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Cathy
6 posts
Jul 09, 2008
12:31 PM
I grew up I Vandalia, graduated in 1982 ----- does anyone have some good memories/topics regarding Vandalia? Thanks! Cathy
driver62
83 posts
Jul 09, 2008
1:04 PM
I grew up in Eaton and the only thing I remember about Vandalia is playing high school baseball at what I believe was the old high school on Rt.40 west of downtown.
bigbob
2 posts
Jul 28, 2008
7:53 AM
I met my wife in Vandalia in 1972. The cops would pull me over every time i came there.
SeeDavid
40 posts
Nov 16, 2008
10:43 PM
Oh Cathy, You missed the wonder years! Vandalia was a great place to grow up. Everyone knew everyone's families...some were relatives (still so, as our children married some of our classmates). We are grandparents now and still live in Vandalia. We still see many friends that we went to high school with. The Rib House used to be a Frisch's with car hops and everything! We would meet there after games on Fri and Sat nights...all eat our Big Boys and socialize. We walked around town. We built floats at actual FARMS and HOUSES that our classmates owned. We actually designed them. We had a Homecoming parade every year. We had a mascot who was a rip off of the Snoopy / Red Baron flyig Ace..."AVIE". At homecoming, each class would challenge each other to BONFIRE MADNESS! We would collect wood from all over town..many folks put out the stuff they were taking to the dump. The boys would gather the stuff in their pick ups and four bonfires were held after the "snake dance" through town where everyone held hands and walked from the Trapshoot to the High School. The bonfires were spectacular! Whatever class had the highest bonfire won some spirit award. Mr. Wherry was our Principal. I am sure he has lot's of memories. Look him up. Harold Wherry...Vandalia area. Not sure..he moved recently. Good memory, though.

If you want historical information about Vandalia, there is a great web site for the Vandalia Butler Historical Society. You can google it. The National Road is also known as the National Trail. It is the first road East to West from Atlantic Ocean to California. Covered Wagons made the trip there and right through Vandalia when the road opened in 1803. That is the same year Ohio became a state. My Aunt and Uncle owned an old farm house on S. Brown School where Cassel Creek Homes are now that was the first "Inn" on the National Road. (40 and Brown School are one in the same until you come to the curve towards Taylorsville Dam.) We are the crossroads of America because US40 and US48 (E-Wood Dam) crosses here. Now, in the modern wonder years, I-75 and I-70 cross, east/west, noth/south! I have more if you are interested. More factual information may be gathered from the Historical Society, though. They have some old buildings and a one room original school house from Brown School Rd. located in the Historical Park on E Alkaline Springs Rd. right near the high school Good luck, and I hope you find what you are looking for. The City of Vandalia offices should have some sort of archives as well. Good luck with your quest.
~Cindi

Last Edited by on Feb 27, 2009 10:08 PM
bigbob
46 posts
Nov 17, 2008
10:29 AM
How about the Falls
SeeDavid
50 posts
Nov 22, 2008
6:39 PM
Big Bob:

The Falls were originally owned by the Sunderland Family. When we were children, we would go on field trips to the falls and collect tadpoles to study them turn into frogs. It was beautiful...no houses..just Cassel Road...led to the old farmhouse that is across from the golf course now. There were many URBAN legends about Cassel Road, those of men in trees with axes and one arm and girls in the back of cars hiding while boyfriends hang from same tree,after being chopped up by urban legend guy. Same guy lives in Dayton, Canada, Eastern/Western Europe/Asia/Africa/Australia...you get the idea, don't you?

When we were in school,Cassel Road was a place you went to see the "praying monk" In the dark, on the south end of Cassel Road where you used to be able to enter off Rte 40, near the Dam bridge, there was a "white praying monk"..you could only see him praying in the dark, and he would only show up on the weekends (yeh, right!)....well, not to keep you in suspense much longer, HE WAS FOUND ...DEAD ... IN THE DAYTIME....by some underclassmen! It was a horrible ending!
Legend unfolds: It was discovered that some upper classmen had painted a dead tree stump white and helped carve it into small praying type of stump...it prayed and glowed in that dark road as your car lights shined on him! A MIRACLE! Some goofballs at Butler, messing with the underclassmen!

