daytons greatest contribution in that war, Building 26, would soon be destroyed.

The determination of Dan Curran, the current president of University of Dayton (UD), to demolish Building 26 will make the Dayton area poorer and committ his successors to a decades long fight they will ultimately loose - at great cost to UD.

Dan Curran seems to think if he can get Building 26 torn down the protests will go away.  He had adopted a strategy similar to one used by the Pharisees, if they could just get Jesus crucified he would cease to annoy them.  His strategy will work no better then theirs.

Just as the men who died at Gettysburg so the Union might live hollowed that ground far beyond our poor powers to add and subtract, so the men and women who invented and worked in Building 26 so a free world might live have hollowed that ground far beyond Dan Currans powers to destroy.  Just as construction of retail buildings on the battlefield at Gettysburg led to a decades long campaign to tare them down and return the ground to its original condition, so the retail buildings UD said it will build on the ground of Building 26 will simply prompt a similar campaign.

The losses to UD may start small but will grow; growing reluctance of donors to support such a destructive institution, growing reluctance of parents of potential students to trust their children's futures to an institution with such contempt for their past.  In time the University of Dayton will decide to cut their losses, tare down their retail buildings and build a replica of Building 26 on the originals site.   

This will not completely undo the damage.  UD will be permanently weakened,  its reputation tarnished, its enrollment down, its finances depleted - first by the decades long fight, then by the cost of rebuilding Building 26.  Dayton will suffer too.  A diminished UD will contribute less to the community and the replica of Building 26 will draw a fraction of the tourists the real building would have.

When the full magnitude of Daytons and UDs loss becomes apparent it will, no doubt, be popular to blame Dan Curran.  Yet he will not pay the costs.  Those cost will be paid by the UD community and the people of the Dayton area.  This may actually be just, as UD could have removed Dan Curran, Dayton could have blocked his plan.  The fault lies not with one man but with our inaction.

Misconceptions about Building 26

UD has skillfully fought its campaign to destroy Building 26 by perpetuating three misconceptions. Unfortunately, a forth misconception may destroy UD.

1. UD wants the debate to be about architecture. Its not about the architecture, its about the history.

UD has worked to focus the debate on architecture, arguing not enough of the original building is undisturbed to warrant Building 26s preservation. Actually there are far more experts, with far more impressive credential and far higher credibility who say there is enough of the original Building 26 to preserve. Just as big tobacco created a myth that the health effects of their product was in doubt, so UD has created the misconception that the viability of the original building is in doubt. This also deflects debate from the real issue, the importance of Building 26 has nothing to do with architecture, but with the history that was made there. The millions of lives saved during World War II and its profound impact of the shape of the post war world makes Building 26 hollowed ground and one of the most historic sited in this hemisphere.

2. UD wants to emphasize its legal rights. Its not about what is legally right, its about what is morally right.

UD has argued it has a legal right to destroy the original Building 26. While some have questioned the legality of UDs use of public funds, is probably legal for them to destroy the original Building 26. However, the real issue is whether UD, or anyone, has the moral right to destroy a structure of global historical significance. As a Catholic University UD should be well aware of the Churchs doctrine that not all that is legal is moral. From legal taxing of Church property, to the legal torture of prisoners, to Nazi Germanys legal genocide of six million Jews, the Church have long held that laws do not make the immoral moral. UD does not have a moral right to destroy a world history site that is as important to Israel, Britain, France, the entire world, as it is to the United States.

3. UD would have us believe their critics are stuck in the past. Its not about the past, its about the future.

UD has claimed they have been more then patient with a bunch of old fogies, who will soon pass away. Actually the importance of Building 26 is to future generations - as a reminder to those yet unborn of how innovation and hard work can change the course of history. Building 26 played such an important role in history the original or a recreation will stand on the site centuries after most buildings in Dayton will have been torn down and replaced several times.

4. There is a final misconception - in addition to creating misconceptions UD appears to be operating under a misconception that may prove fatal. UDs rush to destroy Building 26, before they even announce how they plan to use the land, suggests they are under the misconception that the supporters of preserving the original Building 26 will go away once demolition begins. Demolition will not end the protests, demolition will greatly increase the size, intensity and duration of the protests.

In reality all that UD will accomplish with their rush to destruction is to greatly increase their cost to restore Building 26. If UD yet decides to preserve Building 26 the preservationist, the World War II veterans and others will generously contributed funds. By destroying the original Building 26 UD will be invoking the Pottery Barn rule, that is, you broke it you bought it. Those who would have worked to rase money to help UD will work to raise money to fight UD.

