Through the years: Christmastime in downtown Dayton

By Vivienne Machi, Staff Writer

There's something about old pictures of Christmas and the winter holidays.

We're not sure if it's the nostalgia factor, the sense of cheer and goodwill of Christmas time, or both, but as the days grow long and the holidays approach, we found these historic photos of downtown Dayton during the holidays to be irresistible.

Many Daytonians have fond memories of looking into the window displays at Rike's Department Store over the years. Three years ago, a new tradition began with the lighting of the Carillon Tree of Light. 

These photos, archived by Dayton History, Wright State University and the Dayton Daily News, are the perfect way to kick off the holiday season with a nod to Dayton's past. Best served with holiday tunes and hot cocoa. 

  • Downtown Dayton for the Holidays through the years, item 1
    Christmas Eve 1941 at Carillon Historical Park taken from Patterson Boulevard. (Source: Dayton History)
  • Downtown Dayton for the Holidays through the years, item 2
    Deeds Carillon's very first Christmas Eve concert on Christmas Eve 1941 was captured by NCR photographers, reporters, and WHIO broadcasters, NCR Factory News spoke on the off-the-cuff Deeds Carillon concert: "Although not yet formally dedicated, it is well on its way to being an established part of our lives ... and this community will continue to appreciate the social and cultural value of this architectural masterpiece for which we are most grateful." (Source: Dayton History)
  • Downtown Dayton for the Holidays through the years, item 3
    Visitors take in the windows of Rike's department store in 1952. Frederik Rike, owner of the Rike-Kumler Co., moved the Christmas window displays from New York City to downtown Dayton in 1945. DAYTON DAILY NEWS FILE
  • Downtown Dayton for the Holidays through the years, item 4
    Christmas in the Wright family home at 7 Hawthorne Street. Courtesy of Wright State University Special Collections and Archives
  • Downtown Dayton for the Holidays through the years, item 5
    Visitors take in the holiday window displays at Rike's department store in 1945, the first year they were on display in Dayton after being relocated from the NCR offices in New York City. Photo courtesy of the NCR Archive at the Montgomery County Historical Society Photo taken 12-20-1945
  • Downtown Dayton for the Holidays through the years, item 6
    People look at the Rike's Christmas windows in the 1950s. The sidewalks around the windows overflowed with families jockeying for position to see the displays. DAYTON DAILY NEWS FILE PHOTO
  • Downtown Dayton for the Holidays through the years, item 7
    The original Rike's Christmas windows: "Teddy Bear Village, " photographed in 1964. Courtesy of Special Collections & Archives, Wright State University
  • Downtown Dayton for the Holidays through the years, item 8
    The lights of the holiday season in downtown Dayton, circa 1960. Courtesy of Dayton History
  • Downtown Dayton for the Holidays through the years, item 9
    The Rike's Christmas window display, circa 1913. Courtesy of Dayton History
  • Downtown Dayton for the Holidays through the years, item 10
    The Rikes Christmas Parade, circa 1932. Courtesy of Dayton History

What are some of your favorite memories of Christmastime in Dayton? Let us know in the comments or via Facebook.

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