South Park Historic District Background
Tom’s Role in the Development of the South Park Historic District
Thomas Ostendorf played an important role in the development of the South Park neighborhood when he started investing in the properties, preserving the historic character, and making improvements to the buildings he owned. In the 1970’s, Tom was an active member of the South Park Improvement Counsel whose motto was “Lets Improve Our Neighborhood” and had a lion logo. Tom served as the president of the counsel during a short time helping to laying the groundwork for South Park to be considered a Historic District.
South Park Historic Preservation Society
In 1978, Tom founded the South Park Historic Preservation Society for those residents interested in among other things, “re-establishing the nineteenth century spirit and sense of community; to develop a neighborhood atmosphere which is secure and comfortable and to resultantly attract and retain residents who live, work and relax within a secure sense of community.”
Members held regular meetings at 301 & 303 Hickory St, Tom’s home, and office. As President of the preservation society, Tom worked hand in hand with The South Park improvement Counsel on many neighborhood projects. One such notable project was to show Montgomery County the homes within the South Park neighborhood met the criteria for them to be placed on the national register of historic homes. These qualifications would then result in the establishment of a historic district in the South Park neighborhood.
Origin of The South Park Logo
Tom, being an avid antique collector, was inspired by the Victorian Lady Cameo used in Victorian architecture, over-mantel mirrors, and Victorian-era furniture. He then came up with the idea to have a Victorian Lady as the logo for the preservation society. Tom had the original artwork designed by his father and local artist Lloyd Ostendorf. This logo was presented in a meeting held on March 15th, 1978. The South Park logo was approved by all members of the preservation society and used until merging with the neighborhood association years later. It was at this time, the logo was adopted by the neighborhood association, now known today as Historic South Park Inc. (HSPI).
The Early days of our Neighborhood
The South Park Historic District in Dayton, Ohio, dates back to the 1880s. The area started as a neighborhood of shacks and shanties known as Slidertown. The community has a strong association with John H. Patterson, the founder of the National Cash Register Company.
South Park then developed into a garden-filled community where factory workers and their supervisors lived side by side with Patterson’s team.
Friendly Community
Meeting your neighbors and the others in the neighborhood is the best way to know if you’re living in an area that makes you happy. Many of the people around are friendly and say hello. The district also hosts several social events and monthly meetings. Details on these can be found here
The architecture
South Park Historic District is known for its various types of unique buildings. Quaint cottages, grand Victorian buildings, and everything in between can be found in close proximity of each other. This gives the neighborhood a close-knit feeling and adds a special flavor to the area. While the outsides of the buildings have a historic look, the interiors of many buildings have been modernized and adapted to the current needs.
According to the South Park Historic District website, In 2008, Historic South Park was chosen by Neighborhoods, USA as “Neighborhood of the Year for Physical Revitalization.” NUSA is a national non-profit organization committed to building and strengthening neighborhood organizations.
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