rfk61
16 posts
Sep 02, 2009
8:47 AM
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What are your memories of Downtown at Christmastime?
Mine went something like this every year until we got too old for it. Mom would drive to Dots on Patterson? I think it was Patterson off of Woodman? Then we would take the bus downtown, mom was afraid to drive downtown I guess since she hadn't had her license very long. We went to Rikes and looked at the windows...they were so magical for a little kid. Then we would sit on Santas lap...we have a picture of me with my coat still on because I had a fit and wouldn't take it off after mom dressed me and my sister so nice for the picture. Then we would go to the Tyke Shop and buy gifts for mom & dad. I'm sure we ate lunch in there somewhere but the rest is foggy since it probably involves mom shopping and me getting bored and whining. Lol!
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Steve K
87 posts
Sep 02, 2009
9:44 AM
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Pretty sure this one was taken at Rike's....
http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/k/o/o/Steven-D-Koons/PHOTO/0013photo.html
I left Dayton in 1960, so I don't remember much about Christmas downtown, I'm thinking that the old Sears store by the river used to have a huge train layout in the back where the popcorn machine used to be, later that area was where the repair parts and lawn mower repairs were.
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rfk61
19 posts
Sep 02, 2009
9:47 AM
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That pic is precious, Steve K. I have some of my pics with santa. Is there a way to post pics on this site?
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Curt Dalton
166 posts
Sep 03, 2009
2:01 AM
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Hi rfk61
I would be glad to post some of your pics. Please email them to me at cdalton@woh.rr.com. I will put them in the Dayton Images/Videos section and then put a link here as well.
Curt Dalton
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dquartz
29 posts
Sep 03, 2009
10:37 PM
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I emember the windows and the tike shop at rikes and the old christmas trolley that used to run all over town at that time of year.
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RIVERDALE RAT
141 posts
Sep 05, 2009
12:44 AM
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Does anybody remember the Mile of Dimes donation containers that used stand in front of the old Court house at 3Rd and Main ? they was a regular fixture during every christmas season. toy soldiers with drums and the drums being the donation containers.
Last Edited by on Sep 05, 2009 12:45 AM
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dquartz
51 posts
Sep 05, 2009
10:56 AM
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riverdale.. I remember that display. there used to be a little wooden booth alongsice of it and a guy would sit inside behind a two way glass and play christmas music and thank people as they gave donations.
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RIVERDALE RAT
170 posts
Sep 06, 2009
6:26 PM
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dquartz: yes, you are right. I forgot all about the man in the booth.
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dayton52
5 posts
Sep 07, 2009
7:16 PM
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I remember that the Christmas decorations did not go up until the day after Thanksgiving (imagine that and the stores still made money)!! Anyway, we looked forward to that because we knew that Rikes would have their window's decorated and all the other stores would "dress up" and it was so much fun going downtown looking at all the decorations. Such great memories, so sad they have torn everything down.
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corvettes6
39 posts
Sep 07, 2009
8:29 PM
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Ho
w many remember when they blocked Main St in the late 60"s put a skatting rink in amerrygoround a lot of trees and other Christmass trees etc.
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MOHFAS
2 posts
Sep 08, 2009
6:33 PM
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Well I have great memories with downtown Christmas activities for 27 years.Started by taking my kids when they were a year old.And we also took the bus down just cause it was easier and the people were funny...lol We have now started the same tradition with my granddaughter and we still ride the bus...lol last year was the first year of a night parade and we loved it. hope that continues
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RIVERDALE RAT
288 posts
Sep 14, 2009
11:19 PM
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corvettes6: Are you sure this was in the late 60s, cause I was still there and I dont remember it.
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rodat6
92 posts
Sep 15, 2009
1:53 AM
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I remember the miles of dimes from the early Fifties at the courthouse. Didn't mean anything at the time but they were all silver. lol.
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RIVERDALE RAT
300 posts
Sep 15, 2009
5:46 PM
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rodat6: Yep, it was still there through the mid to late 60s.
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JCofMAINE
6 posts
Sep 15, 2011
12:13 PM
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I worked at Dunhill's clothing store, '59-'62, and Christmas time was a great time to be in that kind of business. I loved meeting people, and having the opportunity to help them shop.
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Butchl1977
2 posts
Sep 18, 2011
8:07 PM
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Man: I miss Dayton!
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swatcop60
2 posts
Sep 30, 2011
4:47 PM
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My mom was a secretary at Rike's during the 70's. I remember getting to go into the store and shop for her. I also remember those window decorations. The Airway shopping center would also decorate the huge tree in front of Kresge's and the whole shopping center would be lit up. I loved Christmas back then. Simple, fun, and you had to wait until after Thanksgiving to find Christmas stuff in the stores.
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PaulH
66 posts
Sep 30, 2011
5:31 PM
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This isn't downtown Dayton, but does anyone remember the Air Force Museum decorating the Atlas missile out front like Santa Clause? I think one year they had a sled and reindeer too.
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Keugene48
184 posts
Sep 30, 2011
8:27 PM
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PaulH I hadn't thought of that in years! I don't remember the sleigh and reindeer but I do remember the Santa missile.
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KenC3
5 posts
Dec 12, 2011
12:03 AM
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I loved going to town during the Holidays. The moving window displays were great. I always took the bus to town and didn't remember the Santa and Reindeer. I apparently was not looking that high.
I went to the Loretto for Chorus practice and then would walk down to Main Street and down the street for my piano lessons. The snow ( wet and melting) and the cold air kept one awake. The lights and displays were great. I would avoid coming home until after dark when I was older so I could really enjoy them.
