Oakwood Historical Society

05/22/2026

In May 1895, the Oakwood Street Railway unhitched its horses, running since 1871, to make way for its new electric cars, and extended its Brown Street line down Oakwood Avenue to the Five Points Loop.

The electric streetcar line provided much faster transportation— only 20 minutes to the Loop from downtown— affording many to relocate from Dayton to the surrounding Five Points area.

But the Lebanon Pike/Far Hills Avenue hill still remained an impediment for expansion of the Village further south.

In 1915, the Village paved the hill with bricks, and the Oakwood Street Railway opened an extension up the steep climb to Aberdeen Avenue. In 1918, the railway was extended further south down the Far Hills esplanade to Hadley Avenue. This prospect of convenient transportation to downtown made people eager to move to “The Far Hills” and caused home construction to boom in the south end of Oakwood.

Oakwood’s last streetcar ran in 1936, having been replaced by the electric trolley bus.

"Photos courtesy of the Oroszi Transportation Archive at Carillon Park." Carillon Historical Park

05/14/2026

That Day in May

On May 22, 1976, Oakwood celebrated America’s Bicentennial with its first "That Day in May" parade!

The day-long festivities were led by the Oakwood Historical Society’s first president, Bob Jefferis, and the Society’s own Mary Lynn Monnin is credited with coining the now familiar name “That Day in May”.

The celebration was such an overwhelming success with the Oakwood community that everyone wanted to do it again the next year! In the following years, "That Day in May" was organized by the Oakwood Historical Society, and then by the Oakwood Jaycees, with assistance from the Oakwood Kiwanis and Optimist clubs.

In 1981, the event almost didn’t happen due to a lack of organizers. The Rotary Club of Oakwood quickly stepped in and saved the day—and it has led this community celebration every year since—ensuring "That Day in May" remains the beloved Oakwood tradition for generations. Oakwood Rotary

Happy 50th Anniversary to "That Day in May"—as we come together to celebrate America250!

05/12/2026

Only 1 spot left if you have children in 1st–4th grades who might be interested.

It's that time of year again. Our children's garden program starts in just a couple of weeks. Space is limited, so sign up soon.

05/05/2026

There are only a few spots left, so register today!!!

It's that time of year again. Our children's garden program starts in just a couple of weeks. Space is limited, so sign up soon.

04/28/2026

It's that time of year again. Our children's garden program starts in just a couple of weeks. Space is limited, so sign up soon.

04/24/2026

FYI,

‼️ LOW TICKET WARNING: Wright at Home, a ✈️ Hawthorn Hill Open House and walking tour of Orville Wright's Oakwood neighborhood, is on April 26, 2026, from noon to 5 p.m. As of April 22, only 100 of 500 tickets remain.

➡️ Pictured: Orville Wright with his beloved St. Bernard, Scipio, who lived at Hawthorn Hill from 1917 to 1923. When Orville died on Jan. 30, 1948, the only photo in his wallet was of Scipio.

📸 Wright State University Collections & Archives

🎟️ TICKETS
🖥️ Online: shop.daytonhistory.org/SelectEvent.aspx?eventid=1000028
☎️ Phone: 937-293-2841
✅ Become a Dayton History member today! 👉 daytonhistory.org/support/membership-levels/

👉 Limited Space Available. Reservations Required. Presented in partnership with The Oakwood Historical Society. All proceeds benefit OHS and Dayton History, two privately funded nonprofits.

04/23/2026

On April 28, 1914, the Wright family moved into their newly completed Hawthorn Hill mansion. Katharine Wright, Bishop Milton Wright, along with their housekeeper Carrie Grumbach, arrived via taxi.

Bishop Wright wrote in his diary on that day in 1914:

"We moved from 7 Hawthorn Street, Dayton, Ohio, to Hawthorn Hill, Harmon (sic) Ave.… I moved to 7 Hawthorn in 1871…. We did with tallow candles, to-night. We arrived in a auto-taxicab at 3:45 afternoon."

Orville Wright missed the excitement of moving day, as he was in New York. Wilbur Wright had died in 1912 of typhoid fever prior to the completion of the new Wright family home.

From the book, Diaries 1857-1917 by Bishop Milton Wright, published by The Wright State University Libraries, 1999.

Want to visit inside Hawthorn Hill? Join Dayton History Carillon Historical Park and the Oakwood Historical Society this Sunday, April 26, for our Open House fundraiser. Advance Tickets Required. Limited Space. Online tickets: https://shop.daytonhistory.org/EventPurchase.aspx?dateselected=4/26/2026)

04/21/2026

Tickets are limited. Come support Carillon Historical Park and Oakwood Historical Society as we partner together for this event. See you there!!!

04/15/2026

Please make sure to join us and Wright Memorial Public Library for the last speaker of our spring Far Hills Speaker series. And, make sure to rsvp on our site for the 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 & 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 we are hosting at the Homestead.

Come out Sunday, April 19, to celebrate America250 with the community.

The Oakwood Historical Society's America250 kickoff includes two events: a Far Hills Speaker Series history presentation followed by a Commemorative Apple Tree Planting to commemorate Johnny Appleseed's activities in the early frontier years of Ohio.

Join for one or both:

𝐅𝐚𝐫 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟏𝟗, 𝟏𝟕𝟕𝟓, 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐭 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐝 '𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝, 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐰 𝐋𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐝
🕒 Event Time: 2 p.m. Sunday, April 19
📍 Location: Wright Memorial Public Library (virtual option available by Zoom at www.wrightlibrary.org/calendar)

Join us for a powerful presentation exploring the stories of Revolutionary War veterans whose lives and legacies are rooted right here in Oakwood and Montgomery County. Their journeys, from England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, and beyond, led them to fight in the battles that shaped the United States, from New England to Virginia and the Southern Campaign of General Greene.

𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 & 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥
🕒 Event Time: 3:30 p.m. Sunday, April 19
📍 Location: West Lawn of Long-Rompsert Homestead, Oakwood Historical Society, 1947 Far Hills Ave.

Join the Oakwood City Council, Green Oakwood, and the Oakwood Historical Society as we plant up tot three native/heritage apple trees, donated by Green Oakwood. Please RSVP for the tree planting at www.oakwoodhistory.org

The City of Oakwood Ohio

01/09/2026

Oakwood history—did you know?
On this day, in 1908 (1/9/1908), the Village of Oakwood was incorporated. Residents voted in favor, 76 to two. Happy 117th, The City of Oakwood Ohio