Historical Markers
Historical Markers
The City of Moraine has a rich history from Johnny Appleseed to the Wright Brothers. Moraine Historical Markers have been erected throughout Moraine at sites honoring historical figures, buildings or businesses.
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Soldiers Home Road
Many veterans traveled this road to reach the “Soldiers Home” four miles north on Gettysburg Avenue. Several National Homes for Union veterans were established after the Civil War to provide domiciliary care, medical and hospital treatment for all injuries and diseases.
Laughead Log Cabin
This is the former site of a log cabin built in 1803 by David Laughead, a revolutionary War veteran.
The Pinnacles
The Pinnacles consisted of a gorge with uniquely shaped large boulders on its slopes created during the ice age. In 1899, while watching birds ride the cliff air currents and twist the tips of their wings during flights, the Wright Brothers developed their eventual wing warp theory for airplanes.
Johnny Appleseed Site
In the 1820’s during a hike from Urbana to Cincinnati, John “Johnny Appleseed” Chapman planted a grove of apple trees just west of Dorf Drive in German Village.
First Schoolhouse
This brick building, erected in 1885, was Moraine’s first schoolhouse. In 1890, attendance at this District No. 12 school was 14 pupils. In 1924, District No. 12 was dissolved and consolidated into West Carrollton Exempted Village School District.
Crume Brick Company
Considered the oldest industry in Moraine, in 1848 settler Jacob Hammel purchased a canal boat and trafficked on the Miami & Erie Canal. Later he manufactured bricks before becoming a successful tobacco farmer.
Wright Seaplane Base
South of the Main Street Bridge at the inner bend of the Great Miami River was where one of the world’s first seaplane bases was located. Orville Wright tested his hydro-aeroplanes from 1912 to 1914 over one hundred times along this stretch of the river.
The Ohio Electric Railway Company
This interurban system formed in 1907 until 1927, providing efficient passenger service to our area.
Great Miami Turnpike
Constructed in 1840 and was later known as Cincinnati-Dayton Pike, Dixie Highway and U.S. Route 25, this was one of the first major roads connecting Dayton to Cincinnati. The dirt road, once traveled by foot, horse, wagon or stagecoach, was eventually paved with macadam (compacted broken stone), concrete or brick.
Zion Memorial Church
This was the first church in Moraine established in 1820. It’s first ministers were circuit riders on horseback.
Historical Street Names
When developing this residential plat around 1916, Charles Kettering and Col. Edward Deeds, Dayton-Wright Airplane Company partners, named Steinmetz, Marconi, Fulton and Edison Avenues after famous scientists/inventors.
Historic Blanchard Avenue
Fourteen homes were built on Edison Avenue (now named Blanchard Avenue) in 1917 and occupied by workers at the nearby Dayton-Wright Airplane Company. Every home was a Sears Roebuck & Company mail-order home ordered from catalogs and were shipped pre-cut and numbered for construction.
Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
Dayton-Wright Airplane Company was formed in 1917. Orville Wright and H.E. Talbot manufactured America’s first bomber, the DeHavilland DH-4. A total of 3,106 planes were built at this site for use in WWI.
Delco-Light & Frigidaire
In 1915 Charles Kettering invented the Delco-Light set which enabled isolated farms, previously lit by kerosene, candles or gas, to utilize electricity. These sets were manufactured at this site with the buildings later utilized by the Frigidaire Company for the manufacture of self-contained refrigerators.
Moraine Field
Dayton’s first Municipal Airport was located here from April 1926 to 1928. The airport was owned by Bernard Whelan and Howard Rinehart, test pilots at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company.
Miami & Erie Canal
Construction began in 1835 and was completed in 1845, beginning in Toledo and ending in Cincinnati creating a water route from Lake Erie to the Ohio River. Boats up to 80 feet long were towed along the canal by donkey, horse or ox on a prepared towpath bringing settlers and goods to the area. Canal Lock 22 was located here at the corner of Dryden Road and East River Road.
Moraine Airpark
The Moraine Airpark moved from its original Stroop Road location in 1955 where it originally was called South Dayton Airport. The Airpark is noted for several world record accomplishments. The airpark is on the site where Orville Wright tested seaplanes from 1912 to 1914.
Phil Donahue
On November 6, 1967, the Phil Donahue Show launched at WLWD, now WDTN, studios in Moraine. The groundbreaking show was the first popular talk show to feature a format that included audience participation and became known for its wide-ranging discussions on social and controversial issues.
D & M Welding
D&M Welding is rooted in the foundation of the Crume Brick Company, considered the oldest business in Moraine. Founded by early settler Jacob Hammel, he began producing sand limestone bricks at the very same location as today.