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bigbob
94 posts
Oct 01, 2009
4:51 AM
Did any of you girls or guys live in Trotwood in the 60's or 70's
JeffN
247 posts
Oct 01, 2009
8:14 AM
My aunt lived in Trotwood ... I visited there often. I think she lived on Parma Drive???
bigbob
95 posts
Oct 01, 2009
9:19 AM
I LIVED THERE FROM 1966-1974. i KNOW IT HAS CHANGED
carlatm75
19 posts
Oct 27, 2009
12:22 PM
I grew up there in the 60s and 70s. I graduated from Trotwood-Madison in 1975. I had two sisters Susan, class of 67 and Sarah, class of 71. JeffN, I think you meant Carma Dr. I never heard of Parma Drive. Carma is off Wolf Creek Pike as you go out of town toward Brookville. Bob did you know either of my sisters?
bigbob
101 posts
Oct 29, 2009
9:01 AM
carlatm75, can't tell you if i did or not know either of your sisters. Maybe Sarah, i went into the army in 71. I lived in the Broadmore development.
KennyE11
3 posts
Dec 18, 2009
12:42 AM
I'm from a Trotwood family. My brother graduated from TM in 65, my sister in 71, and I graduated in 79.
carlatm75
23 posts
Dec 19, 2009
6:07 AM
JeffN, that is the street. Carma is in a brick home development right off Main St/Wolf Creek Pike as you go out of town toward the country. It's past the old Trotwood Meat Locker and Rogers Funeral Home and is on the right hand side.

KennyE11 - what is your last name. I might know the family because I grew up in Trotwood in the 60s and 70s. My parents also owned Nelson Bros. Florist and they belonged to Trotwood TUCC and the Madison Grange.
KennyE11
5 posts
Dec 19, 2009
11:15 PM
I prefer to remain at least somewhat anonymous, however my brother's name is Tim, my sister's name is Pat, and my father was the top salesman at Vaniman Ford for years.
fishers1951
1 post
Jan 01, 2010
8:27 PM
1st post - just found this site -What great memories!! Went to Trotwood High School - but lived out past Salem mall. But fond memories of Trotwood - remember walking from High School to Frisch's every Friday night after football, and then back again to my girlfriends house by the high school. Trotwood Aquatic CLub,Reid's drugstore, soda fountain place on Main Street (cant remember the owners) - across from Vaniman Ford. My dad's family was longtime residents of Trotwood-born and raised there.Now I live out west - but always drive around Trotwood when I come back to Ohio to visit relatives
bigbob
107 posts
Jan 04, 2010
8:53 AM
fishers1951, when did you go to Trotwood High and what do you think of Trotwood today compared to when you lived there.
fishers1951
7 posts
Jan 04, 2010
5:13 PM
grad in '69. Lived in Brookville until about 12 years ago - we moved to Montana. My grandma and parents were born and raised in Trotwood and remember the good old days going to church, grange, stores with both of them. Still enoy driving around when I get back that way. Getting ready for class reunion next June - cant wait for this visit -havent been back in 2 years
Curt Dalton
259 posts
Jan 04, 2010
6:21 PM
I lived in Trotwood for a few years in the early 1980s in one of the mobile homes on the main drag near what used to be Frisch's Big Boy. Around 1984 I went around to the various businesses and the city council and gathered up recipes and put together the Trotwood-Madison Community Cookbook, then sold them at the local beauty shops. I mention this as it was my real first book and also because the mayor at the time was kind enough to give me a recipe for Corn Soup. I put the recipe in, and added the comment that the "recipe is almost as corny as the mayor"... Luckily he took it as it was meant - a joke - as the mayor was a great guy! But looking back, it could have easily gone the other way. Thank goodness he was a class act.
I sold 100 copies and had a lot of fun meeting all of the people in the town that liked the book. I later grabbed a job at Elder-Beermans on the main drag. By then it was an outlet for damaged and out-dated furniture and other items. I sold furniture for awhile, then moved on - something I did a lot of back then.

