Exploring an Abandoned Skyscraper from 1904 (21 Stories of Decay)

Constructed in 1904, this skyscraper was the tallest in the city. Eventually standing 21 stories, this multi-use building had many purposes and tenants. Music Studios, Police Offices, Beauty Salons, Banks, and so much more. There was some interesting tenants also, Including a famous duo. The Wright Brothers, inventors of flight had an office on the 13th floor. During this exploration we will be looking what history and artifacts still remain untouched after many years of abandonment. This was a favorite explore of mine throughout the years and it means so much to me for the buildings restoration. If you enjoy the video, leave a thumbs up and comment your thoughts down below. Consider subscribing to view more explorations and historical footage. thanks for watching:)
IG/TT @Dark.Exploration

[@DarkExploration]

This was one of my favorite locations I've ever had the pleasure of exploring, over 20 stories tall and roaming endless historical halls. Finding as much as we did too! Stuff like this is the closest thing to time travel i swear. Thank you guys for watching and continuous support :) let me know your favorite part of the video and would you live at the top ? see you next time

[@brendakrieger7000]

It was epic🌁

[@loftyskies123]

hi just subbed after finding and watching the one where the wife was buried under the patio . you were very respectful not many are . i got a lot of catching up to do by the looks of it .

[@ramonahorn9730]

The best explore of this building I've seen

[@silverbikerstacker3869]

Contact the national historic registry let them save the building and start a GoFundMe to restore the project to its original Glory

[@tinacatharinaeden2711]

Beautiful building! Thank you for the great video. The penthouse must have been a wonderful place to live in it's day with all the large windows and beautiful views.

[@lianasmith2589]

That whole building belongs in a museum, I am so glad they are redoing it instead of demolishing it.

[@gabrielajimenez6508]

I like that too😀

[@guadalupevanhuss4966]

Next time you encounter a bird like that just take a towel, a t-shirt, jacket,etc and cover the whole bird. To release just put bird on the floor and open the towel.

[@ceeme829]

Thank you, I cane here to say the same. I’m really irritated they left a protected bird in there to die. Dude acted like it was a darn velociraptor, he’s an idiot. That part really irritated me, thoughtless fools in my opinion, it could’ve broke its neck flying into windows like that. Your far nicer than me, cause I came here to blast the 🐱 and link a video where a real man actually grabbed one bare handed to pull chollas out of it and save it. If you have a brain you can manage this without getting “eviscerated”🤷🏼‍♀️ I still love the content, but what he did with this hawk was pure ignorance.

[@nancyridings835]

Yah I'm an old lady and I've saved a few birds in my lifetime. I would've grabbed it and taken it down all the stairs to let it out. Would've saved this whole video. That you didn't try harder ruined this video. "oh we'll just say it got out" like little girls. Should've at least deleted this part

[@jamesvw769]

@@ceeme829 RELAX Its only a bird.

[@СолнечныйПарус-р7щ]

@@jamesvw769 The laws of the world are as follows: if you let someone die, then next time they will let you die.

[@Gooner184]

@@ceeme829 Who fucking cares?

[@mattthornton8474]

Albert and Essie Vontz bought the building in 1975 and downsized from their suburban Oakwood home to move into the 21st floor penthouse, where they lived until Albert died in 2002 at the age of 83. The penthouse has been vacant since then. Around 1989-90 I had some personal business that took me via an elevator with a human operator to the 4th or 5th floor from an entrance that was on the south (4th street side), of the building. The particular floor felt like it's tenant base was largely gone and out of curiosity, I took an open stairwell to the two or three floor above it, which were entirely vacant (I recall the wood paneling and green, dingy carpet as seen in this video). I don't recall if I was prevented from going any furthur upward by locked doors, or that the desolation that I had seen was enough for a day. At the time, I had no idea that two people lived at the very top of the building. I do recall the building getting a new copper roof not even a few years prior to the penthouse becoming vacant. It didn't take long for that copper roof to turn as green as the one it replaced.

[@gabrielajimenez6508]

I wanna visit this place and explore this place and learn more about the buliding too!

[@TheDianne888]

Really upset about that trapped Falcon. I would have thrown my tee shirt over him gently and taken him outside. 😢😢😢

[@jamesvw769]

RELAX TUFF GUY.

[@bradleymorris8875]

They are cowards.

[@floyd2386]

I was thinking the same thing. I was also wondering if anyone else noticed it was a Falcon.

[@texaswunderkind]

Worst-case, call the local Animal Control after leaving the property. They could have sent a trained officer up there to release the bird.

