Building gone, but memories remain

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - A part of Dayton history is coming down.

Demolition of the administration building at Shawen Acres began Thursday.

The building was built in 1927 and closed its doors in 1973.

Thousands of children without families have lived on the 19-acre campus over the years.

The North Main Street building is one of several buildings being torn down to make room for the Haines Center that will house the Montgomery County Children Services Division.

The Department of Job and Family Services wants to make sure the old administration building will always be remembered.

"History is important and so preserving those pieces helps us stay connected and we also have some archive information inside our cottage as well that people who have been here can come back and look at those archives," said Geraldine Pegues, Children Services of Montgomery County.

The roof tiles will be re-used for the visitation shelters on campus once demolition is complete.