Last Edited by on Jan 04, 2010 6:22 PM
bigbob
108 posts
Jan 05, 2010
10:38 AM
Curt,i had a friend who would wait on cars to come by and he would jump off the bridge next to Frisches and grab a bottom rail and then pull himself back up, he was crazy and if you seen him do it you thought he really jumped off. I also had a friend who ran away from home and slept in a cardboard box in the empty building next to Elder Beermans. It was in the winter time and really cold and he still went to school each day. I guess i had some strange friend back then, it was in the late 60's I know Trotwood has changed and probably would not want to live there now,. I do have a lot of good memories from back then.
carlatm75
27 posts
Jan 05, 2010
5:43 PM
Fishers1951 - My parents were members of the Madison Grange also. I remember going to meetings and fundraisers with them at the grangehall on Main St. I also remember cruising Frisch's after the football games. We didn't have much money but we always managed to get fries and hot chocolate. And swimming at the Aquatic Club. I got all my clothes at Elder Beerman's when growing up. Do you remember sitting in the field beside Beerman's watching the fireworks on the 4th of July. It seemed like the whole town was there.
LINDA09
15 posts
Jan 05, 2010
5:50 PM
KennyE11.... My first husband and I bought a new 69 Mustang from your dad. It was a great car. Wish I had it back..the car ...not the husband !!
KennyE11
6 posts
Jan 12, 2010
12:12 AM
LINDA09 - Glad to hear you met my father. He generally made a good impression on people - a very likeable guy. That really helped selling cars. It seems like things were never the same after Vaniman's closed - Ken Rogers Ford was never the same, especially the new facility on Salem Avenue.
I was glad the old Vaniman Ford building remained on Main Street. I live in Florida, but whenever I visited family in Ohio, I would drive by the old showroom and could still picture my dad, sitting at his desk in the front corner, waving at everyone that honked their horn as they drove by...
By the way, the 69 Mustang was always my favorite, especially the fastback, Mach One version.
fishers1951
9 posts
Jan 12, 2010
6:52 PM
KennyE11 - Now that I know who your father is, he and my Dad were real good friends - My Dad was Russ Hammond. I remember him telling stories about hanging out at Vaniman's. I think they graduated together from Trotwood?
LINDA09
16 posts
Jan 12, 2010
9:09 PM
KennyE11....It was a black,fastback Mach One!! I learned how to power shift in that car. Whee..what a rush. My present husband had a 66 Corvette when we married in 76 and he married me because I could power shift his Vette.(HA HA.)
KennyE11
7 posts
Jan 13, 2010
1:19 AM
Prior to Dad's success at Vaniman's, he did a lot of odd jobs, including bus driving, owning a trash collection truck, etc. I believe his first sales job was at Noffsingers, however most people that know him was because of his success as a car salesman.
fishers1951 - Dad didn't go to Trotwood (but my Mom did). Dad went to Lanier (now part of the Twin Valley South district). Sort of ironic that Dad ended up as President of the School Board at Trotwood.
LINDA09 - That 69 Mach One sounds like it would have been my dream car once upon a time. I used to like to visit the car lot at parts dealer Mr. Mustang that was on Wolf Creek Pike east of Trotwood - he had a great collection of old Mustangs when I was a kid. For as much as I loved old Mustangs, I always ended up buying Mercury Cougars instead. I did stray temporarily from the Ford family and owned a 72 Corvette for a while.
mjr1960
23 posts
Sep 09, 2010
7:26 PM
Hi. my family moved to westbrooke village (madison township) in 1970, I lived there until I got married ,moved to burman(in trotwood) right behind broadmoor , live there for about 7 months, move to Salem village(madison township) and lived there about 16 years. about half of those years the area became trotwood. The WB and Salem village areas had dayton address but 45426 and 45416 zips. Trotwood class of 78. Carlatm75, I remember the fireworks. They did those in the 60's. there used to be a farm house in that field East of beermans. Beachboy51971, there used to be a farmhouse on 49 just north of Westbrook on the left going toward 70. They turned it into a Haunted house for many seasons. But I think they don't do it any more. Might have been the Northmont Jaycees.
DaytonDennis
13 posts
Sep 13, 2010
4:54 PM
From '72 to '74 I worked on Wolf Creek Pike at a place called Opti-Gage. They made printed circuit boards. There was a Bakery down the street from Frisch's (I have no idea what the name of it was) that was owned for many years by a dear, deceased friend of the family. I had a number of friends from Trotwood, but never lived there. Anyone remember the name of the bakery? Oh, I DID spent a year (72 - 73) at an apartment on Denlinger, just behind the Salem Mall. That was technically Trotwood, but not city proper.