[@bradleymorris8875]

@@texaswunderkind worst case. Break the windows.

[@heatherabusneineh6281]

In the attic, I gasped when he walked between the joists, on the lathe and plaster! He’s very lucky that he didn’t fall through the ceiling.

[@farmerbill6855]

They're pretty stupid as explorers go.

[@derpydog1008]

Same. My anxiety went from 0 to 100.

[@kennethsonier1766]

I said to myself, dude get the hell off of that, he's damn lucky he didn't fall through

[@Chapstickmint]

@@farmerbill6855 ...and yet you watched the entire thing. They are young guys and girl who I thought did a pretty damn good job considering all the floors they had to explore.

[@mariekatherine5238]

Same thought here! DUDES! In attics or any potentially unstable floor or walls, all your weight goes on supporting beams! Nowhere else! And test it out first before putting all your weight on it!

[@larrybrown1984]

Love the upper floors that remained without dropped ceilings, original wood trim, door hardware and electrical switches! Even the transoms from a time before AC! Penthouse was great as was the attic. Loved that light fixture!! Many, many thanks! I’d love to do this, sometime. I’ve seen many buildings I’d lover to explore. :)

[@snowiowl826]

Born and raised in Dayton....still live here, and had no idea this beautiful building was empty. I don't go downtown much, but recognized this building right away. Thank you for filming it.

[@DarkExploration]

The beautiful drone shots were filmed by @Urbex And Chill, go follow him for more awesomeness and explores😁

[@localroger]

The "courtyard or whatever" is literally called a light well, and is meant to get natural illumination to the lower interior spaces. Light wells were common before we came so very confident in artificial sources of light and air conditioning.

[@erinbricker-urbanhistorian5803]

Cool

[@wintersbattleofbands1144]

Yes, light and the all-important fresh air.

[@chriss1683]

I just took a job in an older hospital and I was wondering what these access free courtyards were. Lighting is not an issue these days lol

[@jessied8585]

Wow thanks for that information and additional comments taught me. At 56, a lover of architecture, I never knew that, makes so much sense. I always thought it was just a beauty feature. Never want to stop learning!

[@jocelynmartin1572]

Next time, get a Boomer to go with you, preferably one who worked in the building as a young adult. You'd get some good explanations of what things are.

[@Ganiscol]

Whats best about this building is how diverse it is from bottom to top with all kinds of businesses to a penthouse. Also, those thick and hefty 'U.S. Mail' plates on the mail chute look cool! Tip for dealing wird trapped birds you can get ahold of: wrap the bird in some piece of clothing or towel. It will calm the bird down and protect your hands. In this state of exhaustion and panic its unlikely that they find their way out by themselves... 😞

[@Scorpionfury]

I wish they'd done more to help the bird too. Did they not have their smartphones on them to look up how to help a bird??

[@francoamerican4632]

Friggin' millennials, can't handle rescuing a small bird. What else can you expect from a generation that grew up spending the majority of their time indoors behind a computer screen.

[@TheNester.]

All he had to do is use his ball cap and an album cover, newspaper or one of those protest posters to catch the bird.

[@ejwa12]

Its amazing how well preserved the floors are as you go up. You have the 1980s on the lowest floors, as you go up you see remnants of the 1950s and 60s, then you see 1930s and 40s even higher and then you expect to see men in zoot suits and women as Clapper Girls walking down the halls.

[@gabrielajimenez6508]

I like that too!

[@danduarte7010]

They really knew how to build them ages ago. These type of buildings CAN be restored!

[@deniseboldea1624]

Interesting, most of the top floors were sealed off probably by the 1950's, but based upon the furniture in the penthouse apartment, the lift chair in particular I'm guessing someone lived there until the late 80's to maybe the mid 90's and at least one of them was either elderly or disabled if not both. While the top made a nice residence, I imagine it became a creepy ride to the top as tenants left the lower floors.

[@JustRideTheVibe]

Not necessarily. Stair lifts have been around for a very long time, oddly enough. My grandparents bought a house back in the 50's which already had a lift-chair which went up the main staircase. I wouldn't be surprised if electric ones have been around since the 20's or even teens, and maybe even mechanical ones predated those. Either way, I do think the penthouse was likely abandoned in the 50's or so.

[@ceeme829]

I’m thinking a politician of some sort lived there.

[@farmerbill6855]

That whirlpool tub and those plumbing fixtures in the shower are late 80s more likely 90s era. And the paint isn't crumbling like the lower floors. Maybe 20/25 years since it was occupied.

