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Welcome to a self-guided walking tour of the Grafton Hill Historic District in Dayton, Ohio.
This walking tour will highlight a few of the architectural and historical features of the Grafton Hill Historic District. The area we know as the Grafton Hill Historic District was designated an historic district by the City of Dayton in 1988 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This walking tour is intended to provide a leisurely walk through the Oregon neighborhood, allowing ample time to pause and appreciate the architecture, the streetscape, and the amenities of the area. We recommend that you allow 90 minutes to complete the tour, and we ask that you walk carefully, as streets and sidewalks can be uneven, and it’s important to observe the terrain while you appreciate the historical and architectural features of the area. |
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The neighborhood borders Downtown Dayton just across the Great Miami River and consists of approximately 18 blocks roughly defined by Grand, Plymouth, Forest and Salem Avenues.
Grafton Hill, and the adjacent Dayton View Historic District, represent the movement of Dayton's affluent residents from the center of the city, north across the Great Miami River during the late Nineteenth and early Twentieth Centuries. On your tour, you’ll enjoy some of the city's best examples of stately, high-style residential architecture from the 1880s to the 1920s. These include Queen Anne, Neoclassical, Tudor, Jacobethan, and Craftsman homes.
Today Grafton Hill maintains its historic charm and an active neighborhood association. The Dayton Art Institute, Dayton Masonic Center, and Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church are all nestled within the boundaries of Grafton Hill. Grandview Medical Center is a great neighbor to the north. Grafton Hill is also within walking distance of the best of Downtown Dayton–including the Schuster Performing Arts Center, Riverscape Metropark, River Run, the bike path, and much, much more. If you have any questions about our vibrant historic neighborhood, please contact the Grafton Hill Association online at https://graftonhill.org
As early as 1819, a small community known as Pearson existed in the vicinity of Riverview, Salem, and Central Avenues. However, the community was no match for the rapidly growing City of Dayton—and Pearson eventually failed.
Later, Judge James Steele and his brother Samuel acquired the land near Riverview. Another brother, Dr. John Steele, a Dayton physician, also owned land in the area. His holdings included the hill at the eastern edge of the Grafton neighborhood. Known as Steele's Hill or Steele's Woods, it was a favorite picnicking spot for pre-Civil War Daytonians. John Steele's original 1835 Greek Revival farmhouse still stands at 40 Central Avenue.
It wasn't until after the Civil War that the neighborhood that is now Grafton Hill began to take shape. In 1869, J.O. Arnold platted land along Central Avenue, east of Salem Avenue. Until 1875, subsequent development by Arnold and William A. Barnett was concentrated primarily to the west side of Salem. That year, John Stoddard, a prominent farm implement manufacturer, platted an exclusive residential area on Steele's Hill. Stoddard named his new plat Belmonte Park and envisioned a neighborhood filled with grand houses in a lovely woodland setting.
Movement to Grafton Hill and Dayton View accelerated after the 1913 flood. Sited on some of the highest ground in the city, both neighborhoods were considered safe from future flooding. Grafton Hill remained a stable, upper middle class neighborhood until the late 1950s and early 1960s, when suburban sprawl contributed to its decline and disinvestment. Today, almost every home and structure in Grafton has been renovated and brought back to life. On your tour, you may see a few houses and apartments that offer opportunities for historic renovation. If you are interested in learning more about these properties, please contact the Grafton Hill Association.
Please begin your tour on Belmonte Park North near the Dayton Art Institute.⋆
↓ Click this box with the arrow to see the details of each property.
Grafton Hill, and the adjacent Dayton View Historic District, represent the movement of Dayton's affluent residents from the center of the city, north across the Great Miami River during the late Nineteenth and early Twentieth Centuries. On your tour, you’ll enjoy some of the city's best examples of stately, high-style residential architecture from the 1880s to the 1920s. These include Queen Anne, Neoclassical, Tudor, Jacobethan, and Craftsman homes.
Today Grafton Hill maintains its historic charm and an active neighborhood association. The Dayton Art Institute, Dayton Masonic Center, and Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church are all nestled within the boundaries of Grafton Hill. Grandview Medical Center is a great neighbor to the north. Grafton Hill is also within walking distance of the best of Downtown Dayton–including the Schuster Performing Arts Center, Riverscape Metropark, River Run, the bike path, and much, much more. If you have any questions about our vibrant historic neighborhood, please contact the Grafton Hill Association online at https://graftonhill.org
As early as 1819, a small community known as Pearson existed in the vicinity of Riverview, Salem, and Central Avenues. However, the community was no match for the rapidly growing City of Dayton—and Pearson eventually failed.
Later, Judge James Steele and his brother Samuel acquired the land near Riverview. Another brother, Dr. John Steele, a Dayton physician, also owned land in the area. His holdings included the hill at the eastern edge of the Grafton neighborhood. Known as Steele's Hill or Steele's Woods, it was a favorite picnicking spot for pre-Civil War Daytonians. John Steele's original 1835 Greek Revival farmhouse still stands at 40 Central Avenue.
It wasn't until after the Civil War that the neighborhood that is now Grafton Hill began to take shape. In 1869, J.O. Arnold platted land along Central Avenue, east of Salem Avenue. Until 1875, subsequent development by Arnold and William A. Barnett was concentrated primarily to the west side of Salem. That year, John Stoddard, a prominent farm implement manufacturer, platted an exclusive residential area on Steele's Hill. Stoddard named his new plat Belmonte Park and envisioned a neighborhood filled with grand houses in a lovely woodland setting.
Movement to Grafton Hill and Dayton View accelerated after the 1913 flood. Sited on some of the highest ground in the city, both neighborhoods were considered safe from future flooding. Grafton Hill remained a stable, upper middle class neighborhood until the late 1950s and early 1960s, when suburban sprawl contributed to its decline and disinvestment. Today, almost every home and structure in Grafton has been renovated and brought back to life. On your tour, you may see a few houses and apartments that offer opportunities for historic renovation. If you are interested in learning more about these properties, please contact the Grafton Hill Association.
Please begin your tour on Belmonte Park North near the Dayton Art Institute.⋆
↓ Click this box with the arrow to see the details of each property.