Last Edited by on Sep 13, 2010 4:57 PM
mjr1960
25 posts
Sep 13, 2010
5:52 PM
It was called the Village Bakery. Right at the intersection of wolf creek and Main street. it has been closed for many years now.
DaytonDennis
20 posts
Sep 14, 2010
2:59 PM
Carlaltm, you are right. Harold Steinke was a dear, dear friend of the family and helped my elderly father and mother out until he passed away 3 years ago. I have a picture of Harold on a motorcycle from the 50s! And yes, mjr, it was the Village Bakery and yes, closed for many years.
piperMark
5 posts
Jan 11, 2011
7:09 AM
Kenny E, I knew your sister Pat. She was in the band played sax. She went by Patty. It's good to hear about folks even if not they aren't local.
piperMark
6 posts
Jan 11, 2011
7:12 AM
Kenny E , I think I work with your cousin John who lives in Eaton. He is close to retirement.
piperMark
7 posts
Jan 11, 2011
7:17 AM
Kenny E, Harold was my bus driver 3rd grade through 10th grade. Great guy. We had good conversations during those years. I never forgot him!
KennyE11
25 posts
Jan 11, 2011
11:15 PM
piperMark - It's good that someone remembers my family, however my sister played the clarinet (my brother played the sax, as did I at one time). My brother and sister (and most of their respective kids / grandkids) live in the Brookville area. My dad was pretty well known, either from his career at Vaniman's or from the school bus days.
KennyE11
39 posts
Mar 28, 2011
7:47 PM
Carla - I viewed the memorial you created on the Find A Grave website. Thank you. What possessed you to do that for my father? Incidentally, I'm visiting Ohio this week - my brother and I drove past the cemetary yesterday (we visited the grave last Memorial Day).
Buster
12 posts
Mar 28, 2011
8:26 PM
KennyE11 - Don't forget to go to Grill's Tavern.
carlatm75
68 posts
Mar 29, 2011
11:24 AM
KennyE11 - I have been updating Find A Grave with people that I have known and I have been trying to get as many listed that I can from Cedar Hill. My parents and aunt and uncle are buried there. As for your dad, he was a good friend of my parents and he was my bus driver and I bought my first car from him at Vaniman Ford. So he holds a special place in my heart. By the way, it was a Ford Maverick.
KennyE11
40 posts
Mar 29, 2011
7:37 PM
Buster - Even though I grew up in the Trotwood area, I have never been to Grill's. I'm now visiting friends in South Charleston before heading home to Florida, so it won't happen on this trip.

Carla - Thanks again.
CalGirl
1 post
Nov 26, 2011
9:44 AM
I didn't live in Trotwood but when I was in high school I worked at Friedlander's Dry Cleaners after school every day and all day Saturdays, running the front counter. My cousin was the manager of the store. I was paid $1/hr, $30/wk and felt lucky to be making spending money. I shared a '61 Corvair with my mom and I would put $1's worth of gas in it once a week, @ 24.9 cents per gallon, at the Sunoco station, and we would both drive it all week on that. I met a lot of people who lived in Trotwood and got to know the regular customers.
Sharons
5 posts
Dec 01, 2011
12:28 PM
CalGirl...Was Friedlander's on the corner of Free Pike and Gettysburg when you worked there....also, what year did you work there?
kenstand
1 post
Jan 30, 2012
5:55 PM
KennyE11: I also knew your dad. I was raised in Trotwood and I remember your dad with the trash truck then later he was my bus driver and then my first job was cleaning cars for Vaniman's so I knew him there too. He was an all around good-guy.
KennyE11
69 posts
Jan 30, 2012
11:11 PM
kenstand - Thanks for the praise for my dad. It was generally the consensus that he was a very likeable person.