[@ceeme829]

@@farmerbill6855 1975 is when owners Albert and Essie renovated the penthouse. In the early 2000’s is when the final tenants left🙂

[@njkauto2394]

@@ceeme829 Thanks, I was thinking it was out of place, out of order. Would have been weird living there with all that emptiness in-between the lower floors and your home.

[@karengumke387]

Can't believe you guys didn't just grab hold of that bird and take him to the window. I have caught birds before that were trapped and he wasn't that big. He wouldn't be able to bit you if you held him correctly, and his mouth was open because he was fatigued from trying to get out. It looked like a Kestrel. Beautiful birds.

[@Ganiscol]

Or use the knit cap and wrap it up in that. When it gets dark around most birds, they wont struggle or try to peck at you. Anyway, just commit to it and do it without hesitancy and it'll work out fine.

[@laurensa.1803]

Even smashing a window was justified...

[@JohnShinn1960]

@@laurensa.1803 Lookout below!

[@MikeFuryTech]

@@laurensa.1803 unless you were on the street below.

[@Gooner184]

@@laurensa.1803 What a stupid thing to say

[@marlabaldwin7011]

What an amazing look back in time. Beautiful architecture. I'm so happy to know that this fantastic building is going to be restored. That is super awesome!!! Thanks for sharing this piece of the past with us. Also I appreciate your efforts to help the hawk. Hopefully it found it's way to the open window & back outside.

[@tomjones5079]

Gutted . Not restored.. there is a difference. Nothing you see here as far as interior finish out is up to any semblance of code, unfortunately. Down the chute it will all go.

[@patriciayoung3267]

What a great explore. I loved the upper floors the best. The paint peel on the walls and the crumbling ceilings were really great looking. I could see a Humphrey Bogart character behind that Lawyer's door with a 1930's interior. Well done video.

[@donnamulholland7177]

Ohhhhh, that penthouse was so worth watching until the end. Those beauty shop’s were definitely 1950’s/60’s going on. The hairdryer’s are a good giveaway to the era. Thanks for an awesome journey through that building.

[@DanEBoyd]

Another giveaway is the ungrounded outlets around the hairdryers, and all throughout the building.

[@phoenixx5092]

They looked to be pre-anti-segregation too oddly enough. Looked like they were african american salons. that building is a part of civil rights history... well before the PC crowd started trying to delete it.

[@gabrielajimenez6508]

I agree with you, the buliding is wroth saving. I don't want it being torn down anytime soon.

[@gentillydanny]

Dammit, someone rescue all that vinyl! Even if the LPs are no good the cover art should be saved. Those wretched drop ceilings, that crappy wood paneling, those 70's green drapes, curtains, chairs and fake wood grain. Wow, the staircases looks like something in a myth or a legend. and by the elevators on the each floor there's a built-to-the-wall ashtray. Good video.

[@gabrielajimenez6508]

I do agree with you about this,but the buliding is nice.

[@forgottenfoundations1792]

So I've been in this building (looks like right after you guys, I was following along with my pics and I have one of the roof light right where you left it), and along with being from the city have been following the progress of this building pretty closely. When you said that it was being rehabbed I was shocked that somehow I missed the news. After some digging, it looks like sadly it is still in a place of limbo. Companies have bought it a couple times over the years with the *intention* of rehabbing it, even to the point of obtaining (and later relinquishing) historical tax credits, but no work has begun. The latest update I found was from December when the city announced it was spending $2.5 million to stabilize the building and citing the owners for not maintaining it. The current company that owns it keeps swearing like a high schooler procrastinating on algebra homework that they're going to get around to it, but they've been swearing that for years. It seems like the largest 2 redevelopment companies from the highly-successful Arcade renovation across the street have expressed interest in it, but right now that's just talk. I sincerely hope in the future that this historic gem is saved, and it was awesome reliving exploring this place through this video. But sadly, as of now, it seems like no real redevelopment progress is being made...

[@r.pres.4121]

What appears to be the problem in Dayton, why is your home city so laggard in revitalization and retooling it’s economy. Is it political corruption, is it militant NIMBYs who are resistant to change, is it being too dependent on one or two industries, or is it the massive population loss that has caused Dayton to fall down to third tier status. What is wrong with Dayton? Why can’t Dayton learn from both Columbus and Indianapolis on how to become a successful prosperous city in the 21st Century.

[@robertladue7647]

Thank you for the update.