Now you all know many sorted stories of Vandalia.

For the real deal, check out the Vandalia Butler Historical Society on line...some www dot something...you can research and find out all the true things about this community. If you are thirsty for more, just get with me on Dayton in the 60's and 70's.......booooooh. Those golfers would be scared out of their plaid pants, wouldn't they? More than the falls, huh? "it was pretty before all the development, still is....~cindi

Last Edited by on Feb 16, 2009 11:31 PM
bigbob
48 posts
Nov 24, 2008
5:21 AM
David, My wife and friends would sit on the ledge of the falls when they were kids. She told me she had almost fell off a few times. She lived close by the falls.
SeeDavid
64 posts
Nov 24, 2008
2:17 PM
Hi Big Bob, Yes, the falls were a slippery ride to parts unknown and unwanted when we were kids. They didn't have a barricade there until our kids were young, I think. it was a beautiful area to grow up near. It still is. Your wife must have good memories of this place. That was/is a natural wonder. I only wish we had thought of preservation and maybe gone "parks" on that area. Private property, what can you say? Have your wife get with me, or you. This is Cindi, by the way. Dave has a broken arm and had surgery. I grew up here. I hope your wife remembers Vandalia well. CU later...on the 60-70 site. Cindi

Last Edited by on Feb 15, 2009 11:24 PM
SeeDavid
170 posts
Feb 16, 2009
11:27 PM
TEW: It is still a mystery to many in this town as to who in the heck was "sic sic sez" On the Sign every Thursday at Frisch's, i.e. Jolt the Bolts, Trip Tipp, Ploy with Troy, etc. Who was the person who climbed up that ladder every Wed. night and stole the letters from Frisch's and also wrote all over windows in town? We sure had spirit, didn't we?
Cindi -Class of '73
samstone
1 post
Mar 01, 2009
9:55 PM
We used to play at the falls and down the hill at Tadmor. Did you ever see the ruts in the limestone from the wagons that came up the hill when National trail used to come up by the falls?
strokie76
2 posts
Jun 15, 2009
7:43 AM
Does anyone remember the Hutchison family?
granniemicki62
3 posts
Jun 26, 2009
5:51 AM
I'm posting this same request on several topics here. My mom worked at a restaurant in Vandalia in 1953. Either called or owned/managed by a woman named Vi. It was across from the trap shoot. Does anyone remember this? I'd love to have a picture of this for my brother, who lived behind the restaurant with our mother at the time.
granniemicki62
4 posts
Jun 29, 2009
8:55 AM
My brother was only about 8 at the time, but he remembers the restaurant in 1953 being white stucco. He says Yendi's motel was right beside the restaurant. Do you remember the motel and restaurant both being called Yendi's? You certainly have the area right!
Marck1957
41 posts
Jun 29, 2009
8:53 PM
I have a postcard with an aerial view of Yenti's, with a slogan on it of "For Those Who Care". I have it on my PC and would be pleased to share it if anyone would like to see it. Send me your address to liveandlearn@woh.rr.com
Marck1957
49 posts
Jul 16, 2009
9:58 PM
That was at the Ramada Inn off of Stop 8 Road. I think it was around 1980? But, I'm not altogether sure of that. Could've been in the 70s. I believe that it was the Police Department and the FBI doing a drug bust at the same time. One didn't know about the other, the FBI agent had a gun, and he got shot by a Police Officer. So, does anyone else remember any of the details? Was more than one officer shot/killed?
SeeDavid
293 posts
Jul 22, 2009
2:07 AM
Another Officer Killed at Miller Lane and Little York Road (when only Bob Evans, Days Inn and The Red Roof Inn and a Sunoco Station were there) was from Butler Township Police Department. His name was Officer Jan Schmidt. He was instructed to set up a barracade with his car on Miller Lane just south of Little York Rd. in order to head off a suspect who was being chased by several departments down the Interstate. (He was a juvenile in his grandparent's stolen automobile and wasn't even old enough to drive). The OSP and other departments (including Vandalia, Montgomery County and neighboring agencies were involved in the pursuit), They chased him North on Miller Lane somehow and while being pursued and after seeing Officer Schmidt's car blocking the intersection of Little York and Miller, the suspect then proceeded to run Officer Schmidt down in a grassy area right near the Bob Evans towards the interstate. Officer Schmidt was dead on the scene. The juvenile was apprehended and was charged in juvenile court as a juvenile. I don't remember the outcome. At that time,as I recall, they did release juveniles to their parents or guardians even if a serious felony. I am not certain, though.

