LANDMARKS |
One of the most distinctive, and perhaps the most loved building in downtown Dayton is the Arcade, a complex of connected buildings bordered by Main, 3rd, Ludlow and 2nd sts. It is dominated 70 feet above by a glass dome 90 feet in diameter which is framed by ornate art sculptures of colorful flowers, fruit and vegetables falling from cornucopias. The Arcade opened March 4, 1904, by developer E. J. Barney for $2 million. Orignially called the Gibbons Arcade, it was described as a "village in the heart of the city." There were 44 stores, 207 offices, and 40 apartments. The architect was Frank Andrews (1867-1948), who is said to have patterned the facade on a guild hall in Amsterdam, Holland. Born in Des Moines, he came to Dayton as a young man, having already designed the Columbia Club in downtown Indianapolis. |