[@richardbrobeck2384]

yes I hope does not meet the fate like a lot of buildings in Seattle that were tore down

[@alexapuerta]

​@@r.pres.4121 Good lord, hush up, negative Nancy. Your worldview is very outdated. What, did you visit 20 years ago? There is no "massive" population loss. Population is going up due to Dayton's remarkable progress, development, and investment in the last 15 years. Most of it under Nan Whaley's and Gary Leitzell's leadership. All the new housing is full. West Coast transplants and homegrown people working in Techtown. A simple Google Street View timeline viewing shows some of the differences.

[@TheSwissChalet]

@@r.pres.4121 If you don't have a critical mass of citizens to create a population that can financially sustain something like this, then it's not going to happen. Why don't you do something...like donate your entire paycheck starting today, until till you die, to this cause? If it is so important to you, why won't you? You could give thousands personally to this project, then also donate your personal time coming in and doing demolition and rebuilding, repainting, repairing. You should do it for free...your whole family and friends should too. They should quit their jobs, sell all their assets they have acquired up until now, and use the funds to fix this building. Come on, why won't you? Oh, wait, you don't live in Dayton?...so what? Why are you not giving a portion of your paycheck to rehab projects that are desperately needed in North Carolina, or Colorado? Wow you must be selfish. See, the people of Dayton don't want to spend all their hard earned money on this either. There's only so much money to go around. Not to mention the government already confiscates over a quarter of everything we earn to begin with. Does it make sense now?

[@hi.panorama]

I admit I was surprised at first to confess that this is one of your better explorations. What do you mean, you've visited hundreds of abandoned places, and you consider a skycraper to be one of your finest? Oh, ok. I quickly changed my mind - all you had to do was enter the building. Colossal historical value. The remains - a unique revelation. I hope that no one will let this place die.

[@emmadendle]

You could see the different times with each level you went, it was so cool to have a look back in time :) thank you for sharing

[@drscopeify]

Very nice explore, I like that so much of it is unchanged although various different time periods depending on the floor is pretty unique. The tower has the same design as the Smith Tower in Seattle but that tower is about twice the size and absolutely beautiful inside and very well preserved.

[@tullyontherocks]

I worked for a Wine Distributor, one floor up from the parking garage roof lot. That was 24ish years ago. A lot of the areas filmed were still active then. All of the sidewalk storefront's were mostly occuped and I remember the Salon clearly, a burger bar, wild resale shops and clothiers. The Vonces still occuped the Penthouse (they owned my distributor, previously) and I knew Al and his wife and have seen the Penthouse, back in the day. The offices, common areas and hallways were aged but clean and usable, with many old fixtures. An intersting old building, many others in Dayton that are... and some that were very spectacular. The Silicon Valley of the first part of the 20th century. Long gone, but still a proud Daytonian. Nice vid, thanks.

[@JennieBonbons]

That reminds me of the time my older brothers and I walked through an abandoned high school in Haines City, Florida when I was little. We looked in one of the closets in a classroom and saw a General Electric lightbulb sleeve. When I saw the G.E. logo on it, I almost screamed like a little girl! That's one creepy looking hypnotic logo!!🩷💕

[@HappyQuailsLC]

He is small you can totally pick him up. You can place a cloth over him gently if you are concerned... a t shirt... anything. Rooting for you to get him out : ) You guys could have Googled how to pick up a wild bird to rescue him. Remember the cloth idea. Covering their eyes generally calms them, the darker the cloth the better. And it will protect your hands but he wouldn't do much to you once he is covered in a shirt and being carried, two handed, out. Don't expect him to perch on your hand or fingers. And don't chase or spook him. You want to keep him calm so you can carry him out gently.

[@bramlintrent1145]

Or even better, they could've curtailed their posing & preening and left him alone. He would've gone out the same way he came in.

[@jabberdouche]

Talk about another time ... at 12:14 you see what looks like an upside down helmet on the wall. That is an ashtray. You'd snuff out your ciggy in it. There was a button on the side that would ooen up the false bottom and the butts would fall into the storage area underneath. They stunk and in that panelling, were probably a fire hazard.

[@cairsahrstjoseph996]

When buildings were not merely boxes

[@lynneslade513]

Agreed

[@paulmezhir8354]

The comment about the safes in the building is incorrect. The building was built for legal offices, which needed secure, fire-safe storage for sensitive documents like titles, wills, stock certificates, etc....

[@allisonh0316]

I knew this exact building before you said where it was. I lived in Dayton for about 5 years and my sister works in a neighboring building downtown. I’ve always wanted to explore that gorgeous building. Thank you for posting this!

[@mikegross6107]

I would have liked to see one of the elevators; what it's inside looked like and the controls. I was an elevator operator in 1955 at a small hotel in a small, PA town and that's why my interest in elevatores. Thanks for the tour of this old "skyscraper" which will soon be (hopefully) transformed!