The trash route was a little before my time (we moved off the farm when I was a toddler). My first job was also cleaning cars, however it was after Vaniman's became Ken Rogers Ford, and had moved to the new Salem Ave. location.
CalGirl
5 posts
Feb 06, 2012
3:22 PM
Hi Sharons, sorry I didn't check the posts for a while ... I don't really remember the address, but you could be right, that sounds about right. It was a very old wood frame building that had a couple of steps you had to go up from the street to the front door. I started there in, I think, 1963 and worked there until 1965 when I graduated from HS. Then, I came back and worked there for a while in '66 to summer, '67. I think my pay stayed at $1/hr the whole time. Those were the days!
Sharons
9 posts
Feb 08, 2012
5:59 PM
Hi back CalGirl! Interesting to meet you on here, as I worked at Friedlander's when in high school too, on Saturdays! I also made $1 an hour!!!I remember the dad, Leo, and his son Dick who loved to play pranks. There was also a young boy that lived nearby that went to St Paris High School. I think Lucy was one of the ladies that worked there. We had a really old cash register that was really easy to operate. It was my first job.
CalGirl
6 posts
Feb 09, 2012
2:52 PM
Sharons, did you work there before I did or after? I've been trying to remember the name of the older lady who worked the day shift when I was there and my memory seems to think her name was Helen. Confession time: I worked until 8 pm on Friday nights, then of course would go out with my friends and stay out late and have to roll out of bed on Saturday morning to open the store at 8 am. Sometimes I would get so drowsy during the 10 hr. day that I would go in the back and sit in an old student desk that was there and put my head down and dose off. But I'd stay just enough awake that if I heard the jingle of the door I could walk out to the front and try to act wide awake. I don't think I fooled all the customers though, because some of them would get a funny little smirk on their faces!
Sharons
12 posts
Feb 15, 2012
6:11 PM
CalGirl, I worked there before you did. I started out at 85 cents an hour and just worked on Saturdays. Used to get my own paycheck out of the drawer, and when I saw my raise to a dollar, I called my mom right away - I was so excited! I'm guessing I worked there in 1960 & 1961 for a couple of summers, but I'm not sure. Dick's wife's name was Fran. Leo was from "the old country" I think, but where I don't know. He was always nice to me. There was a guy named Dave that worked for Dick, and two drivers, D.J. (?) and another guy. The name Helen doesn't sound familiar to me, but Lucy does. I'll try to remember the name of the other lady--they were both really nice to me. I have really fond memories of working there. Ha-Ha..your confession time! Mine was...Dick cleaned most of the school band uniforms. We took the hats outside in the back to clean, but I have to admit, we didn't do a very good job!
CalGirl
9 posts
Feb 29, 2012
4:18 PM
Sharons, Dave was my cousin. He's the one who got me the job there. I never really saw him around too much though, or Leo, Dick, or Fran that you refer to. It was kind of strange; I guess they wanted somebody who they knew they could trust to work completely on their own and what better person that your younger cousin, still in high school? If I goofed up he could go and tell my parents! LOL

I had an aunt named Lucy who worked at a dry cleaners for a number of years, but she was on the other side of my family (my Mom's side) but I guess she could be the one. If so, though, she didn't work there during the time I did.
bentz
55 posts
Mar 01, 2012
11:36 AM
Had a babysitter who sat for us that lived above the Village bakery back in the late 60's her name was Wilma I think thats right.
Sharons
15 posts
Mar 08, 2012
7:50 PM
Where's Dave now? He would probably remember me. Lucy is the only name I can remember. Could it be Ruby? Both very nice, as was everyone. I worked solely on my own on Saturdays; now I'm thinking maybe I worked there in the summers, because Dick and Dave were there sometimes before they went out on the truck, and they were never there on Saturdays. Leo would come in and open up and close. Someone had an affair,and it was a real eye-opener for me, being so innocent back then.
gurneemomx2
1 post
Jun 03, 2012
8:31 PM
*****************I need some help**********************

