The Old Courthouse was completed in 1850 and was recently restored.
Courthouse Square has farmers’ markets and live music in the
warmer months, and a large tree during the holiday season. The two
buildings across the Square from the courthouse housed the last
downtown department store, Elder-Beermans, and the infamous
Homestate Savings. Restaurants were located beneath the Square.
South of Third Street is the Arcade, vacant for years since the
last attempt to revitalize it failed.
The following and photos below are from:
http://worlddmc.ohiolink.edu/OMP/NewDetails?subject=architecture&pg=6&searchstring=&format=sum&hits=1&count=1&searchtype=kw&oid=572918
Montgomery County Courthouse Daguerreotype and Photograph
Construction began on the Montgomery County Courthouse in 1847
and was completed in April 1850. The Greek Revival courthouse is
allegedly in the style of the Theseum, the Greek temple of Theseus,
located below the Parthenon. Cincinnati architect Howard Daniels
designed the building, which cost $100,000. It was constructed of
local white limestone. To prevent fires, the only wood used in the
building is in the inner doors, window sashes, and furniture. The
building served as the home of the Montgomery County Historical
Society until March 2000. This 1848 daguerreotype is one of the
earliest photographic images in Dayton. It measures 3.75" x 5" (9.5
x 12.7 cm). The 1890s photograph shows the completed courthouse. A
"new" courthouse, built in 1884, is on the right. The view is of
the northwest corner of Third and Main Streets. The photograph is
8" x 10" (20.3 x 25.4 cm). This building is listed on the National
Register of Historic Places.