[@wizardmix]

What surprises me is how this building seemed to survive 40 years without a greater level of decay or vandalism.

[@miocognatoesteve]

Until now that this video is live, I guess

[@KulisVibes]

It was actually abandoned around 15 years ago but yeah... still long time

[@yosefmacgruber1920]

I have thought that if ever I awoke to a world in which all the people had vanished except for me, I would immediately stop picking up trash. Because nature would soon erase most of the trash anyway and I would miss the people.

[@tdunph4250]

If it was located in Los Angeles it would have been destroyed long ago..

[@wizardmix]

@@tdunph4250 Maybe. Counter to popular belief LA hangs onto its institutions more than it gets credit. That was a shock to me when I first moved there because coming from a rust belt city, I assumed LA would be so progressive. While it is true LA is currently condo-ifying everything, I can point to hundreds of well preserved historical buildings and long-running businesses in LA that refuse to die or change. It's the charming side of LA that it rarely receives credit for having.

[@FilosophicalPharmer]

"Slightly Yellow" to those in the younger generation; "cigarette tar" to those in the older generation. So thankful for you sharing your perspective! Seems like we all have one 🤔

[@thomasking55]

Greetings from the UK. That's a seriously impressive structure and piece of art from the past. So atmospheric. Such craftsmanship not getting the use it deserves. Hope it gets re-used. Great video.

[@Nicksonian]

Charles Irving Beaver, 1885-1976, was a realtor who developed the Knollwood area of Beavercreek. Was it named for the man or the beavers? There is a park there named for him. Odd to think his office was likely last used nearly 50 years ago. Attorney Philip Blum lived 1904-1983. Hard to imagine that much of this office building was already unused when I moved from Western Ohio to Maryland in 1986. What’s to become of it? I can’t imagine that building would be redeveloped. Way too costly. Will it be torn down?

[@noodlebanana7512]

It’s going to be redone and saved! :)

[@swalsh76]

Nice. I'd wondered about that. I tried looking up Oldham & Oldham, but could only find a firm in AR.

[@R3DBONE]

apparently the term "UB" stood for "United Brethren Building" - here's more info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centre_City_Building

[@TimothyMayer13]

From Beavercreek. There haven't been beavers there in over a hundred years.

[@dinahjackson8146]

G. L., THANK YOU for taking the time to look those things up... VERY INTERESTING !!! 😃❤😍

[@briarrose29]

The best part of this video was when you looked out then window of the Penthouse. The views you captured, and architectural things you focused on made it feel like I was there looking out myself. The music you put to it captured the feeling and rush of looking out of a window overlooking a city too. Beautiful work!

[@bettywrites1051]

*Oh that little hawk broke my heart. 😔 I hope he's okay.*

[@jenniferlumbra3853]

That poor bird. I wish you would have taken the time to be sure he got out. He will die of starvation.

[@VincentSnelling]

I WORK ACROSS THE STREET.... THE HAWK IS ALIVE AND WELL AS OF TODAY, 5/7/22. HE OFTEN BRINGS HIS PREY TO OUR BUILDING'S BALCONY TO EAT... AND OFTEN LEAVES HALF OF A MEAL FOR US TO FIND LATER. FULL GROWN NOW... MOST LIKELY WOULD NOT BE ALIVE IF NOT FOR THESE TWO!

[@ClydeDCamel-mv6ml]

In the center of the building is a pool of water (see 35:54) that you don't understand. This water should not be there, there are pugged drains causing that water to accumulate. The shaft that has the water at the bottom is an air ventilation (and light) shaft for the rooms in the center of the building. When the building was built, there were no forced air ventilation systems. So to get some air in the summertime, you opened a window. These air shafts were how rooms in the center of the building got their ventilation.

[@Mammeow]

Did you save the falcon?

[@mht5875]

Love that penthouse! I hope the poor hawk finally found his way out.

[@mgrella63]

so glad its going to be redeveloped its a Beautiful building

[@jasons8479]

Love the wide assortment of styles from all different decades. It's like a design museum. I bet they never dreamed someone would browse around decades later in 2022 and share it all for all the world to see. Wonder what explorers in the year 2140 (assuming we haven't gone extinct by then) will think when exploring an abandoned skyscraper dating back to 2022. Will only 50-100 stories be considered small then? What things from 2022 and on will be considered retro or vintage style then? Interesting to imagine.

[@laurasear6597]

The are hair dryers that sit under while in the salon, this is when the hairdresser puts rollers in your hair, as well when you get a perm.

