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Built between 1908 and 1910 by Albert Pretzinger for James M. Cox to house the Dayton Daily News, it is modeled after the Knickerbocker Trust building in New York City, this Beaux-Arts style building stands out in Downtown Dayton. The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places individually in 1978 and again in 2019 as part of the Downtown Dayton Historic District.
This building was recognized by Preservation Ohio as one of the most endangered historic sites in the state twice in 2017 and 2019.
The following is a history written by PDI Member and house historian, Betsy Wilson:
The former Dayton Daily News Building built by Governor Cox has been vacant since 2007 when the Dayton Daily News relocated to a new facility. This historic structure stands at the corner of Ludlow and Fourth Streets directly across from the $115+ million investment in the renovation of the iconic Dayton Arcade and two blocks east of Sinclair Community College.
This 1908 building was the flagship of Ohio governor and later presidential candidate James M. Cox’s newspaper empire, which began with the Dayton Daily News and later included such papers as the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. This served as the headquarters of the Dayton Daily News until Cox Enterprises moved their offices elsewhere in 2007. Not only did this building house one of Dayton’s three (later two, now one) daily paper(s), it was the epicenter of Cox’s influence across the city, the state, and the nation as the 1920 Democratic presidential candidate.
According to Cox's autobiography, he was turned down for a loan by a local banker who told him “Newspapers have never been known to earn money. Of course we can’t accommodate you.” After being turned down by the bank, Cox asked Pretzinger to "build him a damn bank" so it was modeled after the Knickerbocker Trust building in New York City. Among the most significant components of the three-story building are those surrounding the entrance: three bays wide, the facade features a set of Corinthian columns, a set of fluted columns in the Doric order that form a grand frontispiece around the entrance, and a partial pediment with a cornice supported by cornucopiae. Its walls are built of a mixture of wood and granite. In April, 2007, the newspaper's editorial and business offices moved to the former NCR Building 31 at 1611 S. Main St. on Dayton's south side, near the University of Dayton campus.
The mid-century modern section of the newspaper complex and the 1913 terracotta Schwind Building at 27 Ludlow on the same block north of the historic structure were imploded in August 2013 as part of the city’s support for a developer to build student housing on the block. The developer, Student Suites, LLC planned to preserve and integrate the original 1908-1910 historic newspaper building and the 1922 addition which matched the original structure as a component of the student housing complex.
The threat is serious and imminent. The exterior of the building continues to deteriorate. Cox Enterprises removed the signature front doors from the building and supposedly are housing them in their Atlanta headquarters.
The 2014 plans to redevelop the property ultimately failed. Tragically, the 1922 portion of the building along Fourth St., which matched the original 1908 structure, was demolished by mistake. A delay in the city’s efforts to obtain a clear title on the Schwind parcel from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, a mechanics lien by Steve R. Rauch, Inc. the demolition contractor, and the developer’s inability to obtain financing contributed to the failure of the project. Ultimately, Steve R. Rauch, the demolition contractor, took possession of the remaining historic building to settle the mechanic lien against Student Suites.
The city of Dayton purchased the vacant adjacent parcels from Student Suites for $425,000. In 2017, the city issued a request for qualification to develop the property. The RFQ mentions the Cox Newspaper Building as an asset. Thus far, no preservation plans have been announced for the historic landmark.
On April 28, 2021, the city transferred interest in the parcels surrounding the building to the Montgomery County Landbank to help advance potential redevelopment. The building is available on LoopNet for $1,250,000.
This building was recognized by Preservation Ohio as one of the most endangered historic sites in the state twice in 2017 and 2019.
The following is a history written by PDI Member and house historian, Betsy Wilson:
The former Dayton Daily News Building built by Governor Cox has been vacant since 2007 when the Dayton Daily News relocated to a new facility. This historic structure stands at the corner of Ludlow and Fourth Streets directly across from the $115+ million investment in the renovation of the iconic Dayton Arcade and two blocks east of Sinclair Community College.
This 1908 building was the flagship of Ohio governor and later presidential candidate James M. Cox’s newspaper empire, which began with the Dayton Daily News and later included such papers as the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. This served as the headquarters of the Dayton Daily News until Cox Enterprises moved their offices elsewhere in 2007. Not only did this building house one of Dayton’s three (later two, now one) daily paper(s), it was the epicenter of Cox’s influence across the city, the state, and the nation as the 1920 Democratic presidential candidate.