I was friends with Officer Schmidt and his wife. They had a baby boy who was a year old. I went to his funeral.. where he was originally from, Eaton, Ohio.

They remember Lt. Bohanan and Officer Jan Schmidt every May at the City Building and now the Justice Center on James E. Bohnanan Memorial Drive every year.

Together as two families of police departments who share a common bond.... loss.
~Cindi

Last Edited by on Jul 22, 2009 2:08 AM
Jeff59
3 posts
Jul 24, 2009
5:01 PM
I've been doing some research into the development of Vandalia, and wonder if anyone is old enough to recall that stretch of I-75 before it was an interstate?

From what I've been able to find out it was a quasi- limited access highway from the traffic circle to US40 (National Road), where it dead-ended. It was a divided highway with frontage roads, but it also had stop lights and at-grade intersections instead of full interchanges.

Anyone recall that?

Also, does anyone remember what the first shopping center was in Vandalia? I think it was the one across from the airport, where the Masonic lodge is.
SeeDavid
294 posts
Jul 24, 2009
10:01 PM
Tom, I knew Randy. He was on a side Street off of Philadelphia Drive, if I remember correctly. He was killed without pulling his weapon. I will see if there is a dispostition in the case from Dave.

Jeff59 - I lived up on a hil that overlooked 75/70/
We discussed in another thread how there was only a stop light on the "interstate" at Little York and 75. I remember pushing the "walk" button and crossing all four lanes of highway in the 60's.

The first shopping Center was across from the old Airport on Dixie, The Masonic Lodge was a movie theatre, owned by the same man who owns the "Airline Dairy Creme".. Aka Fat Rat. (Still there) (he knows it's a term of endearment). There was a clothing store called Lively's, the "Drink Dock" (still there). There is a bar there now called Oscar's and Lively's has closed, replaced by a torphy shop, and there is a comic book store also.

Do you remember how the teenagers used to park across the Street at "the old airport" to watch the planes come in ??? That is no longer.
~Cindi

Last Edited by on Jul 26, 2009 11:18 AM
samstone
19 posts
Jul 25, 2009
7:14 AM
"Fat Rat" My friend ,Smokey, gave him that name when we were kicked out of the movie for smoking. It stuck like glue.
Jeff59
5 posts
Jul 25, 2009
11:48 AM
Many thanks for the info! I appreciate your alls memory of old Vandalia.

Here's two more questions:

1. On the old I-75 (from old aerial photos) there seems to have been a hotel or motel of some sort, between Little York and Benchwood, on the east side of I-75, I guess off of Poe Avenue. It would have stood in the general vicinity of the Iams offices.

Can anyone confirm that was a motel, and does anyone recall the name?