[@kimberlyx4060]

Those domes in the salon are hair dryers. Really old school. I liked this video! It’s an amazing building. Please be safe! It reminds me of Chicago’s Civic Opera House inside although it’s been updated and not abandoned. I used to work in some old school buildings. Thanks for doing this and showing the details.

[@sonniquickpianoimprov2231]

I know, I laughed when he described them but didn't know what they were used for. It's not like they were hundreds of years old. "Domes for your head" lol. Youth

[@firemanfireman7228]

Bro it was nice to see an old building like this amazing how they are going to refurbish the building Man if they re do all it will cost millions Great find bro Fireman 🔥🔥🔥

[@waynebender8835]

I'm glad that are saving this skyscraper. I hate buildings destroy to be replaced with crap.

[@sutterpark]

All those OLD building NEEDS major remodel and rezone it from ground floor retails or restaurants or mini markets. Make all the units into luxury Condos or Hotel or low-income housing or place back as offices and major remodel of today needs

[@djor316]

Be safe guys as usual was fun to watch. Get checked out if you feel heaviness in the lungs

[@bettywrites1051]

*The old wall mounted ash trays in the hallways. Definitely don't see that anymore*

[@forterierocks]

I can't even begin to imagine how much it will cost to restore and update this place, gotta be in the 10's of millions! Will be amazing when it's done.

[@r.pres.4121]

Well demolition and clearance would be even costlier. So pick your poison.

[@vanessahawarden9028]

A truly wonderful building with so many beautiful features still in place, and presumably so many memories and stories held within those offices etc., thank you for this explore; I desperately hope that the building and its history will be preserved/used again. What are the chances of this happening in the US? Here in England it is sadly very hit and miss.

[@laurenlaney9031]

With the amounts of lead and asbestos and other chemicals- I would imagine it will be cheaper to demolish it. I hope they will at least recover those solid wood doors and staircases, and the copper details on the exterior of the building. It would be great if the new owner is dedicated to saving the building without knocking it down.

[@johnnyjoey]

Great explore! Amazing to see an entire historic building! Glad to hear it will be preserved! Great job with the music too!

[@thestars386]

Well that place had many, many stories to tell. I love skyscrapers, I find them too be interesting especially this place being that it's really old and it seemed to have many purposes throughout it's time.

[@ltwilliamsteward8387]

Robert Oldham opened his law practice after graduation in that building in 1911. He practiced over 60 years there. Eventually, working with his son Richard. Robert died in 1977.

[@williammontana3895]

Cool video but you lost me after the hawk incident, at that point it became anticlimactic as I think with all those broken windows more should have been done.

[@zoftigbeatnik]

That food machine has a warming element in it to keep the food warm. They changed out the food often. They were used in Automats years ago but not anymore.

[@JohnShinn1960]

Amazing, a true massive time capsule. Best explore I've ever seen! 6 outta 5 thumbs. 👍👍👍👍👍👍 You can't top this. PS: I forgot all about cigarette machines, haven't seen one since the 80s.

[@texaswunderkind]

Cigarette machines were appreciated by every 15-year-old trying to sneak a smoke but too afraid to try the local gas station. There was an unmonitored machine in the entryway of a bowling alley that was especially popular with teens in my city.

[@neta565]

Wow! The view from the penthouse was the best!😍

[@dorisrosa62]

The Penhouse was the best to look at, what an amazing view from up there, I wish you would of show more of it..

[@LuckyGuu]

Absolutely perfect ending music!!!!!

[@bradwyatt6705]

The Newspaper you thought was a catalogue was an actual newspaper. They would sell their ad space that way

[@maverickflint1991]

That is a pretty awesome building.😊👍 I would love to live on the top floor the penthouse and enjoy the views and the breezes!!! 👍♥️😊

[@oneeyeddog3045]

I’ve only ever seen a one person sauna like that once. It was an I love Lucy episode and she was trying to lose weight in order to fit into a dress and perform with Ricky. Awesome video. Loved the penthouse. Surprised at jet tube and it’s size. And yes I would definitely live at the top. Thanks for the explore.

[@sf3486]

I hope you guys went back and made sure it got out before you left. Given it some of your water too. Anything.

[@stormchaser300]

You could of used your jacket or shirt to rap up the hawk just make sure the wings a folded down to its body so it wouldn't bite you and injure the bird then you can carry it to the open window to set it free. that's how you handle birds of pray. that hawk would likely die within 2 days due to lack of food and water. birds are not very good at finding there way out of buildings because they cant see glass. it will most likely injure itself trying to get out and die of concussion. just remember that next time you come across any bird stuck in a building do the steps above.

