Dayton Terra-Cotta Historic District

Six commercial buildings clustered around Fifth and Ludlow Streets, two blocks from Dayton's center, form a district notable for its terra-cotta facades. Built between 1905 and about 1926, they show the influence of Beaux Arts Classicism, with glazed polychrome veneer, Corinthian pilasters and richly molded cornices. Most were designed by the firm Pretzinger and Musselman, and several were built for developer Adam Schantz, Jr., who invested heavily in Ludlow Street. The Wurlitzer Building, the last to be built, was designed by Detroit architect Robert Finn. Above street level the buildings retain a high degree of integrity, though storefronts have been remodeled, some of them badly. One intrusion, including a parking lot where the Ohmer Building once stood, interrupts the group. The district was recognized for the cohesive character of its early twentieth century commercial architecture, at a time when nearby speculation focused on acquisition and demolition rather than rehabilitation.