According to Cox's autobiography, he was turned down for a loan by a local banker who told him “Newspapers have never been known to earn money. Of course we can’t accommodate you.” After being turned down by the bank, Cox asked Pretzinger to "build him a damn bank" so it was modeled after the Knickerbocker Trust building in New York City. Among the most significant components of the three-story building are those surrounding the entrance: three bays wide, the facade features a set of Corinthian columns, a set of fluted columns in the Doric order that form a grand frontispiece around the entrance, and a partial pediment with a cornice supported by cornucopiae. Its walls are built of a mixture of wood and granite. In April, 2007, the newspaper's editorial and business offices moved to the former NCR Building 31 at 1611 S. Main St. on Dayton's south side, near the University of Dayton campus.
The mid-century modern section of the newspaper complex and the 1913 terracotta Schwind Building at 27 Ludlow on the same block north of the historic structure were imploded in August 2013 as part of the city’s support for a developer to build student housing on the block. The developer, Student Suites, LLC planned to preserve and integrate the original 1908-1910 historic newspaper building and the 1922 addition which matched the original structure as a component of the student housing complex.
The threat is serious and imminent. The exterior of the building continues to deteriorate. Cox Enterprises removed the signature front doors from the building and supposedly are housing them in their Atlanta headquarters.
The 2014 plans to redevelop the property ultimately failed. Tragically, the 1922 portion of the building along Fourth St., which matched the original 1908 structure, was demolished by mistake. A delay in the city’s efforts to obtain a clear title on the Schwind parcel from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, a mechanics lien by Steve R. Rauch, Inc. the demolition contractor, and the developer’s inability to obtain financing contributed to the failure of the project. Ultimately, Steve R. Rauch, the demolition contractor, took possession of the remaining historic building to settle the mechanic lien against Student Suites.
The city of Dayton purchased the vacant adjacent parcels from Student Suites for $425,000. In 2017, the city issued a request for qualification to develop the property. The RFQ mentions the Cox Newspaper Building as an asset. Thus far, no preservation plans have been announced for the historic landmark.
On April 28, 2021, the city transferred interest in the parcels surrounding the building to the Montgomery County Landbank to help advance potential redevelopment. The building is available on LoopNet for $1,250,000.
Help PDI bring Dayton's endangered historic properties back to life!
Our Endangered Properties Committee provides resources and raises funds to proactively stabilize and/or obtain control of these irreplaceable properties. Preservation Dayton maintains an annual list of the Ten Most Endangered properties for intervention, as nominated by you and selected by the Endangered Properties Committee. Visit our Top 10 Endangered Properties page to see the full list of other nominees. If you have an urgent request for an at-risk historic property, please contact us at [email protected].
Please donate today! Your contribution, large or small, will save Dayton's historic structures before they are lost forever.
Your contributions are 100 percent tax deductible and are dedicated solely to preserving Dayton's rich history. The Dayton Foundation processes all gifts and donations to the Preservation Dayton, Inc. Fund #8630, a component fund of The Foundation. You can contribute by clicking the ‘Donate’ button below which takes you to the Dayton Foundation secure website. Or mail your check to payable to "Preservation Dayton, Inc. Fund #8630" Preservation Dayton, P.O. Box 3614, Dayton, OH 45401.
Thank you for your support!
Our Endangered Properties Committee provides resources and raises funds to proactively stabilize and/or obtain control of these irreplaceable properties. Preservation Dayton maintains an annual list of the Ten Most Endangered properties for intervention, as nominated by you and selected by the Endangered Properties Committee. Visit our Top 10 Endangered Properties page to see the full list of other nominees. If you have an urgent request for an at-risk historic property, please contact us at [email protected].
Please donate today! Your contribution, large or small, will save Dayton's historic structures before they are lost forever.
Your contributions are 100 percent tax deductible and are dedicated solely to preserving Dayton's rich history. The Dayton Foundation processes all gifts and donations to the Preservation Dayton, Inc. Fund #8630, a component fund of The Foundation. You can contribute by clicking the ‘Donate’ button below which takes you to the Dayton Foundation secure website. Or mail your check to payable to "Preservation Dayton, Inc. Fund #8630" Preservation Dayton, P.O. Box 3614, Dayton, OH 45401.
Thank you for your support!
