A few weeks ago, he had this headline from 1939: “‘Smokey,’ boss and mascot of Dayton fire station, credited with saving seven lives.”
We needed more.
So Greg went deeper into the archives for more on the dog who showed up as a puppy to the doorstep of a Dayton fire station and become the beloved partner and mascot for those men for years.
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For this edition of Vintage Dayton, we share the story of Smokey. And while we’re on the topic, we’re bringing back past stories about famous Dayton fires.
• TODAY’S FEATURED STORY: Dayton’s greatest fire dog: Meet Smokey, who saved lives and melted hearts as a fearless mascot
More on Dayton’s famous fires
• 11 historic fires that lit up the region and captured the nation’s attention
• The First Street Fire of 1900 destroyed the city block where the Dayton Dragons stadium now stands
• A fearfully grand spectacle’: The night an entire Dayton city block was consumed in flames
Did you know?
Here are a few great Dayton history facts we’ve learned from our stories:
• Hitler’s personal car once came to Dayton for four days
Adolf Hitler’s personal automobile, a 1943 Mercedes limousine completely armor-plated with one-inch bulletproof glass, was on a cross-country tour that stopped in Dayton in 1950.
• The Rose Music Center at The Heights got its name because of a newspaper article (sort of)
“I think you’re going to want to do this,” Mimi Rose told her husband, Stuart, as she handed him the newspaper with a story that announced Huber Heights was seeking a naming sponsor for its new venue.
• Dayton’s first Black mayor was also Dayton’s longest-serving mayor
James H. McGee was sworn in on July 15, 1970 and served in the position until 1981. Learn more about him here.
• The Kenley Players did more to bring celebrities to Dayton than anything else over the years
The Kenley Players began putting on plays in Dayton in 1957 at Memorial Hall. The group billed itself as “America’s most exciting summer theatre.” The list of celebrities who performed is in our story with more history on the group. (As a bonus, here’s a fantastic photo gallery of archive images.)
We want your help!
Do you have any requests or ideas that you would like to see us cover in this history newsletter?
What about cool old photos or stories of your own?
Let us know and we’ll include them in future newsletters.
One of the most common requests we receive is for information, stories and photos about long-ago amusement parks around Dayton that no longer exist. Nothing brings nostalgia like the thought of lazy summers with no schedule and fun things to do.
• Click here for our photo gallery: “Dayton-area amusement parks of the past that no longer exist”
And if you like what you’re getting each week in the Vintage Dayton newsletter, please consider subscribing to the Dayton Daily News for as little as 99 cents.
Thank you for reading.