It took time after the declassification of Ultra for the world's history text books to be re-written. It will also take time for the relatively recently declassified achievements made in Building 26 to be included in the worlds history text books. When the people of the world understand the decisive impact Building 26 had during Democracys darkest hour there will be a fire storm of condemnation against UD. In time UD will decide to rebuild Building 26 as a way to mitigate the consequences of their vandalism. By then UD will have to do so with their own diminished funds. Even when UD completes the reconstruction of Building 26 so much damage will have been done to UD's reputation, enrollment and finances they may not be able to recover.

In a way those fighting to save the current Building 26 are also fighting to save UD.

Your article showing UD has begun their vandalization of Building 26 hit me on a very personal level.

During World War II my father was in the infantry, trained in amphibious assault. He was sent to the Pacific as an individual replacement. If the war had continued his odds of getting killed were very high. Without the breakthroughs made in Building 26 it is very likely neither I nor my brothers, or my sister would have ever been born. All the contributions my father made during his career at Bell Labs, all my contributions during my 30 years in the Air Force, all the contributions one of my brothers is making at NASA would have never happened. None of my children nor the children of my siblings would have ever been born, hence the world would have lost all the contributions they have yet to make. That is the impact Building 26 made by saving the life of one man. Multiply that impact by the millions of others from New York to Los Angeles, from London to Tel Aviv to Piking who owe their lives to the men and woman who changed the course of history in Building 26 and a blind man can see the monumental impact that building had.

However, none are so blind as those who stubbornly refuse to see. After all that has been written the leadership of UD must now know the global historical significance of Building 26. Apparently they have decided they would rather vandalize a world historical site then admit they have made a colossal mistake.

The proper course for sights of this importance is to restore the location to its appearance when history was made. How can this be now realized?

First, as the work in Building 26 was declassified after most of the books on World War II were written, those of us who know need to spread the word nationally and internationally. As knowledge of the impact of Building 26 spreads the strength of those working to restore the site will grow.

Second, one or more strategies need to be acted on. As persuasion has not worked what options are there? I see only two; coerce UD to do the right thing and/or bypass UD all together and get the federal government to use their powers of imminent domain to acquire the site of Building 26.

UD can be coerced by restricting their sources of income. Individuals can work to delay or block federal and state grants. Alumni and other donors can refuse to contribute until the site is restored and they can encourage others donors to do the same. Parents and potential students can decide to go to college where history is respected. Current UD students can boycott the campus store, buying their text books on line.

The federal government will respond to both domestic and international prompting. When voters in all 50 states write their elected officials Congress will respond. When foreign governments respond to the will of their peoples and lobby the US government action will come.

I do not know how long it will take these measures to restore the site to its historical appearance. After over one hundred years the people succeeded in demolishing modern buildings and restoring a portion of the Gettysburg battlefield to its appropriate appearance. Im convinced those whos lives were saved by Building 26, and their children and their childrens children will fight for much longer - if necessary.



Matthew B. Caffrey Jr.
Beavercreek, Ohio USA

Dayton is a super town in Ohio. My wife and I have family there that we visit. I hope things keep growing there, and it becomes the place to live in Ohio.

Rebuild Dayton

It is hard to read a paper, watch the news, or talk to a friend without learning about another example of Daytons decline.  One of the clearest and saddest examples of this decline is the growing epidemic of abandoned homes.  Most represent a tragedy, both for the family that used to call the house their home and for the community.  All abandon buildings drag down the property values of near by homes and businesses.  Dayton city government has spent millions of their declining funds tearing down these former homes and they plan to spend millions more.  Frankly, city officials are wasting their tax payers money treating a symptom, while spending the same money solve the basic problem.

Daytons basic problem is two fold.  First, many of our old manufacturing jobs have moved overseas.  Second, many of the new high tech jobs have moved out near I-675 and Wright Paterson AFB.  This not only places many of the actual jobs outside of the Dayton city limits but also means that most of the people with those jobs will live in the towns along the I-675 corridor.  

So, to get Dayton growing again we need both jobs that can not be shipped over seas and we need those jobs to be located toward the center of Dayton to encourage the workers to live within city limits. 

