The Dayton Women's Club refers to a

women's club The woman's club movement was a social movement that took place throughout the United States that established the idea that women had a moral duty and responsibility to transform public policy. While women's organizations had always been a par ...

founded in 1916 and a landmark building on 225 North Ludlow Street in

Dayton, Ohio Dayton () is the sixth-largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County. A small part of the city extends into Greene County. The 2020 U.S. census estimate put the city population at 137,644, while Greater Day ...

, United States.

Dayton Women's Club

The Dayton Women's Club was founded and incorporated in 1916. The club provided a social center for women and one of its first tasks was to raise funds to purchase the mansion on 225 North Ludlow Street as a clubhouse. The club is involved with philanthropic and educational work as well as the preservation of the property. In 2006, the Dayton Women's Club began admitting men into its organization.

Building

The Dayton Women's Club building was built in the 1840s for Robert W. Steele, who subsequently sold the house to Napoleon Bonapart Darst in the 1860s. At that time the building underwent extensive renovations, changing the style from

Classic Revival Neoclassicism (also spelled Neo-classicism) was a Western cultural movement in the decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture that drew inspiration from the art and culture of classical antiquity. Neoclassicism was ...

to Second Empire style. The Dayton Women's Club began its fundraising campaign to purchase the building in 1916, raising the $5,000 down payment. In 1918 an addition of 21 rooms was constructed which provided housing for "ladies of good character." In the early 1980s the last tenant left and the space was once again reconfigured. The Dayton Women's Club building was added to the list of

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

in 1975.

References

National Register of Historic Places in Montgomery County, Ohio Organizations established in 1916 Women's clubs in the United States Women's club buildings History of women in Ohio Organizations based in Dayton, Ohio {{Registered Historic Places

Dayton Women's Club

Building

See also

References