Women's Christian Association
Also known as: Women's Christian Association No. 2; W.c.a.
Why it's listed
At the corner of Fifth and Horace Streets in Dayton, a modest two-story frame building with novelty siding and a five-bay facade once served as headquarters of the Women's Christian Association. Black women organized the group in 1889, incorporated it in March 1909, and bought the building that May. They formed it because the local Y.W.C.A. denied Black young women access to its facilities. The building became a focus of social activity in a segregated neighborhood, offering recreation and reasonably priced rooms for working girls. During World War I it was the center of charitable efforts supporting Black troops, supplying comforts and news from home. In 1918 it was leased to the Y.W.C.A. for a dollar a year while that organization extended services to the Black community. The Y.W.C.A. built its own center in 1924, and the association's mission was largely overtaken. The building has been closed since 1973 and is deteriorating.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant for its history rather than its architecture. It represents efforts by Black community leaders in Dayton to provide social services and maintain civic morale when the Y.W.C.A. excluded Black women. It served as a social center, a residence for working girls, and a hub for charitable support of Black troops in World War I.
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 76001501, listed May 13, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 800 W. 5th St., Dayton |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | May 13, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001501 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1895-1909 |
| Architectural style | Vernacular |
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Black, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Deteriorating condition; the association's doors have been closed since 1973. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.75330, -84.20763 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 76001501.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.