Groundbreaking for Home Chapel began months after the first Civil War veterans arrived,
making it the oldest building on the Dayton VA Medical Center
campus. The veterans, many with war injuries, quarried the limestone
themselves from the Home grounds. Home Chapel was the first permanent
church ever constructed by the United States Government.
Home Chapel and Memorial Hall
The Commissary Building
had two equal parts. A bridge spanning the driveway that ran
the length of the building connected the first floors. Fiscal
Service and A&MMS offices were constructed on the north foundation
after the building was destroyed by fire in 1932. (Courtesy Dayton
Daily News)
The Commissary was separated from the Quartermaster Department by this tower in the middle of the complex.
Home Hotel's main entrance, the hotel included a restaurant and a large porch with a view of the greenhouses and lakes.
(Courtesy Dayton Daily News)
Home Hotel opened in 1879. Twenty-five rooms offered visitors a needed rest after a long day of touring our grounds.
(Courtesy Dayton Daily News)
The General Franklin Building opened in 1901 to care for the older residents of our medical center.
The General Franklin Building and its front lawn.
The Patient Library after
the extension of its wings around 1904. Restoration is planned
in partnership with American Veterans Heritage Center.
(Courtesy Dayton Daily News)
Initially Building 120
was the Quartermaster Building. It was converted to the Patient
Library in 1891 to accommodate an ever-expanding book collection.
Restoration is planned in partnership with American Veterans
Heritage Center.
Watermelons on the tables
of the New Dining Hall. The New Dining Hall permitted the closure
of the second floor of the Grand Dining Hall so that none of
the veterans had to climb stairs to go to meals.
Dishing up for dinner at the Grand Dining Hall
Barrack number two and number ten
Opened in 1870, Home Hospital was considered one of the best-constructed hospitals
in the country. White walnut doors and wainscoting decorated
the interior of the hospital.
The original capacity of Home Hospital was 300 beds. Later additions increased capacity
to 850 beds. Brown Hospital replaced Home Hospital in 1930.
Water closets and washing facilities were located in the towers of the hospital to allow
for better ventilation
Visitors were greeted by veteran guides at the North Gatehouse. The Gatehouse was constructed
in 1868 and it remains today at the Third Street entrance.
The Colonel Harris Barrack
was built in 1903 and included a small dining room and kitchen.
Colonel Leonard A. Harris, the building's namesake, served as
the Vice President of the Board of Managers of the National Home
for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers from 1867 until 1894.
Mess Hall, Colonel Harris
Barrack, the current location of the Wellness Clinic
Memorial Hall seated
1,500 veterans for plays, lectures, and concerts until the 1950's
when it was replaced by the current recreation building.
Rear view of Memorial Hall with Home Chapel in the background
(Courtesy Dayton Daily News)
The Headquarters Building was constructed in 1871. Restoration is planned in partnership
with American Veterans Heritage Center.
(Property of Montgomery County Historical Society)
The Putnam Library was
the generous gift of Mrs. Mary Lowell Putnam. She donated the
books and pictures to the veterans of the Central Branch in honor
of her son Lt. William Lowell Putnam, who died in the battle
of Ball's Bluff.
Building 226 opened in
1872 as the duplex residence of the Secretary and Steward. Today
it provides office space and a conference room for Dayton VAMC
staff.
Building 129 was constructed in 1881 as the Veteran's Clubhouse, complete with billiard tables
and club meeting rooms.
Veterans Club House on Memorial Day
This greenhouse is familiar to long-time residents of Dayton. It was torn down in the 1970's
due to concerns about deterioration.
The Newsstand provided newspapers and magazines for the veterans to purchase.
The original Tuberculosis Ward was replaced by Thomas Hospital in 1922. The building was
used as a school after Thomas Hospital opened.
(Courtesy Dayton Daily News)
Aerial view from the north of Home Hospital, Nurse's Quarters, Chapels, Hotel, and Memorial Hall
Aerial view from the east of Home Hospital, Catholic Chapel, Commissary, and Cemetery
; newwindow.focus())
; newwindow.focus())
; newwindow.focus())
; newwindow.focus())
; newwindow.focus())
; newwindow.focus())
; newwindow.focus())
; newwindow.focus())
; newwindow.focus())
; newwindow.focus())
; newwindow.focus())
; newwindow.focus())
; newwindow.focus()){kind=small}
; newwindow.focus())
; newwindow.focus())
; newwindow.focus())
; newwindow.focus())
; newwindow.focus()){kind=small}
; newwindow.focus()){kind=small}
; newwindow.focus())
; newwindow.focus())
; newwindow.focus()){kind=small}
; newwindow.focus())
; newwindow.focus())
; newwindow.focus()){kind=small}
; newwindow.focus()){kind=small}
; newwindow.focus())
; newwindow.focus()){kind=small}
; newwindow.focus())
; newwindow.focus())
; newwindow.focus())
