Historic homestead transfer on hold

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - If only the walls of one house could talk.

Not only are parts of it nearly 200 years old, but the place was home to the influential Patterson family, which among other things ran NCR.

If Dayton is the birthplace of aviation, it could be considered the birthplace of innovation.

"It really is a local gem," says Brady Kress with Dayton History.

The building was donated to Dayton in the 1950's, but now the city is trying to get out of the history business.

It wants to transfer the property to Dayton History, which has been managing the Patterson Homestead for the city anyway.

"It's a historical facility and that's what they specialize in more than what we specialize in so I think it makes a lot of sense," says City Manager Tim Riordan.

City Commissioners were ready to make the transfer at Wednesday's meeting until an appearance by a niece of Jefferson Patterson, the man who donated the property to the city all those years ago.

A representative of hers was upset that she wasn't notified sooner.

"Such short notice regarding action on the Homestead has placed the Patterson family and Memorial Center at a distinct disadvantage because it has allowed us no time to prepare an argument on behalf of the family," says Jeffrey Landis, who was representing the niece.

After some debate, commissioners agreed to put the home's transfer on hold.

"I have a lot of respect and confidence in Dayton history, so I want that to be clear to the family," says City Commissioner Nan Whaley. "My position is for this to move forward but I think we need to have this conversation."

We asked Kress about the delay.

He tells us he doesn't mind waiting, but he wants to get the Homestead so it's easier to make improvements.

Two hundred-year-old homes tend to be fixer-uppers.

"Us having the ownership makes it a lot easier and less cumbersome in getting things done," Kress says.

Even while the transfer of the home is still in dispute, you can tour it.

The Patterson Homestead is at 1815 Brown St. and is open Thursday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.