Local Exploring ~ A Lonely Fireplace

"The Old Barn Club stood at the intersection of Patterson Boulevard and Oak Knoll. It was a manifestation of John H. Patterson's philosophy of making the privileges of belonging to a club with many amenities available to the working people of his factory and the community. He had it built in 1907 on 16 acres he leased to the company for the purpose of an officers' club and agents' school. He recently had bought the Coleman an O'Neil farms in the Dorothy Lane area. It was designed by his favorite architect, Louis Lott, in the Swiss chalet style of his home, The Far Hills, with brown stained clapboard siding, wide eaves and porches on several sides.


Local retired accountant and former teacher at Oakwood High School, Bob Pool, has reason to remember it because his grandmother was manager and cook. He recalls that it was entered by a series of steps to a large sitting room two stories high, around which ran a balcony serving several bedrooms. The sitting room was lit by skylights, and furnished with wicker rockers and high back chairs. There was an alcove with a large fireplace and a player piano. After about five years, membership was opened to the public and a nominal fee for club membership entitled one to golf, tennis, club dances, or overnight lodging.


The public was invited to use the reading room, playground, wading pool, sandbox, nursery, volleyball and open fireplaces. There was a natural amphitheater for Sunday afternoon concerts by local artists and wooden dance pavilion with lights. Sunday meals were open to all and were quite popular. They were cooked by Mrs. Pool usin g a Model T Huckster Wagon to shop at the downtown street market. Naturally, John H. provided a stable with a water trough for horsemen of the area. The club was open from May to October and was truly a wonderful place to relax.


It became part of the overall scheme for Hills & Dales Park which Patterson gave to the City of Dayton in 1919 and was referred to in sales brochures for early Oakwood developments as another reason to move to Oakwood. Patterson left it in trust in his Will to his son and daughter "to be used for the sole use and benefit of the Hills & Dales Club or a club with similar objectives". When it no longer served its purpose they could sell it. It burned down in the 20's. A lonely fireplace can still be seen if you look to the south of the entrance road from Oak Knoll..."


~From Centennial Reflections
Essays from the Oakwood Historical Society
by Harry G. Ebeling