[@texaswunderkind]

Or just placed an anonymous call to Animal Control to report the trapped bird. They would have people qualified to rescue it.

[@lavapix]

Those cigarette machines were in nearly every restaurant that existed back when I was a kid in the 60s. Many of those corridor old windows were the old steel and sash type. Metal clips and putty were used to hold them in place and seal them.

[@littlejohn9374]

Absolutely insane the day before y'all posted this, I drove past this building and was asking my wife about it, next day you post this video. Now THATS crazy.....

[@VincentSnelling]

***** I WORK SECURITY AT THE 5/3 CENTER ACCROSS THE STREET FROM THE VERY BUILDING YOU SHOT THIS VIDEO IN. WHEN I DO MY 20TH FLOOR SECURITY ROUNDS, I BELIEVE THE VERY HAWK FROM YOUR VIDEO IS ON THE BALCONIES OF OUR BUILDING EVERY MORNING. WE FIND REMAINS OF HALF EATEN PREY OFTEN. I WOULD BET YOU TWO ACTUALLY SAVED HIS LIFE! IT WAS SO COOL TO SEE A YOUNGER HIM IN YOUR VIDEO! AWESOME WORK! ******

[@lilyrain7584]

Downtown Dayton's KESTRELS are well known and loved! I would have tried to get it freed, sh#t guys. Also the person who lived in the penthouse last was the heiress of a well-known brewing company. Coworkers of mine visited her in the late 90's, think it was Heidelberg Brewing Company??? Not for sure. Cool building

[@frodoringo2381]

Very well documented and was pictured beautifully. Is unfortunate that cities and our country do not want to save history through preservation for future generations such as yourselves. I'm 54 and breaks my heart that Downtown Los Angeles was demolished in the early 1960. Urban Development. Bah to that!

[@JimHendrickson]

Really neat explore. I like the architecture and details of this building and how relatively well-preserved they are. I also like how the different sections of the building appear to be frozen in time from different eras. The mid levels appear to be from the 1960s and the upper levels appear to be 1940s. I would have been curious to see what the elevators looked like. I hope your feathered friend found his way out.

[@Wooley689]

View from the penthouse was superb. Something we would never have seen if not for you.

[@tinacatharinaeden2711]

This is so cool!!! That building must have been beautiful when it was accepted and really still looks pretty good. Was this building abandoned in a hurry? I cannot imagine why so many items were left behind. There are so many valuable items there. An antique dealer would have a hay day in that building. LOL. Leaving behind all those police records and tests seems very irresponsible. I appreciate how respectful you always are and leave things undisturbed. Great video! Thank you.

[@TimothyMayer13]

I grew up near Dayton in one of the suburbs. As one man said about his collapse: "It happened slowly then all at once." The same can be said for Dayton.

[@alexapuerta]

@@TimothyMayer13 Yeah like 30 years ago. Dayton is completely different now.

[@TimothyMayer13]

My marker for the collapse of Dayton was Harrison Radiator. When :-* was a kid, several of my friends had dads who worked there. In 1983 the place was still in operation. By 2000, the building was gone.

[@alexapuerta]

@@TimothyMayer13 One business going under doesn't mark the collapse of anything. Dayton has never collapsed. Suffered and struggled, yes.

[@TimothyMayer13]

@@alexapuerta true. But that one buisness is symbolic.

[@nightowlgirl]

The newspaper you found said "Journal Herald" at the top. Dayton used to have two newspapers. The Journal Herald was delivered in the morning and the Dayton Daily in the afternoon. At some point they merged and eventually, as the demand for printed news waned, they phased out the Journal Herald.

[@FilosophicalPharmer]

Had a 'boom box' exactly like the one painted orange in mid-80's. Grandmother received a personal sauna as a gift one Christmas in late 70's. 👍🏼

[@SueGirling68]

Hi, next time you come across a bird in that situation, get a sweater or towel etc and try to cover it's head, it will quiet the bird down enough for you to pick it up once covered then set it free. What a cool explore, so many safes wow. Thank you for sharing, much love. xx ❤

[@Piecemaker1623]

Wonderful video. I loved the upper floors better than the lower. Loved the wooden doors with the glass in them. Back then, all that lettering was hand painted, a true talent. OH MAN when you showed the elevator shaft, my vertigo took over and I had to close my eyes quickly.

[@brendakrieger7000]

Those upper levels were very film noir😎

[@littleandy1209]

Excuse me, but why would confidential graded documents regarding inmates be knocking about the place? What kind of officials would do this? 😮 it's insane!