I am looking for someone to help me .... My friend Judy Kanter was murdered in Dec 1975 in Trotwood. I was reading an article from 2006 the 30 year anniversary of her death that they were re-opening the case . Nothing else was written about the case since. I am friends with her older sister Marilyn, but we lost touch I am trying to locate her and I can't find her or her family. Does anyone know Marilyn and how to contact her and did they ever find the killer of that sweet girl? I remember they lived on Westanna in Trotwood.... I'm hoping someone can help me.
KennyE11
76 posts
Jun 03, 2012
9:09 PM
gurneemomx2 - If you do a site search, you will find a couple of postings on this blog about Judy Kanter (see the subjects "Murders, Suicides, Mayhem and Crimes" and "body found behind the living room bar"), but they don't offer you any more than the 2006 DDN article. There is also a listing on miamivalleycrimestoppers.com (which only indicates it as an open caase) and on highbeam.com (there appears to be more info here, but I didn't want to register for the site to see it).

If you find out anything in your search, please come back and post it here. Welcome aboard!
KennyE11
201 posts
Aug 26, 2014
12:14 AM
I'm visiting family and friends in the Dayton area, and stopped at the AT&T store on Salem Avenue to pay my phone bill. While there, I noticed the sad and pathetic condition of the stores along that part of Salem. Most of that was developed after I had moved away from the area, and the decline has been going on for years, but it is still really stunning to see all of the abandoned stores. Partial list: Target, K-Mart, Wal-Mart, Cub Foods, Sears (and the hole where the Salem Mall used to be), Best Buy, etc. Driving further down Salem was more of a shock, thinking of businesses long gone (e.g., the Kon-Tiki Theater).

Driving through Trotwood brought back a few memories, but a lot of them had to come from my imagination. Heading down Olive Road, I drove through Broadmoor to see the two houses where my dad lived on Eppington Drive - they are still there, but Jeez, does Trotwood ever do anything with their streets? I was surprised to see the Pizza Hut still on the corner with Free Pike / Main Street. I drove up Trotwood Blvd, and it's a shock to see where the school used to be - good news was that it is a nice green lot that appears to be maintained, but it was really quite a sight. The baseball field, tennis courts and Bob Driver Stadium are still there. Drove past the Iams House, and it looks like the museum is still open. Headed through Olde Town on Main Street (more below).

At Wolf Creek Road, I was pleased to see that the old Village Bakery building is still there, and that there is still an active auto repair business at what used to be Rust's Sohio (where I had my first "real" job). Curt mentioned in an earlier post that he used to live in the mobile home park (between the Sohio station and Wolf Creek, next to Frisch's) - that's gone and is now a park. I looped around Wolf Creek Road to Olive Road to head back down Main Street.

The Lee's Famous Recipe is still there. Of course, Trotwood Lanes building is gone. The Food Town building is still there, but the Elder-Beerman's building is gone. Glad to see the Trotwood Barber Shop is still there, and the Beeber Center. The center across from the library is still there (remember Western Auto?), but Higgins Station is closed (thankfully). The Frisch's building is still there.

Heading back through Olde Town, I always have to pause in front of the old Vaniman's Ford building - I can always picture my dad, sitting at his desk in the front corner, waving at everyone that honked their horn as they passed by. Drove by the Train Depot (I've got to stop there one of these days), past the bank building, Devers, and the old Fire Station. Drove by my grandparents old house on Sherry Drive - it looks the same. Passing by the Trotwood Aquatic Club, you can't see anything from Broadway, but I believe something is still back there. Passed the new school - never been inside but I saw a football game there once. Grills Tavern is still there, so is the old building that housed Blessing's Garage.

Finished my tour heading out Shiloh Springs to Oakes Road, where I lived when I was young. We lived at the end of a long lane that has such a heavy tree canopy, you can never see our house (but I know it's still back there). Then you have to use your imagination to remember Schearbrook Farms, while passing through the Moss Creek development.

Sorry for the long post - I could have covered more, like where we used to live in Shiloh Gardens (above the Salem Mall), but I didn't go by there, or heading down Denlinger Road past where our farm was (I was born there). My journey was just a reminder of where I came from, even though Trotwood long ago changed from the community where I grew up. I hope any other readers that remember Trotwood as I do have enjoyed riding along...