2. Apparently there was a government housing development by the Airport, for war workers. Does anyone remember this and were it was located?
samstone
20 posts
Jul 25, 2009
12:22 PM
I remember the motel and Bar. The bar got most of the business and the motel got the business of anyone getting lucky. I can't recall the name.
The "Projects" as they were called were in the area of were the Expo Center and the gate to the Air Show, if I recall right. I have a lot of friends who lived in the Project as young kids in the early 50's. There was another Project in the area right behind Rib House where the Post Office is now located.
SeeDavid
296 posts
Jul 26, 2009
11:16 AM
I am Dave's wife, Cindi,.. Dave always signs his name, and we share his moniker on this site. We will both look into the details of the case.. it isn't a problem.

There is still a housing development behind "The Rib House" (used to be Frisch's) and it was always known as the Airline Plat. It is behind Fat Rats and sits next to the old INLAND, now Defunct and closed DELPHI, it runs off of N.Dixie across from the "old airport" (not on airport property, but E. of the new Expo Center) I believe htis is the housing development you are speaking of. It also runs off of Maple St. which runs N. off of National Road by the Old 3rd National. (now Key Bank) and next to the Justice Center.

Go to Vandalia Butler Historical Society. I don't know about any housing on airport property.

Regarding the "motel" on Poe.. the Now Closed IAMS sits S. of a place that used to be called "Damons, A place for ribs" and prior to that, "Dinner Bell". Now it is at the same intersection of Poe and Little York and is called "Little York Tavern".. moved when they tore down the original place at Dixie and Little York, (formerly the Stagecoach Bar and Restaurant). It depends on what era we are talking about regarding motels, etc. If you are Google Maps then you may be looking at a couple of car dealerships that look like motels. There are some large office buldings on that side of the interstate that look like Motels, but all of them are now on Miller Lane (W. Side of 75), and the Ramada Inn is now closed but one motel still stands on the N E Corner of Little York and Poe..used to be a Howard Johnson's. Wish I could be of more help. If you haven't been here in awhile, Webster now runs off of Little York and connects to Benchwood and on to Needmore. Progress...?? (personal comment).
Later - Cindi
samstone
22 posts
Jul 26, 2009
6:18 PM
Cindi, The "Project" behind where Rib House now sits was not the Airline Plat. The military housing "Projects" were torn down in the 50's.
SeeDavid
300 posts
Jul 28, 2009
9:44 AM
Thanks samstone. and Jeff.
Tom70: I need to correct something about Randy R.
He was killed on Grant Ave. off of Salem. (It is right behind the current Popeye's on Salem). The suspect was apprehended, and I have been told by a reliable source, (DAVE) that he is spending the rest of his life in prison. Randy was called on a suspicious person call and this is what ended up with in his fatality.

Another correction I must make to JEFF59, I grew up from 1960 off of Little York right where you spoke of Poe, and I don't recall an OLD motel, but Dave and I were riding down 75 the other day and saw A "Hawthorne Inn". (I think it is a Hawthorne,, I don't drive, and Dave was driving fast...zoom!!) It is located on Poe right near the old Iams plant and also near the Volvo dealership.

Jeff, weren't the little side streets Perry, Kenbrook, and Tionda?? They have older homes near the intersection of Dixie and National.
At the Rib House, Mike and Bill have pictures of old Vandalia... 50's and 60's.

There was a motel (Vandalia Motor Lodge at the Ranchiview/National area) right at the SB entrance to 75 on the S. Side of National.
McDonald's and a motel sit there now.

Wish I were more accurate. I have said before, I am not factual, but try to remember as much as an old woman can.

Didn't we all have fun at WW AAmco? Western Auto?
Rettig's Music? Pappy Birchfield's Sinclair station? Morton Jr.High? (My Dad went to first grade there).
~Cindi
samstone
23 posts
Jul 28, 2009
6:21 PM
Jeff59, The Motel on Poe was called The Valley View. It was still there in the 70's as I recall. I don't know when it was torn down. It was owned by the Brussmans who also own the Rib House.
SeeDavid
302 posts
Aug 01, 2009
5:40 PM
Thanks samstone... good memory..~cindi
mem
32 posts
Nov 24, 2009
1:29 PM
There was a motel on Poe Ave next to the Casa Lupita Mexican Restaurant south of Little York Road. It was a suite motel, now called extended stay motels. In the late 1950s west of Vandalia on National Rd, just west of the tire and auto repair store, was the Rocket Drive-In restaurant. I don't remember the blonde carhop's name but she was something.

