Place + Memory

are partnering to
Remember the Miami Valley

Some of our favorite places may be physically gone, but they live on in our memories. WYSO wants to celebrate the places we love that no longer exist, and we need your help. We’ll recreate some of our favorite places in the Miami Valley using your memories.

Here's how it works:

You can record your memory by calling the Place and Memory hotline.~ 1-888-910-2555
-OR-
submit your written memories and photographs online at the Place and Memory Project website.

We're looking for all kinds of memories. You can tell us about your very first visit or your very last visit Do you have a great story to tell about something that happened there? Share it with the world. All the stories will be compiled and archived online as part of Place and Memory's landscape of memories. And some of them will be aired here on WYSO, too.

Week 4

Rike's Department Store
Rikes was a seven-story department store in downtown Dayton, OH. It began in the 1850's as a dry goods firm and moved to the corner of Second and Main in 1912 where it remained until it was demolished in 1999.

Rikes was known for it's holiday window displays and the "Tike's Shop" where children could do their holiday shopping.

Did you do your holiday shopping at Rike's as a child or an adult? Did you work there?

Share your memories here.
Share your photos here.
Or record your memory by calling 1-888-910-2555

Week 3

Old River Park (and other NCR sites)

Old River Park originally opened in 1939. It was part of NCR's (National Cash Register)large campus in Dayton, Ohio and was for employees and their families. It featured a lagoon for boating, life-sized checker boards and a 3 acre swimming pool.

Add your memories here.
Add your photos here.
Or record your memory by calling 1-888-910-2555

Week 2

The Dayton Arcade

For Week 2 of our collaboration, we've chosen the Dayton Arcade.

Here's some background information:

The Dayton Arcade is five interconnecting buildings in the heart of downtown Dayton, OH. Built in 1902, it's well known for its large glass-domed rotunda and a variety of European architectural styles. The main space of the Arcade was originally used as a farmers' market and the upper floors were used as housing. The Arcade was closed for remodeling in the late 70's and reopened in 1980 as a retail shopping center. It closed in 1990, but was occasionally re-opened for tours and special events.

Recently new investors purchased the Arcade with plans to begin restoration in 201.

Do you remember looking up at the glass rotunda? Did you shop at the stores or farmers market?

Add your memories here.
Add your photos here.
Or record your memory by calling 1-888-910-2555

Week 1

Americana and Fantasy Farm

For our first week, we've chosen Americana and Fantasy Farm - two amusement parks right next door to each other.

Here's some background information:

Americana Amusement Park opened in Monroe, Ohio in 1921 as Lesourdesville Lake, a swimming and picnic park for families. It was renamed Americana Amusement Park in the 1970s and became known as one of the country's best traditional amusement parks with rides such as the Tempest and the Screeching Eagle. After closing and reopening several times throughout the 90s, the park finally closed for good in 2002.

Fantasy Farm was another amusement park located literally next door to Americana. It opened in 1963 and was owned by the former founder of Lesourdesville Lake. It was known for the mini turnpike cars, Tom Sawyer's Caverns, and the animals. Fantasy Farm closed in 1991.

Do you have a fond memory of these parks? Did you ride the Screeching Eagle, visit the animals at the petting zoo or go there on a picnic?

Add your memories here.
Add your photos here.
Or record your memory by calling 1-888-910-2555