A historic site can meet all these criteria.  First, historic sites bring in jobs - often lots of them. The majority of the jobs in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania are due directly or indirectly to the battlefield.  Colonial Williansburg pumps over a billion dollars into Virginias economy each year.  Even cities as large as Philadelphia and Boston owe much of their downtown employment to historic sites.  Second, jobs at historical sites can not be shipped overseas because they are tied to where history happened.  In fact, historical sites bring visitors from overseas.  One third of the tourists on historic Route 66 come from overseas. Finally, Daytons most historic site is near the center of town, making it likely the new workers will live in the city, creating a housing shortage and increasing the tax base.

What is Daytons most historic site?  First, consider what makes a site historic.  Simply being old contributes little, rocks are old, but seldom historic.  Truly historic sites are where the course of history changed.  Independence Hall is one of mankinds most historic places because there a depute between some colonies and their mother country became a war for liberty.  So Daytons most historic site would be where the course of history changed the most.  But where would that be?

Some place associated with Wright Brothers would be most peoples first guess, but is there one place in Dayton, that tourists can visit, where it can be said the airplane was invented?  The building that comes closest is currently at the Henry Ford Museum in Michigan.  There are many Dayton locations that are important in the early history of aviation, but no one of our aviation history sights had enough impact on the course of history to bring in many visitors from out of state, much less from overseas. 

The most historic site in Dayton, and one if the top few sites in this hemisphere is Building 26.  Consider its impact.  The Democracies were loosing the Battle of the Atlantic.  Without supplies from the Arsenal of Democracy, at worst the coalition against Hitler would have been defeated, at best the Soviet Union would have liberated all of Europe and the Cold War would have been far more dangerous and far longer.  Instead the man and women in Building 26 invented and built a precursor to the electronic computer that allowed us to crack Germanys new codes turning the tide in the Battle of the Atlantic and the war.  Very few places anywhere altered history more.  There are also few historic sights in any nation with such a broad appeal, for by helping to avoid a new dark age of prolonged Nazi terror the work in Building 26 saved the lives of people on all the populated continents.  If the work at Building 26 was never done, or done more slowly, Hitlers final solution would have had more time and it is doubtful enough Jews would have survived for the nation of Israel to have ever been created.  Many who owe their lives, or the lives of their parents, to Building 26 will want to come to America to see it, and while in Dayton most will stay to see our aviation history sites and other attractions as well.

The first thing they see, of course, will be the building itself.  Within a few hundred years the distinctive art deco profile of Building 26 will be as iconic of the US home front during World War II as the image of the Alamo is today iconic of the Texas War for Independence.  Inside the visitors will find parts of the building restore to its wartime appearance and parts serving as a museum depicting the buildings impact on the Battle of the Atlantic, its overall impact on the European and Pacific theaters, Daytons other contributions to the war effort and the part the building played in the birth of the information revolution. 

Building 26 will bring in even more jobs.  As all the floor space of the rebuilt building will not be needed for the museum  the balance can house a national center for the application of technology to homeland security and defense needs.  Jobs will be created at the center itself and through the grants, contracts and Congressional set asides it will bring in.  Again, given the location, those who get these high paying jobs will likely live in Dayton.

Then there are all the indirect jobs.  There will be no where near enough hotel rooms close by, so existing hotels will need to expand and new hotels will need to be built.  All there tourists and workers will need to eat, creating a boom for fast food and sit down restaurants alike.  The extra traffic will lead to additional direct flights to Dayton and all this development will make Dayton a more attractive candidate for conventions.  Many more construction jobs will be needed to keep up with all the demand for growth.  Finally, as Dayton runs out of empty houses the housing shortage will produce a bidding war for new and old houses alike. 

Of course there is one catch.  University of Dayton (UD)  who owns the site of Building 26, vandalized the original building.  The solution is simple, Dayton can use their power of eminent domain to take the property away from UD.  The money to rebuild Building 26 can come from Dayton as an investment in the citys future, from UD as reparations for their vandalism, and from the people world wide who owe so much to the work done there.

Dayton needs to stop living in the past.  Our lost factory jobs are not coming back.  Spending limited tax dollars to treat symptoms will not turn Dayton around.  Ironically the path to Daytons future is through its history.  To rebuild Dayton we must rebuild Building 26.

Having a world historical site on their campus could have lead to an explosive growth in reputation, enrollment and wealth. As saviour of Building 26 UDs name would in time have been instantly recognized world wide. The stream of national and international visitors to the museum portion of Building 26 could have learned about UD with many returning as students. The building could have also housed the national center for defense applications of technology, bringing in millions.
http://www.golf-cart-accessory.us