“You Can Bring These Sweaters to Dayton” was the headline accompanying this photograph published on February 1, 1962, during a time when Dayton was working hard to attract new industry and manufacturing jobs to the community. The sweaters pictured were products of a proposed new sweater factory that Dayton Chamber of Commerce officials hoped to…
Dayton
Sale Creek Man Injured in South Dayton Wreck 1957
This newspaper photograph, which was taken by Jimmy Cunnyngham, a Rhea Central High student at the time captures the aftermath of an automobile accident that occurred on a Sunday night in 1957, just south of Dayton, Tennessee. The wrecked vehicle belonged to John Robert Fuller, a 20-year-old resident of Sale Creek, who lost control of…
A Forgotten Tradition: Funeral Home Parking Meter Covers
Displayed in a glass case in the lobby of Coulter-Garrison Funeral Home is a purple velvet parking meter cover embroidered with the words “Reserved – Coulter Funeral Home.” While it may seem like an unusual keepsake today, it represents a time when downtown Dayton looked very different. Years ago, when Coulter Funeral Home was located…
Robinson Building Center
Pictured above is the Robinson Building Center prior to the fire. (Wilson Collection) Looking Back: The Night Fire Destroyed Robinson Building Center in May 1982 More than four decades have passed since one of the most dramatic commercial fires in Dayton’s history lit up the night sky and brought firefighters from across the region rushing…
M&J GRAND OPENING IN RICHLAND PARK MARCH 15, 1973
M&J SUPERMARKET LEAVES DOWNTOWN FOR NEW SHOPPING CENTER HOME When Richland Park Shopping Center officially opened on Dayton’s north side, M&J Supermarket opened right alongside it—marking a new era in how the community shopped. Relocating from its earlier site at Market and 2nd Avenue, the store introduced expanded space, a modern layout, and increased parking,…
Dayton’s Mark Anton Airport Namesake
(Photo Courtesy Dean Wilson-Anton Family Collection) from Dedication Day to Today: The Story of Mark Anton Airport Mark Anton, prominent business executive and industrial advocate, was born December 3, 1893, in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Peter Byron Anton and Jennie (Orwell) Porette Anton. He was a grandson of John and Barbara (Hooglestein) Anton, immigrants…
History of the Dayton Tennessee Chamber of Commerce
History of the Dayton Tennessee Chamber of Commerce, 1925–2025 While the modern Dayton Tennessee Chamber of Commerce officially recognizes 1954 as its founding year, the idea of a chamber-like organization in Dayton reaches back much further, into the era of the 1925 Scopes “Monkey” Trial, when a civic booster group in Dayton became visible through…
Lord Dayton Underware- Robinson Mfg Company
During the middle decades of the twentieth century, Lord Dayton stood as a dependable name in men’s woven underwear, produced by Robinson Manufacturing Company of Dayton, Tennessee. Established in the late 1920s, Robinson Manufacturing became one of the area’s most important textile employers, supplying garments that combined durability, comfort, and practical value for everyday wear.…
Max Shaver of Shaver Airfield
Max Shaver Establishes Shaver Aire Field Max Shaver’s story begins with his service in World War II. He served in the United States Army Air Forces as a bomber pilot, reaching the rank of first lieutenant in the 101st squadron. During the war he flew 35 combat missions, bombing targets in France, Germany, and Belgium.…
Cynthia Rodiguez Leaves a Mark On Our History
Our Community’s Quiet Strength: The Story of Cynthia Rodriguez I have always believed that history is not made only by the famous, the loud, or those who stand in the spotlight. More often, it is shaped by the people who work quietly—those who care, give, and support without seeking recognition. As someone passionate about preserving…