Dayton Women's Club

The Dayton Women's Club was founded and incorporated in 1916. The club provided a social center for women and one of their first tasks was to raise funds to purchase the mansion on 225 North Ludlow Street as a clubhouse. The club is involved with philanthropic and educational work as well as the preservation of the property. In 2006 the Dayton Women's Club began admitting men into their organization.[2]

The Dayton Women's Club building was built in the 1840s for Robert W. Steele who subsequently sold the house to Napoleon Bonapart Darst in the 1860s.[3][4] At that time the building underwent extensive renovations, changing the style from Classic Revival to Second Empire style.[3] The Dayton Women's Club began their fundraising campaign to purchase the building in 1916, raising the $5,000 down payment. In 1918 an addition of 21 rooms was constructed which provided housing for "ladies of good character." In the early 1980s the last tenant left and the space was once again reconfigured.[2]

The Dayton Women's Club building was added to the list of National Register of Historic Places in 1975.[5]