[@mikaelafox6106]

That’s Ohio for you.

[@AdamAntiumtv]

I’m pretty sure the recording studio you found was actually a radio station. It should be easy to find out if one operated from there.

[@quiet_shy]

What a shame you cared more about making your video than rescuing the trapped bird. You should have done more. Its really disappointing honestly.

[@richardbrobeck2384]

Phillip Blum was born on October 27, 1904. He died in August 1983 at 78 years of age

[@davidwelch4841]

That's great that it will be saved. Older cities in the mid-west should look to New York City as an example. Buildings built in the 18 and early 1900's are being gut renovated into million dollar luxury condos. On Wall Street in NYC the old Art Deco Bank of New York Building transformation is almost complete. It's the largest commercial turned residential conversions in the US.

[@laurenlaney9031]

Can't wait to see it- sounds amazing!

[@jackiejones8411]

Sorry but all you had to do was take your teeshirt off and put it over the hawk to calm it down. So upset to leave it there.

[@Raven844954]

What a beautiful building and in my neck of the woods too. I love the old doors and door knobs. So ornate. The penthouse was pretty amazing as well. That beautiful bird is a Kestrel, a type of falcon. I hope he found the open window.

[@ronalddaub9740]

I used to repair and fill vending machines just like that. My boss had a excellent kitchen that filled these machines and rotated the stock daily if needed . Some industrial cigarette machines like the one I used to fill out a prison would hold up to 1,000 packs of cigarettes and you had to keep inventory on a piece of paper. Although the machine did have a mechanical counter

[@JWinslow11]

I think the bird is actually a falcon

[@moplum]

Get a piece of curtain or cloth laying around. Put it over the bird and take him to the open window. To easy. Question: have you ever found a dead person in one of your explorations?

[@craigbrowning9448]

@16:22, I had a couple of these old calculating machines as a kid (they were old then) and used them as control panels for imaginary space ships. Little could I imagine about a decade later you'd start to see actual computers as E-Waste!

[@jeffbarnes54]

buildings like this are a prime example of the glory that WAS the United States. They stand as ghosts of a time of promise and a healthy true middle class. Now just a memory that will soon collapse on itself as our country collapses a little more each day :(

[@DarkExploration]

Sad but true

[@raul6562]

Soy cubano y a pesar de no vivir en EEUU, no dejo de sentir como propio el sentido de pertenencia del orgullo de todo estadounidense; eso es patriotismo. Estar presente ante en evento de esta naturaleza da que pensar y reflexionar sobre el futuro. " Quien intente olvidar su pasado, corre el riesgo de dejar indefenso el futuro"

[@ironhell813]

That united states has been gone way before our time.

[@jamesmooney8933]

The advent of the PC has made tall buildings obsolete. The old office buildings are being converted into apartments.

[@r.pres.4121]

Come to Niagara Falls NY and check out the historic but shuttered 12 story Hotel Niagara. It has been closed for about 10 years now and is starting to deteriorate. There has been major attempts at repairing and reopening this landmark hotel but so far no dice unfortunately.

[@benbaker2965]

Very cool explore! So glad to hear this building will be renovated and repurposed. 🕯️

[@SandyWolf-]

What a great video 👍 I really enjoyed it The mannequin head did freak me out

[@redhammer5783]

Man thats a really cool building in way better shape then i thought it would be for its age. Be cool to live in it for a bit

[@LDD-yh1bu]

It was a young one, all you had to do was grab it from behind at take it to an open window, it's mouth was open cuz it was exhausted.

[@eily_b]

You can't grab birds like that like a chicken. They will turn their heads and bite you. They can rotate their heads almost 360"

[@nathansealey6270]

Gosh I remember seeing vending machine like that in old hospitals & buildings as a kid in the 80s & 90s, even then they were seen as really old

[@DimJongUn]

29:58 Philip F. Blum was admitted to the bar in October of 1939. Most of his case records are from the 50's and into mid 1960's and I can't find records past 1964, potentially when he left this office. He died in 1983 and his wife lived until 2002.

[@DanEBoyd]

It also said "Atlas Realty" on his door, so maybe he found real estate to be less hassle.

[@fayecox9401]

Hi from uk I so enjoyed watch this you definatly step back in time you have some amazing buildings ,let’s hope the bird got out ,stay safe on your travels

[@michaeldicarlo5540]

It's funny how much each floor changes once you hit the 10th floor it's all stuck in the 1900's amazing architecture I love the old style to bad they don't do this anymore