Last Edited by on Nov 25, 2009 11:33 AM
KentRdKelli
2 posts
Mar 02, 2010
10:17 AM
My Dad went to the trapshoot as a child in the 1950's with my grandpa and saw Roy Rogers shoot.
My Dad was also the first dishwasher at Christies Alpine Inn. He loved that place and we always ate there when we would come back to visit Dayton.
Doug68
62 posts
Mar 05, 2010
12:55 PM
Does anyone remember the old Rocket Drive-In restaurant in Vandalia? I believe that it was near the trapshooting grounds during the late 1950's and/or early 1960's. I'm beginning to believe that I dreamed up the place.
Doug68
64 posts
Mar 05, 2010
1:00 PM
After posting my last above, I was checking another file and SAMSTONE had answered my question.....yes, there was such a restaurant and he had actually worked at the Rocket during the mid 1960's. Thanks to SAMSTONE!
jfox68
5 posts
Jan 26, 2011
9:38 AM
Doug, I remember The Rocket. My grandnmother used to live on National road west of town right before you get to Peter's Pike. When she sold the property they built a Waldo Pepper's restaurant which is no longer there either. My wifes family actually owned The Rocket at one time. I believe it was probably in the 60's when they owned it. Her last name was Martin.
UnChained!
7 posts
Jan 26, 2011
7:13 PM
My Uncle married into a Vandalia family sometime in the early to mid 70's. His name was Doug Soder. He married Ruth-Ann Harlow. Her children were Frank, Frankie, Rodney & Shane. They lived on Halifax drive, in the sub that is northeast of 75 & National road. My uncle was a truck driver for CW Transport. He also spent a lot of time at a bar called The Chateau. Sadly, he and his 3rd child from his 1st marriage (my cousin) scott, were killed in a 1977 car accident that was due to them drinking. They lost control and crashed into Smedleys Chevrolet showroom. Pretty horrific. I always wondered what happened to the Harlow's. Anyone know them?
Artw55
1 post
Feb 02, 2011
9:26 AM
I knew the family in the early 70's. Little Frank lived with my X and I. Wonderful boy. Big Frank's brother (Walt) lived down the street from me when I moved to Troy in 75. He told me that little Frank married and lives out on Frederick/Kessker rd near Miller's lane. About all I know.
SeeDavid
354 posts
Feb 23, 2011
11:24 PM
jfox68 !!! Fancy meeting you here, one of the founders of the "Praying Monk", I presume ? Only kidding. ~Cindi
bigbob
137 posts
May 24, 2011
7:51 AM
Lonebear, i drove a VW Bus and it was in 1971 or 72. I would see the cop coming towards the airport and i would turn around and take the back way around the airport. Can't remember the name of the road but it would bring me out on dixie. Sometimes he would still get me though.
samstone
124 posts
May 24, 2011
8:04 PM
Lonebear, Yes, Smokey hung with Overstreet. I saw Oversteet last summer at our class reunion.
You may be thinking of the Rock n Roll on 48, just across the road from where Heathcliff rd dead ended into 48.

