samstone
49 posts
Nov 17, 2009
6:02 PM
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I have an old coin bank that says "The Big Department Store Traxler's Dayton, Ohio"
Has anyone ever heard of this store?
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Curt Dalton
235 posts
Nov 18, 2009
1:25 PM
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At the beginning of the 20th century, Louis Traxler owned the largest department store in Dayton. First located on the corner of Fifth and Main Streets, the company moved to 31-33 South Main Street in 1904, with the back extending into the Arcade. Traxler’s moved from the location in 1922. The building was razed around 1923. The site is located where McCrory’s is now.
Here is a picture of it: http://content.daytonmetrolibrary.org/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/lutzenberge&CISOPTR=545&DMSCALE=12.5&DMWIDTH=600&DMHEIGHT=600&DMX=0&DMY=51&DMMODE=viewer&DMTEXT=%20traxler&REC=2&DMTHUMB=1&DMROTATE=0
Last Edited on 18-Nov-2009 1:47 PM
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samstone
50 posts
Nov 18, 2009
7:20 PM
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Thanks Curt. My bank must be older than I thought.
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blossomstoboats
1 post
Dec 17, 2010
6:26 PM
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Louis Traxler was my great grandfather. The Louis Traxler Co., a huge department store, was in existence from 1898 to 1927, as far as I can tell. It was devastated in the 1913 Dayton floods, and they eventually built a new, and bigger, store.
He also owned The Traxler Mansion, which is on the Historical list, and can be viewed on the internet.
Enjoy the bank, and if you get tired of it, send it to me! My grandchildren and children would love that piece of history.
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Hankster65
75 posts
Dec 18, 2010
4:10 PM
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Wow, blossomstoboats, that is one beautiful mansion! Did you ever have the pleasure of exploring it?
Here's a picture of it: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:TraxlerMansion.jpg
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blossomstoboats
2 posts
Dec 25, 2010
11:40 AM
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No, tho I grew up in Illinois, there was a family rift, so we didn't visit Dayton. My maternal grandmother spent her latter teen years there, then there was the Depression/market crash, and I'm not sure when they moved out, or how that came to be. . It became a boarding house in 1942; then was renovated in the late 70's, and is used for civic events. It's all hand craftmanship, and there is even a ballroom! The Louis Traxler Dept. Store also ceased to exist around that time.
But, I do plan on visiting someday (a long way from the Upper Left Coast of the US, where I live ~ the Oregon Coast). Thanks for the photo, which I have not seen. Here's the preservation site for a little more info: http://www.preservationdayton.com/tour-dayton-view.cfm
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old4d
68 posts
Dec 25, 2010
12:09 PM
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Blossoms, one of my aunts lives about 2 blocks from the mansion so I've seen the outside of it a jillion times, but never the inside. What an intriguing place! Now I intend to see the inside as soon as I possibly can (if it's allowed). It's really strange how you can live in a place for so many years and not know anything about some of the historic places, but I learned when I lived in New York that many native New Yorkers had never been to the Statue of Liberty. We take our history for granted.
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blossomstoboats
3 posts
Dec 25, 2010
9:00 PM
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There was an article in a Dayton newspaper ('70's?80's?) re. the renovations being done. My cousin has a copy, so I was able to see some of the inside. Traveling to Dayton/Springfield/Piqua is on my bucket list, to complete some genealogy. I'd love an eyewitness report. My research on the internet has turned up a number of buildings on the historic list in that area.
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stagsgirl
3 posts
Jul 28, 2011
10:41 AM
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blossomstoboats - I think we may be related. Lenore Traxler was my great-grandmother. She was the daughter of Louis Traxler, I think. Are you descended from Louis's brother - was it Saul? I may be totally wrong. I need to call my grandmother to get the fact straight. My grandma is 92 and still living in Dayton, and as sharp as anything. My grandfather was Harry Green, Jr., son of Harry Green, Sr. and Lenore Traxler. I am a Clevelander, and my father sadly passed away so I can't ask him about this. I would love to hear from you. My email is lgwolfe@hotmail.com.
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newsnot
265 posts
Jul 29, 2011
11:10 AM
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thanks for info on traxler's estate. i have always loved it and wondered about it's history. i love to walk in that part of dayton. does anyone know who lives in it now?
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