Last Edited by KennyE11 on Aug 26, 2014 12:16 AM
hunt69
526 posts
Aug 26, 2014
5:00 AM
KennyE11....I really enjoyed the ride,it was great. I was from Northridge,but was all over the Dayton area.
carlatm75
127 posts
Aug 26, 2014
7:43 AM
KennyE, I enjoyed your narrative too. I always think of your dad too when I go by the old store. I bought my first car from Harold at Vaniman's back in 1975. When I go visit my parents' graves at Cedar Hill, I always stop by and say hi to Harold on my way out. He was a good guy. He also drove my school bus for a time.
tlturbo
623 posts
Aug 26, 2014
1:44 PM
I have 2 Trotwood questions. Back about 1967 I traded my light sky blue 61 Pontiac (very fast car back then) to a guy in trotwood area for his silver 66 427 corvette convertible. Pontiac was a tri power car built by George Montgomery. Anyone remember this car? Also, anyone remember a girl that lived in Trotwood around 1970 named Jewel, about 19-20 who worked at E F McDonald?
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1987 Buick GN
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Mark1984
185 posts
Aug 26, 2014
3:07 PM
KennyE11. Enjoyed the trip you just took us on. You described perfectly the Trotwood I grew up in. I grew up in the Hillside plat behind the old high school. Then on N. Sunrise until I left in 1990. Coming back and seeing Trotwood in the state that is now is rather depressing. All the years I was gone and heard of so many people I knew leaving. I kept wondering why. When I came back in 2005. I got a better understanding of why. Who was it that said you can never go home again? So true.

CarlaTM. We may have crossed paths at Cedar Hill. My Dad and brother are buried there also.
KennyE11
202 posts
Aug 27, 2014
12:28 AM
Carla - Whenever I drive out Wolf Creek, I stop by Cedar Hill Cemetery to check in on my dad's grave (I do the same for my mother's grave at Arlington Cemetery on US-40 north of Brookville). My brother and sister never understand why I do it, but it's how my mother raised me, a way to pay respect to the deceased.

Mark - I'm not sure I remember which plat was Hillside, but my closest friend in Florida grew up on Whispering Drive - perhaps a neighbor of yours. During my drive the other day, I headed down Sparks Street to Trudy Ave / Nora Drive to Whispering Drive / Molly Ave to Stubbs Drive, back to Trotwood Blvd. Also, it was Thomas Wolfe, in the novel "You Can't Go Home Again".

Part 2 of my Trotwood saga:

I want to do some hiking in Sycamore State Park on this trip to Ohio (I want to hike the Meadowlark Trail, in search of any remains of Greenbrier YMCA). I stopped at the Park Office on Diamond Mill Road, and of course, it is permanently closed - the park is now administered by Hueston Woods State Park. I was trying to find the brochure for Sycamore, that includes the trail map, history of the park, etc. I tried the office, as well as three or four trail heads, but all I could find was a photocopy of the trail map - the only brochures were the ones posted to the kiosks (I suppose I could have broken the glass and stolen the display copy, but that's not me). The office did have the brochure for Hueston Woods - thanks (what's the emoticon for sarcasm?).

In search of the elusive brochure, I headed to the Iams Homestead, hoping they might have one. Nope. I took a quick look at the museum - I've seen it before, a couple of years ago, but it seems like they have a few more items on display. If you are from Trotwood and are interested in history, it's worth taking a look at the museum, while it's still there.

The guy at the museum indicated I may find my brochure at the Train Depot in Olde Town Commons. There is a kiosk for the Wolf Creek Recreation Trail there, but the container for the trail guides is gone. I looked in the windows at the depot building - there are interesting looking period displays inside, but the sign in the window indicates the museum is no longer open (it was only open on the weekends). Thanks again.

Someone had mentioned that there was still a pool at Sycamore Woods (which to me will always be the old "Newfields" community). I drove to the Trotwood Community Center there, which had a real boarded up and abandoned, post-apocalyptic, Life After People look about it - I believe that pool is long gone.

More painful memories...


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