I remember the deserted farm and the grave vaults laying around. We probably know each other if you knew Smoke and Overstreet.
jfox68
18 posts
May 25, 2011
4:20 AM
Vern pulled me over on National Road for having my "high Beams" on. It was my dad's car, a 63 Plymouth, old police car. I think I had just taken my Dad to work and was going back home early in the morning. I think Vern just thought he was going to catch me doing something wrong being out that early in the morning.
Doug68
103 posts
May 31, 2011
12:51 PM
Samstone mentioned the Rock-n-Roll Dairy Queen on SR 48. It was located about a mile south of I-70 and just south of Heathcliff Road on the west side. My family used to live in Cedar Knolls (the plat on the hill, adjacent I-70 that some thought looked like "Bedrock" at night) and we used to walk down there everyday during the summer. The Rock-n-Roll had great hamburgers and malts!
Doug68
170 posts
Jan 16, 2014
4:12 PM
Thanks for the info re the Rocket Drive-In Restaurant, jfox68. Also, does anyone know the name of the closed motel adjacent Spitfires on National Road just east of the Englewood Dam?

Last Edited by Doug68 on Jan 16, 2014 4:12 PM
FreedomWriter
67 posts
Jan 16, 2014
4:56 PM
Hello. Not that im from Vandalia but I am interested in what Falls you all are talking about and how do you get there? Thanks and what a very interesting thread you all have written about.

Last Edited by FreedomWriter on Jan 16, 2014 4:58 PM
JJCofMAINE
62 posts
Jan 22, 2014
4:46 PM
I moved to Maine, from Kettering, in 1983, taking a job with a sporting goods retail/wholesale operation. One of the company's major commodities is hunting related products, especially firearms. One of the guys who worked here at that time asked me if I had ever been to Vandalia. Seems he was an avid, and very good, trap shooter. The annual National Trap Shooters tournament was held every year on the grounds of the airport, right along the main road, and he was a regular attendee. Anyone know if the tourney is still held there?

Last Edited by JJCofMAINE on Jan 22, 2014 4:48 PM
hunt69
488 posts
Jan 22, 2014
6:58 PM
It's no longer in Vandalia. I believe it moved to Illinois. It moved in the '90s I think but I'm not sure on the decade.
Billd1952
156 posts
Jan 23, 2014
7:55 AM
The ATA was forced out by the City of Dayton. They wanted to expand the airport by building an industrial complex. In a last ditch effort, Dayton's then Mayor, Rhine McClin visited the Grand American Tournament, to try to move the shooting grounds to the area west of Dog Leg Rd., and I personally heard her say, "I had no idea this was such a large event". The Dayton area lost millions of dollars of revenue. The shooting grounds also hosted ther Ohio State Trapshooting Association's Tournament evry year in June. That event has moved to Marango, Ohio, just north of Columbus. I worked those events for 27 years, and had a blast.

Last Edited by Billd1952 on Jan 23, 2014 7:57 AM
luv my dayton
527 posts
Jan 23, 2014
12:08 PM
Does anyone remember a cafeteria style restaurant that had home cooking on the main drag towards the airport? Its been years ago but always looked forward to good eating when going to or from airport. As with every city,Vandalia has lost some of their small town charm compared to what us older folks remember.

Last Edited by luv my dayton on Jan 23, 2014 12:15 PM
luv my dayton
528 posts
Jan 23, 2014
12:15 PM

Last Edited by luv my dayton on Jan 23, 2014 12:17 PM
jfox68
93 posts
Jan 24, 2014
4:25 AM
luv my dayton, the restaurant you remember was the Vandalia Cafeteria.
Karline27
1 post
Jan 28, 2014
6:53 PM
I'm not sure if I'm remembering this correctly, but was there a restaurant by the airport (since demolished) that was aviation themed? It had two tiers and was pretty nice. I vaguely remember going to a nice celebration there. Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Thanks!
Karline27
2 posts
Jan 29, 2014
8:29 AM
Thanks, jfox68!
Doug68
171 posts
Feb 04, 2014
2:52 PM
Billd1952, thanks for the info re the Wild Goose Inn!
copson
115 posts
Feb 21, 2014
4:03 PM
two words...... HOOT GIBSON.... the old T-BIRD AND THE BIG ORANGE HAT.....


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