Conversations with Monica Snow

Today we’d like to introduce you to Monica Snow.

Hi Monica, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Preservation Dayton, Inc. (PDI) is the region’s leading advocate for historic preservation, advocacy, and education. Founded in 1983 PDI shows how historic preservation tells our stories, creates caring communities, sustains the environment, and spurs the economy.

Dayton’s rich history of flight, innovation, and creativity are told in its unique and varied historic neighborhoods ranging from the homes of Paul Laurence Dunbar, the Wright brothers and communities developed by industrialists like the William P. Huffman, founder of Huffy Bicycles and John H. Patterson, founder of NCR. You can explore the beautiful architecture and thriving businesses of Dayton’s historic neighborhoods through a series of self-guided walking tours and guided walking tours May-October. In addition to supporting policies and programs that enhance our region’s historic structures and communities, Preservation Dayton also offers a series of “insider” tours and fun social events that uncover Dayton’s hidden past. Our video series on “How to Renovate Right” explores Dayton’s architectural styles and practical tips for financing historic renovation projects, restoring windows, caring for masonry, energy saving improvements, and more.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
With input from the community, Preservation Dayton seeks solutions to save and renovate our city’s most endangered historic properties. While we have had many successes like convincing University of Dayton and Premier Health to creatively renovate, rather than demolish, the historic South Park Methodist Church, the community has lost too many of our irreplaceable historic structures. See the properties that have been lost, save, or are currently endangered on our website under the “endangered properties” tab.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
The purposes of the Preservation Dayton, Inc. 501(c)(3) corporation are to:
promote historic preservation
promote the restoration, renovation and rehabilitation of historic structures and settings as economically viable activities and enhancements to the public welfare
participate in and advocate urban planning as it affects historic areas, sites, buildings and structures
facilitate the stabilization and growth of historic districts and their contiguous neighborhoods
​​facilitate communication and create a cohesive network among historic districts, societies, and preservationists and local governments and the community at large. ​

​Preservation Dayton, Inc. has been incorporated since 1983 when it was originally founded as the Dayton Area Coalition of Historic Neighborhoods. For over 40 years, Preservation Dayton, has been the champion and advocate for the Dayton region’s historic communities and built environment.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
With the endorsement of Preservation Dayton, a community development corporation, Dayton Preservation Works (DPW) was founded to start a revolving fund to renovate abandoned historic homes. In July 2025, acquired a long-vacant 1883 East Lake Home in the Paul Laurence Dunbar Historic District. Thanks to many hours volunteer labor, grants from the Ohio History Fund (check that box next year when you file your state income tax forms), the 1772 Foundation, the Dayton Book Foundation, and a generous bequest from the James P. and Mary Ann Prier estate, DPW hopes to complete and sell our our first renovated home to inspire the renovation of additional abandoned homes in under-invested neighborhoods. The Oregon Historic District and Wright Dunbar Village are examples of Dayton’s rich architecture and historic communities that were once plagued by blight and were slated for demolition–that is until ardent preservationists saw the potential of these irreplaceable neighborhoods.

Pricing:

• See the membership levels at https://www.preservationdayton.com/join.html
• Donate at https://www.preservationdayton.com/donate.html

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.preservationdayton.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/preservationdayton/?__d=1%2FHolzbau%2BPiotrowicz
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/preservationdayton/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@preservationdayton/featured