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rtb51
19 posts
Dec 19, 2013
8:14 AM
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If you wanted to see somebody at Christmas , all you had to do was to go down to Rikes on Saturday and ride the escalators
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JJCofMAINE
58 posts
Dec 31, 2013
10:50 AM
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"Dayton52" mentioned, above, that he remembered Christmas decorations not going up until after Thanksgiving. Does anyone remember the editorialist from one of the newspapers, Bob Batz? He started an annual, ominous "award", of sorts, for the store/business who was the first to put their decorations up, prior to Thanksgiving. I believe he started that in the late 60's, maybe early 70's. Did anyone continue with that award?
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luv my dayton
507 posts
Dec 31, 2013
9:46 PM
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Believe the missile decorated as Santa was up in Fairborn where the original AF museum was. Daytons children's parade for years was the Sunday following thanksgiving then a number of years ago all the holiday activities were held on Friday after thanksgiving during the evening. They have a pretty nice event with the lighting of the trees, carriage rides, carolers, rides for the children and much more. If you haven't been there mark your calender for next year.
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jack1953
58 posts
Jan 01, 2014
3:49 PM
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Does anyone remember when Rikes shut down and what is on that corner now?
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Forgiven, forgotten, set free!!
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luv my dayton
511 posts
Jan 01, 2014
6:09 PM
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Don't remember when it shut down but sat empty until it was demolished. Shuster center was then built on the property and is a beautiful building. Many forms of entertainment are performed there.
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Keugene48
260 posts
Jan 01, 2014
9:03 PM
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Rikes building was imploded on November 7, 1999. Carlson Marketing Group (EF MacDonald)left in 1992, I worked there until early January that year. I don't know how soon after that Lazarus closed the building.
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KennyE11
158 posts
Jan 02, 2014
10:06 PM
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Rike's was merged with Shillito's in 1982, and became Shillito-Rike's, which was eventually merged into the Lazarus chain in 1986. All were part of Federated Department Stores, and were consolidated into the Macy's brand in 2005.
I couldn't find out exactly when the store was closed in 1992. I had a friend that was working there at the time. Losing her job caused her to make the decision to go to Law School.
Dayton Daily News website has some interesting articles on Rike's Downtown, including an article on the origination of the window displays (which references Curt Dalton and this blog), and photos of the implosion:
http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/news/rikes-christmas-display-orginated-in-new-york-city/nM7Xn/
http://www.daytondailynews.com/gallery/news/local/rikes-building-imploded-make-way-schuster-center/g8Ls/#3179841
The Schuster Performing Arts Center website also has some history of the building demolition and the construction of the center:
http://www.schustercenter.org/about/history/key-milestones/
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jack1953
64 posts
Jan 03, 2014
3:55 PM
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Anyone know why they closed?
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Forgiven, forgotten, set free!!
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rtb51
29 posts
Feb 01, 2014
7:41 PM
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Re Bob Batz --He is still kicking and writes a weekly column for the Brookville Star.
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FreedomWriter
69 posts
Feb 02, 2014
10:19 AM
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Im guessing they probably closed down for the same reasons that Sears, Elder beermans and the rest closed down. Because no one goes downtown anymore because of certain elements of being there. Just drove thru downtown just a couple hours ago and it looks mostly like a ghost town. Even though it was a Sunday and most stores were closed on Sunday anyway, there was still always quite a bit of activity going on, but not any longer. Its really sad that our town is so empty on any given day. People need to run the bad elements out of town and take our downtown back again, but that will never happen as long as people dont care and the local government keeps looking the other way. Time to step up Dayton Mayor and Police and DO Something. Perhaps if changes were made, things might start to make a return, but never to the way it used to be.
Last Edited by FreedomWriter on Feb 02, 2014 10:21 AM
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olds88
223 posts
Feb 02, 2014
1:42 PM
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Crime is down in Dayton because nobody left to rob.Panhandling is legal now and that bugs people more than anything but DPD and never saw it that way.Political correctness.Real shame.I was in Cincinnatti last sunday and the streets were quite busy even away from convention center.Lots of buildings renovated instead of demolished and eating places were open.What did Dayton do wrong?WE have this site and they still are living their great past.
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Billd1952
161 posts
Feb 02, 2014
3:27 PM
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Rikes was always a treat during the Christmas Season. however, N.C.R. used to have a Christmas Tree and decorations, even though it wasn't "downtown".
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jack1953
76 posts
Feb 02, 2014
4:51 PM
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I moved out in 1981 to Florida, and when I heard that there were only 5 city high schools left, that speaks for itself of everyone moving to the suburbs!
When I was in high school, I believe there were 11 or 12 city high schools!
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Forgiven, forgotten, set free!!
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luv my dayton
539 posts
Feb 02, 2014
9:07 PM
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Had forgotton about NCR having the tree and decorations. Were they at the auditorium? Wish someone had photos to put on the website as would love to see how things were back then.
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olds88
224 posts
Feb 03, 2014
10:42 AM
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I believe the tree at NCR was across from the aud. on a empty lot that normally had a small fountain.It as the neatest xmas tree around and cars would ride by all night. another tidbit was Mrs. Kettering wanted to make a permanent mall area from monument to third and moving all traffic to Ludlow and Jefferson.She was willing to bankroll part of it.RTA AND city did not like the idea so they went their own way.It would have been a lot like the Greene.Should I say any more.
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