Dayton Women's Club
Also known as: Darst, Napoleon Bonapart, House; Steele, Robert, House; Steele
Why it's listed
Located at 225 North Ludlow Street in Dayton, this brick mansion began as a Classic Revival house built in 1845-1850 by Robert Steele, a longtime member of the Dayton Board of Education who also helped found the Dayton Library Association. In 1861 it was sold to merchant Napoleon Bonapart Darst, who extensively remodeled it in 1865 into a Second Empire Victorian with a slate mansard roof, a crested turret above the entrance, and bracketed metal cornice. Much of the 1865 interior survives, including Italian marble mantelpieces, parquet floors, carved white walnut woodwork, and ornamental plaster ceilings. In 1916, after a campaign led by Mrs. Joseph Crane and supported by her brother John H. Patterson of National Cash Register, Darst's heirs sold the house to the newly formed Dayton Woman's Club. A tearoom (1918-19) and an auditorium (1958) were added at the rear. The club still uses the building.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the house as an architecturally important example of a Classic Revival residence converted to Second Empire style, with well-preserved 1865 interiors. It is tied to Robert Steele, a long-serving Dayton civic figure, and to Napoleon Bonapart Darst, who remodeled it. Since 1916 it has served as a center for the city's women's literary, civic and social activities.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 75001499, listed February 24, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 225 N. Ludlow St., Dayton |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | February 24, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75001499 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific dates 1845-1850; rebuilt 1865) |
| Architect / builder | Robert Steele (original builder); remodeled by Napoleon Bonapart Darst in 1865 |
| Architectural style | Second Empire (1865 renovation of a Classic Revival house) |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Transportation, Education, Architecture, Social History, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Excellent condition and altered; in use as a private club, with a tearoom added 1918-19 and an auditorium added 1958. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Downtown Dayton Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.76300, -84.19498 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 75001499.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q58030568
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.